Big performance increase?

GaryV

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Hi all. I am thinking of replacing my FX-53 cpu and 6800GT with a X2 4600 cpu and a 7950GX. Will this give me a substantial performance jump? I asked this question elsewhere, and one fellow said the upgrade would only give me about a 20% increase in performance.

Thanks,
Gary
 

GaryV

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Thanks for the helpful reply. I guess I should have just asked my dog; I would have gotten a better response.
 

GaryV

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So do you have anything worthwhile to say? I dind't come here looking for a smartass, but it looks like I found one.
 

Howard_Stern

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For gaming I'm not to sure. I would check out the CPU comparison chart on Tom's to see where they stack up against each other. I wouldn't however think that the X2 would provide that much of a performance boost.

Now the video card is a different story. I'm sure the 7950 would provide a pretty good performance boost. There again, check out the tools at Toms for more concrete numbers.

Regards.
 

DaveUK

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I wouldn't bother with the CPU if I were you, buy the 7950GX2 and put the cash left over towards a new motherboard, some juicy DDR2, and an E6600 :p
 
Don't let these morons get your goat. The fx-53 is still a top performer. The 4600 isn't going to give you anything extra, and will probably give you less performance in gaming right now. 2 years from now..... who knows ? The graphics card on the other hand, is the skin ripping hard-on of video cards, and a dramatic increase in performance you will see.

If you have plan on keeping that computer for years yet to come, you may want to think about getting a dual core processor to keep on hand if the time ever comes that the newer apps and games will demand it.

Good luck...
 

GaryV

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Thanks for the replies. Here's the dilemma. My mobo is AGP. All of the newer graphics cards are PCI. So I have to get a new motherboard. Socket 939 is being phased out; my mobo is 939 and that's what my FX-53 fits. So I figure to go the AM2 route is more future proof, yet this means I have to get a new processor. The X2 4600 is pretty cheap and should hold me until my next bog upgrade, but man I paid a ton for the FX-53 and I hate to let it go.
 

battousai831

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Hi all. I am thinking of replacing my FX-53 cpu and 6800GT with a X2 4600 cpu and a 7950GX. Will this give me a substantial performance jump? I asked this question elsewhere, and one fellow said the upgrade would only give me about a 20% increase in performance.

Thanks,
Gary

don't get a 7950 gx, ur wasting your moeny unless you go over 2550 or whatever the rez is, get a 7900gt or x1900xt whatever suits you and in some cases the 7950 will get worse fps and it costs much much more
 

quantumsheep

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Thanks for the replies. Here's the dilemma. My mobo is AGP. All of the newer graphics cards are PCI. So I have to get a new motherboard. Socket 939 is being phased out; my mobo is 939 and that's what my FX-53 fits. So I figure to go the AM2 route is more future proof, yet this means I have to get a new processor. The X2 4600 is pretty cheap and should hold me until my next bog upgrade, but man I paid a ton for the FX-53 and I hate to let it go.

To be honest i wouldn't bother with AM2. I would get an Intel 775 and a Conroe (E6400 is similar price to x2 4600+ and performs better).
 

jimw428

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Thanks for the replies. Here's the dilemma. My mobo is AGP. All of the newer graphics cards are PCI. So I have to get a new motherboard. Socket 939 is being phased out; my mobo is 939 and that's what my FX-53 fits. So I figure to go the AM2 route is more future proof, yet this means I have to get a new processor. The X2 4600 is pretty cheap and should hold me until my next bog upgrade, but man I paid a ton for the FX-53 and I hate to let it go.

Despite what you read from the fanboys, skt 939 is far from dead. There are several very good boards available that will support your CPU and new GPU. The cost of the new 939 MB is trivial compared to a new AM2 platform, CPU and new DDR2 memory. Any performance gains with AM2 are minimal and IMO, not worth the added cost. You paid a lot for your CPU and I'd do every thing I could to extend its life.

Keep in mind that not 6 mos ago, AMD 939 systems ruled the roost in the gaming world.
 

DaveUK

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If you have to change motherboard, then given the recent benchmarks it should be an easy decision. Conroe FTW.

I have an AMD system right now, 3700+ overclocked to FX-55, and I recently bought an X1900XT. My next major upgrade will probably be vista-related in about 6m time, and will probably be a new system. A few almost definites:

- fastest dual-core platform at the time I can afford, probably Conroe E6600
- Vista OS
- DX10 GPU

If I were you (purchasing now) I'd do the top one, and get a graphics card that will last you for 6 months (such as my X1900XT).
 

GaryV

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All right, now we're rolling! Lots of advice to sift through. I am seeing a pattern I never thought I would see; people going for Intel over AMD. Actually, it's all pretty confusing.

The bottom line is I want a system which will rip through BF:2142, Medieval 2: Total War, and Supreme Commander. I'm willing to spend up to $1,200. I have decided to do this upgrade rather than get a PS3.
 

Eversor

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The FX-53 is still a powerful CPU. I think you should buy a new MB (socket 939) and GPU and keep your CPU and RAM.

A good MB and a GF7900 GT/GTX or Ati X1900 XT/XTX (or X1950) would last at least a year, by that time, there will be cheaper and faster Intel Core 2 Duo's or AMD K8L and DX10 GPU's.

Motherboard: Abit AN8/KN8 or Asus A8N/A8R MB's, they come in normal, SLI or crossfire versions.
GPU: Asus, BFG, Sapphire or any other well know manufacturer.
 

drcroubie

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OK, in a nutshell, yer options are (cheapest first):
- new 7800* AGP card (or whatever the best ati agp card is).
- new 939 mobo, 7900* / X1900* PCIe card(s).
- new 939 mobo, new 939 CPU, 7900* / X1900* PCIe card(s).
- new AM2 mobo, new CPU, new DDR2 RAM, new PCIe card(s) OR new 775 mobo, new CPU, new DDR2 RAM, new PCIe card(s).

Personally, i think it's a good time to get a cheap 939 mobo and new video card(s). Most games are GPU, not CPU, limited, so you'll get the best performance increase / $ with new cards instead of new CPU.

The cheapest option, new AGP card only, is also quite plausible, because as there's not much difference between AGP and PCIe performance for the same chip, the only reason to get a PCIe board is to use 7900* cards that don't come on AGP, or to use SLI/Xfire.

I'll assume you know how to overclock the crap out of yer FX53, so upgrading to an AM2 or Conroe will see a bit more performance, but not worth the $, IMHO.

And getting a new 939 mobo and a new CPU are probably not worth it, either, just to reuse yer old RAM (unless you've got 4gb of 2-2-2-5 or something).
 

sirheck

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yeah keep the fx53 and maybee buy a new mobo for pci-e an sli would be
around 100 $us for a pretty good one.

or just keep the agp board and 6800gt it will work ok
if you want to go with pci-e get a 7900gt for around 250$
with the new mobo and card you will spend around 350$
and reuse everything else
if your mem is 184pin and your psu isgood and has a 6 pin molex connect

that is if you want to make it last for atleast 6 months or a year
be cause vista and dx10 wont be up and going <good> until
summer of next year or so
 

rabidbunny

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I would suggest getting a new motherboard that supports either sli or Crossfire and a new graphics card. Keep all your memory and stuff and add that to the new system!

Stick with the socket 939 motherboard.
 

ir_efrem

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new socket 939 motherboard and the best graphics card you wanna spend cash on - that exactly what i would do in your case

just for fun and even more options - look at the ASRock Dual Sata

PCI-Express 16x
AGP 8x
AM2 riser card expansion slot

it's fairly inexpensive as well
gives you the ability to upgrade to a AM2 processor for the cost of the riser card (aprox $35) plus the cost of DDR2, without the purchase of a new mobo

so if a "gotta have AM2 socket CPU" comes out then you have the option

CPU sockets are changing faster than i care to keep up with so in the end it all probably doesn't matter

my $0.02
 

ZOldDude

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Apr 22, 2006
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Hi all. I am thinking of replacing my FX-53 cpu and 6800GT with a X2 4600 cpu and a 7950GX. Will this give me a substantial performance jump? I asked this question elsewhere, and one fellow said the upgrade would only give me about a 20% increase in performance.

Thanks,
Gary

I have no idea what MB/RAM/PSU you have or the speed your running the FX-53 at.

A under $200 (boxed) Optron 146 will OC to at least 3 Ghz on stock volts with a real PSU (they are 2 Ghz stock).

A 7900GT is a faster card than a 7950 and ALOT less money.

If you get a new MB go with DFI,if you get a PSU don't skimp get a PC P&C!

Need a new case and cooler? Coolermaster and Thermalright SI-120.

Need new ram? G.Skill DDR500 (OC's very well and 2 x 1GB pack is cheep)


PS:I like my dog.
 

tik

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Apr 30, 2005
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Replace only the AGP card so you can hold on for 6 months. Get the best AGP card you can afford. A good AGP can compete with the PCI express. Do your own research from AGP articles in this site before you buy. Like everyone said, it's GPU not CPU. Good luck.
 

GaryV

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Aug 20, 2006
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Thanks, all. I have seen benchmarks on this site which show the 7950GX spanking the crap out of the 7900GT.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/17/summer_2006_geforce_7_graphics_gear/
 

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