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Overview:The Athlon 64 3000+ is the entry level AMD 64 CPU. With its on-chip memory controller and 512K of Level 2 cache, and running at 1.8 GHz, it provides ample performance at a budget price. As the AMD 64 processor with the lowest clock speed, it's quite overclockable as well, consuming only 67 watts at its native speed. In addition to its high 32-bit performance, it also runs 64-bit code.
The AMD 64 3000+ processor is one of the best bargains available for overclockers. At 1800 MHz, there's a lot of room for increasing the clock frequency. Even if you don't want to overclock it, this 64-bit 3000+ is still very fast for its low price and, with the Socket 939, you have a convenient upgrade path to much faster, dual core chips, as they come down in price.
Most samples of this chip are overclockable to 2.2 GHz with stock fan, heatsink, and voltage. 2.4 GHz is common -- with little or no voltage adjustment -- and still with the stock cooling. If you're not familiar with an Athlon 64, in addition to everything else necessary for overclocking, you may need to reduce the Hyper Transport multiplier to keep the FSB speed down around 1000. [As is normal with overclocking, of course, do it at your own risk, YMMV...]
Unfortunately, the stock fan is a bit on the loud side. If noise is an important factor and the Cool'n'Quiet drivers won't work with your setup, you might want to pick up a quieter fan. Also, the heatsink retention clip is not up to AMD's otherwise high standards.
Cool'n'Quiet technology, when combined with a compatible motherboard and the appropriate drivers, lets your CPU downgrade it's operating frequency when not under heavy load. In practice, this will result in reduced power consumption, reduced heat output, and, with temperature sensing variable speed fans, reduced noise output as well. Since the speed is increased automatically when processing demand rises, you'll never notice a difference in performance.
The highlights of the Venice core 3000+'s feature set include: - 512K of level 2 cache
- 64K of level 1 instruction cache and 64K of level 1 data cache.
- 1000 MHz Hyper Transport-based front side bus
- concurrent 64- and 32-bit capability
This CPU give you 64-bit capability without compromising 32-bit performance, unlike some other 64-bit chips. You can seek out and run 64-bit software now or you can just wait until it comes to you. Whether 32 or 64-bits, this processor will run it all at full speed. And, like all Athlon 64's, it'll run them simultaneously.
The Athlon 64 3000+ is fast, cool, stable, overclockable, and gives you an easy upgrade path to dual core Socket 939 chips -- all for a budget price. The price/performance ratio offered by this chip in combination with the Socket 939 is surely the best in its price range. The 3000+ offers outstanding performance and the Socket 939 offers excellent upgradability. And, inexpensive, high quality 939 motherboards are already available.
If you're need a machine to run a Socket 939 chip -- or just want to simplify the process building up your own box, then take a look at the Shuttle SN25P bare bones mini-PC. It's small, cool looking, and easy for a beginner to build.
If you want to save money and already have everything except a motherboard, you might want to have a look at the Abit KN8 Ultra Socket 939 mainboard.
Manufacturer page: AMD Athlon 64 Single Core CPU
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Core: Venice
Frequency: 1800Mhz
FSB: 1000MHz
Voltage: 1.35-1.40 V
Max Temp: 65°C
Thermal Power: 67W
L1 Cache: 128KB
L2 Cache: 512KB
CMOS Technology: 90nm SOI
Number of Transistors: 114 million
HyperTransport™ technology at 2000MHz, full duplex
Memory bandwidth: up to 3.2GB/s,
40-bit physical addresses, 48-bit virtual addresses
Sixteen 64-bit integer registers
Sixteen 128-bit SSE/SSE2/SSE3 registers
Socket: Socket 939
AMD 64 Instruction support
3D & Multimedia instructions: 3DNow!™ technology, SSE2, SSE3 |
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