Upgrading from laptop to desktop.

BigDeep

Reputable
Apr 20, 2014
38
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4,530
Hello. I am getting the parts soon to finalize my desktop build that has a AMD Phenom II x4 955be at 3.2 ghz and a geforce gtx 660. My older laptop consist of mobile i7 2670QM at 2.3 ghz and a geforce gtx 560M. I was wondering how these parts compared and whether or not i can expect a significant incease from laptop to desktop. Thanks
 
Solution
Even with the older, slower Phenom II X4, the desktop will be a better gamer (all else being equal) at the same resolutions. The difference will be the faster gfx card of the desktop.

clutchc

Titan
Ambassador


Until one of the components wears out.
But seriously, if you have a motherboard with an AM3+ socket, you can always upgrade the processor to one of the newer FX CPUs. If that board has the older AM3 socket, you are stuck with what you have. The last processor line for the AM3 socket was the Phenom II X4 and X6 line.
Of course you can still upgrade the gfx card. But you wouldn't want to go much beyond the GTX 660 class cards or you will run into CPU bottleneck. The card may be able to game faster, but the Phenom II X4 won't be able to keep up.

And no, I didn't say the Phenom II X4 was better than the i7-2670QM. It is hard to compare a mobile processor with a desktop processor. The Intel CPU is definitely newer and faster. But it doesn't have the support structure around it to compete with the Phenom II in the desktop.