The AMD 2600+ and 2700+ both run at 333FSB and have a difference in core CPU speed of 100Mhz.

The price difference is 107 shipped (103 unshipped) vs. $145 shipped (134 unshipped) according to pricegrabber. Should I pull the trigger on the 2600+ or wait for the 2700 to drop another few bucks -- is the performance difference signicant, from reviews its hard to tell?

All opinions appreciated.

tolik

How about the 2500+ Barton for $90 (OEM). Overclocking it to 3200+ is not unusual.

You won't notice any speed difference in 100 mhz. If they are the exact same chip except for clock speed I'd go with the slightly cheaper one.

I would go with the less expensive
if you wait for the 2700 to drop...then the 2800 will be almost within range...and you will be asking the same questions about the 2700 and the 2800

I would look no further than this:

Barton 2500+ 333FSB $92 shipped from NewEgg (Retail version with fan)

Alrighty, I'll look back at this when I get back from vacation next weekend. it's $90 at googlegear shipped free, so $40-45 for this seems like a great deal

Definately go with the 2500+ barton. I have had good luck with Googlegear and no one can touch their prices on items like laptop hard drives and some processors, but I have heard they are not good with returns if you have a problem. Newegg is very good with returns, and their prices are competitive. Either way, get the $90 chip and overclock the heck out of it.

I agree with the Barton also. I just got a 2500+ for my Dad with an nForce2 mobo, and it is OC'ing very well.

they say you shouldn't bother upgrading processors unless it's a 400mhz difference becasue otherwise you won't notice it. besides benchmarks of course, so if there is only a 100mhz difference in your decision, may as well go with the cheaper one.

I have 2500+. It is overclock friendly but I later choose not to overclock since fan noise is too loud. I change all my case fan to Vantec Stealth which runs about 2300 rpm with below 21 decibel. I take out ThermalTake Smartfan II out... It'll run about 4800rpm... and believe me, it's loud.

I'm too scared to try watercooling.

Right now, my air-cond is louder than my PC. It's dead silent.

Anybody knows good silent CPU cooler for this baby ?? I'm using SLK-6+ with TT 60mm fan. It runs about 45C-46C right now. Sometimes it hits 50C if overload.

BTW: the stock fan for 2500+ is useless. I save it for any warranty purposes.

azri, check this out: The Listening Room at SidewinderComputers.com.

good heatsinks: slk800, slk900 and ax-7... those are my top 3. in no order though. it mainly depends on your motherboard on which one to get. i suppose that is in order though....my first choice would be a slk800 and my second a slk900. the ax7 and slk800 perform practically the same, the ax7 cools 1or2degrees worse (the slk800 cools better) but the ax7 is cheaper. the slk900 performs about the same as the slk800 IMO, some reviews say better, some say worse. oh, all are made by thermalright.

as for a fan i usually go with a y/s tech fan 80mm adjustable. i leave it on full blast and it's still quiet, to me atleast, but you could always turn it down if you wanted better cooling. i have a 2800barton running at 40c with the slk800 and the y/s tech fan 80mm adjustable.

Thanks. I might get the SLK-800A with Artic Silver. I'm using Artic Ceramique right now. I've heard those thing will drop your heat by 3-5C which is not bad.

I'm still thinking about the fan. I like my Vantec Stealth case fan. Pretty quite. My TT 60mm is more noisy than my Vantec.

Thanks Alan for awesome link.

I did try my 2500+ runs at 3100+ with an ease but generates heat.

Since the subject of heat and thermal paste came up (as it usually does ) I thought this article would be an interesting read: Carbon Black Thermal Pastes (July 30th, 2003)

While you're at the site, browse around a little. Lots of interesting stuff.