Question/thoughts on L2 cache vs speed

[Gauntlet]

Hi there,
I just wanted to get some input and suggestions on 2 processors I'm looking at to upgrade my PC. I have the old 754 socket
AMD Athlon 64 3400 (2.2Ghz real) w/ 1MB L2 vs...
AMD Athlon 64 3400 (2.4Ghz real) w/ 512KB L2

At first, my thoughts were to go with the speed since these are the same price, but I'm starting to rethink the cache would be a smarter choice.

Any ideas?
Thanks

[debs3759]

Generally speaking a larger on-chip cache will speed up your system far more than a slight increase in CPU core speed, as it cuts out some of the delays involved in reading/writing from/to the main memory. The time involved in accessing data in main memory is the biggest factor that makes some apparently decent systems appear to crawl along...

[Marcin]

I remember reviews where was compared Athlon 3000+ 512 to 3000+ 1024 and first was faster. That was early version of AMD CPU with cache 1 MB. Don't know how was with later chips. But If I be you I would risk and get one with larger cache.

[Gauntlet]

Thanks for the input guys. I took your suggestions and ordered my AMD 64 3400 w/ the 1MB L2 today. I was starting to think that the benefit of doubling the L2 cache would in the long run outweigh the other or make the difference unnoticeable. Plus I could always OC it (if I felt like it) just enough to make up for the small difference if it did exist.

Thanks Again!