You can bet it may be! At the price I picked this processor up, I can't complain. With the new AM2 platform just out, AMD shifting their current processors to this new 940 pin socket, and my venerable 939 pin X2 4400 as yet unavailable in AM2 platform - it was the only economical option as I see it.
What is this new AM2 offering from AMD? Well it's the new architecture the current 939 pin line will be shifting to. Why? The designers at AMD have been holding with their support for DDR 1 (DDR400) and the time has now come to shift support for the newer DDR 2 (DDR800). What this means is you will soon be seeing advantages in the use of DDR 2 memory as it and support for it improves. Yes, those new 939 X2 systems are on their way out along with the older ones - obsolescence moves quickly. Current 939 pin designs are not compatible with the new AM2 design although both look similar. The changes however, should prevent any accidental interchanges between designs.
No processor, such as the AM2 64 3800, running reliably at 2.4GHz. is a slouch - and this one will literally fly through boot and startup compared to those older fast Socket A platforms! The why is because of the 2000Mhz. bus compared to the 200/333/400 bus of such as older socket A processors. That means the newer DDR II RAM required here can attain a much higher rate than those older processors could running their DDR RAM. With better DDR II 800 around $150-$200 per 1 GB. stick, the importance of running your processor and memory at the highest stable speeds is played upon by price. But, it does make the switch to AM2 from older socket A attractive. Switching from 939 will only become so as timings improve on DDR II and the availability of 939 pin systems decreases. What this says is, 939 and AM2 platforms are currently running neck and neck using their DDR 400 and DDR II 800. DDR II 667 and 800 don't have the lowered clock timings provided for by many motherboards as yet - but improvement is under way along with even higher speeds.
Now, back to the single chip processor. With the 64 bit functionality available here, I can enjoy the added virus protection provided and the use of a 64 bit operating system. Hey, I've got an old socket A XP3000 Athlon running that still handles quite a load with 1.5Gb. of added DDR 400 RAM - and that system boots fairly quick and runs smoothly. It's just a matter of simple program and hardware management using the proper components - don't try to throw everything at it just because you can load it, or because you can plug it in. A lot of those programs will seldom ever be used, so don't keep them hanging around. Now, hardware should always be matched properly - so research it carefully, and you don't really need all the hardware that is available. A well chosen motherboard can make filling all those PCI slots, USB ports, etc. unnecessary as it can provide the features needed.
Okay, just how much multi-tasking do you need? This 3800 can move so quickly, most of you will never need to take advantage of X2 processors. Remember, even gamers found the single core FX series processors excellent, and these were hardcore gamers interested in everything they could possibly get. That video card choice will say more here anyway. My old socket A XP 3000+ at 2.2GHz. with a 333Mhz. bus still has no problem with most games using an ATI 9500 Pro overclocked to a 9700 Pro, and I have no problem using an HDTV card and using multiples of browser windows at the same time. Word programs also offer no problem and the system never slows unless a very intensive virus scan is in progress. Taskbar loading is slow however - taking from one to two minutes to complete after about 30 seconds to Windows boot. The speed of the 3800 at 2.4GHz. shortens this taskbar loading to about 5 seconds using my ASUS M2N32- SLI Wireless Deluxe motherboard and a heavily loaded startup menu on that taskbar. But, I never turn my computers off unless needed and usually only then using hibernation, which returns to the desktop more quickly. (Network connections account for most of the slow down and wireless is the largest.)
Yes, I will miss my
X2 4400 here for now - due to how well it will record, and burn video and music, while doing other things. But, for the $145.99 I paid for the 3800, swapping to the AM2 X2 processor I want later (when it becomes available) will be no problem. I'll just purchase some very inexpensive components later and use the 3800 with them for a music only system I wanted, before lightening destroyed one of my older computers - don't forget to use a UPS!
Will the AM2 3800 please you? I should think so unless you're someone that always needs the latest and greatest, or you really do need the multitasking provided with an X2 processor. This 3800 is a better deal than trying to just replace a 3000 or 3200 Socket A processor at their prices (my XP3000 333Mhz. was $300 when new) and X2 processors still carry a hefty price whether AM2 or 939. Hey, inexpensive AM2 motherboards are also available with on-board video eliminating the need for an added new video card.
Cool Runnings:
Last but not least, The 3800 Orleans core runs very cool with a low 65 watt draw. This means NO LOUD FANS are needed to cool it - so a quiet system can be had using it. I paired mine with a ASUS Silent Pipe motherboard design, ASUS Silent video card, and a quiet Antec case with the Antec 550 watt Neo HE power supply. It only whispers to me while shouting great stand up performance.
Just how cool, you wonder, does my AM2 Athlon 64 3800 run? Try 24 degrees Celsius at idle and 32 at high load using the stock HSF (heatsink and fan) with its included thermal pad. That factory heatsink is just an aluminum fin model and the fan still just idles at about 1700 rpm most of the time. Cool 'n Quiet is the name of the game here without a doubt!
System Specs:
_processor - Orleans, Athlon 64 3800
_motherboard -
ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI
_video cards - 2
ASUS EN7600GS Silent/HTD/256M Geforce 7600GS 256Mb GDDR2 PCI Express x16 running in SLI
_power supply -
Antec NeoPower NeoHE 550 watt
_memory - 2 Gb.
Crucial "Ballistic" DDR II 800 BL12864AA804 timings: 4-4-4-12
_operating systems -
Windows XP x64 and VISTA Ultimate!
Update
Above you can read my previous earlier review of this processor - now under an updated topic. While I mentioned reliability, I have now had this processor in use for six months. During this time I used a number of operating systems and finally settled on Windows XP x64 for main use. The PC always boots now in 15 to 20 seconds from a shutdown - and that has included power shutdowns without a controlled shutdown from Windows. At 2.4 GHz., this chip really gets the Windows taskbar loaded quickly for use - meaning this computer is always ready for use in about 25 seconds from powering it on. To date, I have never experienced a crash on the system and I have more added software programs installed than most users would want. The processor has simply had enough speed to overcome any instability - and its speed contributes to other factors and allows it to multi-task very well for a single processor chip.
Since Vista x64 has also been very stable on this machine, it is likely I will remove my copy of Vista x64 RC1 and continue to dual boot with the new consumer release of Vista. But, as I have continued upgrades in mind for this PC, this processor will be replaced by a new dual core - since they are now readily available and are my first choice in a heavily loaded system.
The AMD Athlon64 3800+ socket AM2 is not done however. Since it has provided such stability and continued cool operation, it will see its continued duty in a small computer I am building for use in my garage here at home - for music, Internet surfing, and added file storage.
Tough as nails comes to mind in my description of this mighty single core processor and I would recommend it to anyone interested in building a computer for general light to medium use at home. It will not let you down, and its excellent power has been surprising to me. At under $100 now, this AM2 chip is a great bargain.
Actually, I intended to build a new small system several months back as I have been wanting a computer in my garage for some time - one that would also be able to stand an environment without airconditioning. The excellent performance of the AMD Athlon64 3800+ coupled with still high prices for AM2 Dual Core processors and AM2 memory just held me back. This 2.4 GHz. 3800+ Orleans work will not be finished for a long time to come.
Vista Ultimate x64 OS scoring for this processor on the ASUS motherboard: 4.3 out of a possible 5.9 
