What socket are you using?

[Kantastic]

I was reading this news thread regarding Swiftech's new pre-assembled cooling kits and noticed that users complained about why AM3 (including AM2/AM2+) mounting hardware wasn't included in the new kits (or any old kits for that matter). This was the response Swiftech's CEO replied with:

Sorry, but until I get solid evidence that AM3 market share is increasing substantially, I doubt this will happen. I don't see why we'd tax the majority of the users for the price of a mounting bracket that is needed by a minority of users. I try to think green. I hate wasting stuf.

It's no doubt that Intel dominates AMD in terms of market share but factors such as differences in platforms (desktops, laptops, netbooks, mainstream, enthusiast, etc) all contribute to that matter... which really isn't relevant seeing as enthusiasts make up only a very small percentage of the consumer base.

Now, I would have assumed that the market for such water cooling kits are limited to the enthusiast market which consist of people like us (okay I'm arguable/not even), people who would even think about considering buying a $300 water cooling kit. This leads me to my question: Does Intel still have a significant lead over AMD in the enthusiast market? Is the lead large enough to justify not including AM2/AM2+/AM3 compatibility with their kits?

IMO, it probably costs them $5 more to make the AMD mounting hardware and nothing extra to include. $5 won't really make a difference considering it's a $300 kit but to have to package, ship, go through customs and whatever, people would likely be paying $15-$20 after shipping if they bought it separate.

 

[Wile E]

I'm 1366, but I still don't see the justification of not including it.

 

[ShiBDiB]

775... theirs still no reason for the everyday user to go beyond this socket besides flexing their epeen

 

[theonedub]

He said they might add it as an option, which I think is fair enough.

Voted.

 

[Kantastic]

He said they might add it as an option, which I think is fair enough.

Voted.

He actually found a solution; He spoke to all retailers and had them give buyers an option of adding (and paying for) the AMD mounting hardware during check-out. I can't really vote since I change between AM3 & 1366 every month, first time trying out 1156 but lets see how long I'll stay on this socket.

 

[Athlon2K15]

1366 the only way to go

 

[sneekypeet]

Voted 1156.

To shed some light on the matter. Lets say we are looking at an AMD and Intel rig, both at 4GHz. Both start off on air. Now the AMD at 4GHz is say 50-60 degrees loaded, where the newer intels are in the 70-90 range. I dont think its user base as much as it is the straight need for intel to go water when looking for 4ghz+

 

[erocker]

Voted 1156.

To shed some light on the matter. Lets say we are looking at an AMD and Intel rig, both at 4GHz. Both start off on air. Now the AMD at 4GHz is say 50-60 degrees loaded, where the newer intels are in the 70-90 range. I dont think its user base as much as it is the straight need for intel to go water when looking for 4ghz+

AMD's heat tolerances aren't as high as Intel due to a different manufatcturing process (SOI vs. High K). Once you hit 60c with an AMD rig performance starts to degrade. AMD in many cases needs to run water for 4ghz+ as well. Temperatures aside they are both pretty equal in terms of what kind and how much cooling they need.

 

[Mussels]

Voted 1156.

To shed some light on the matter. Lets say we are looking at an AMD and Intel rig, both at 4GHz. Both start off on air. Now the AMD at 4GHz is say 50-60 degrees loaded, where the newer intels are in the 70-90 range. I dont think its user base as much as it is the straight need for intel to go water when looking for 4ghz+

that was the point i made in PM's with kantastic while discussing the creation of this thread... its not so much that theres less AMD users, its just that intel users have more heat to deal with - so they're more likely to go to water when OCing

 

[MT Alex]

AM2+ here.

The best $4 an AMD user can spend: Enzotech Type-X AM2 Retention Modules
Makes everything, including heat sink orientaion, a breeze.

 

[largon]

AM2+, I don't see using any "blue sockets" in the future, either.

 

[Wile E]

AM2+ here.

The best $4 an AMD user can spend: Enzotech Type-X AM2 Retention Modules
Makes everything, including heat sink orientaion, a breeze.

Yep. I have 2 here. lol.

 

[de.das.dude]

there is no difference between AM2+ and AM3 except that AM3 is associated with DDR3 and AM2+ with DDR2.

the amd sockets should have been made different options..

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I thought another factor was that the AMD sensors significantly under report the heat.

 

[largon]

The reason for screwy temp figures for AMDs is that there's only one temp sensor and it's located in the coolest part of the chip, the NB that is. Using an external k-type probe I've measured differences up to over 10ºC on my chip vs. software readings.

 

[claylomax]

Voted. Main system: AM3, second system: AM2+

 

[digibucc]

775... theirs still no reason for the everyday user to go beyond this socket besides flexing their epeen

that wasn't the question, at all.

not only was he not asking whether it was necessary to use a newer socket, what he was doing was attempting to find out what the market share of those sockets are, specifically (at least, from our little test group here) ... and he was specifically talking about high end enthusiast users, not everyday users.

I understand your point - and even agree... it just has nothing to do with this... we are almost all enthusiasts here, so the "everyday user" moniker doesn't fit the majority of us very well - which was again, the point of the OP.

Main system (i7/1366) , Second (PII/AM2+) , HTPC (i3/1156)

 

[AlienIsGOD]

775 main rig, 2nd rig AM2+ (upgrading to AM3 or AM3r2 in the future as I already have a AM3 proc)

 

[Dave63]

AM2+ Till next gen pased AM3.

 

[trickson]

775... theirs still no reason for the everyday user to go beyond this socket besides flexing their epeen

Yeah I still have the 775 socket !

 

[mjkmike]

I voted for AMD but I still have my I7930 and I hope others are like me and like more than just one brand of rig.

 

[trickson]

I voted for AMD but I still have my I7930 and I hope others are like me and like more than just one brand of rig.

Most of us are just poor white folk ..

 

[mjkmike]

^^ you don't have to own it to like it.

 

[trickson]

^^ you don't have to own it to like it.

Well no .
It's ok I guess .

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

I have a laptop that is my main rig for now so I am sad to see my socket is not there. I have a Socket P (478).