"Upgrading" CPU help...

[kooch66]

Last year I spent about 2,000 bucks on a new rig that I had a small store build for me (case, building, and 2 year warranty included in 2,000 price) because I was sick to crap of my three year old Alienware piece of junk laptop. Overall I am very happy with the new rig but am considering getting one of those new Core Duo CPUs from Intel sometime during Q1/Q2 2007. However, I don't know if "upgrading the CPU" is easy or even possible. Can anyone help? Specs below and thanks in advance

ASUS A8N-SLI MoBo
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
2 gigs Crucial DDR RAM PC 3200
Nvidia 7900GTX
WD Raptor HD 140
XP Pro
DVD/CDRW
etc., etc...

 

[djplanet]

That rig tells me you're into gaming, something that isn't really bottlenecked by that CPU, even with a 7900GTX. But if you're video editing, encoding, or something else, you'll see serious performance increases with a Core 2.

On the down side, you will need a new mobo to go with it, but everything else can be salvaged. It all depends on what you need you're comp to do, and whether you want to get a new mobo.

 

[kooch66]

Was not sure if I would need a new Mobo so that helps a lot thanks!

I am into gaming and build the rig as such, but I am not quite sure what you meant by:

That rig tells me you're into gaming, something that isn't really bottlenecked by that CPU, even with a 7900GTX.

I assume you mean that gaming isn't really hindered by the CPU I have now, but not quite sure what you meant by the wording "even with a 7900GTX"

 

[-silencer-]

If you're just looking for a gaming improvement, just buy a Geforce 8800GTX and be done with it for $650.

If you want a new CPU, which won't help at all as much for gaming as a video card upgrade, you'll also need a new motherboard and new RAM.. you're looking at starting around $500 for the minimum upgrades..

 

[djplanet]

That is what I meant. But I assumed you believed the 7900GTX, a very high end card, is bottlenecked by the 4200 (it isn't). There is concern over this lately because the new 8800 series are bottlenecked by this CPU, requiring a Core 2 Extreme or overclocked Core 2 to perform at its best.

 

[kooch66]

Keeping all my components exactly the same except the GPU, would a 8800GTX make a big difference??

Can I keep all of the same components with an 8800GTX?

 

[kooch66]

That is what I meant. But I assumed you believed the 7900GTX, a very high end card, is bottlenecked by the 4200 (it isn't). There is concern over this lately because the new 8800 series are bottlenecked by this CPU, requiring a Core 2 Extreme or overclocked Core 2 to perform at its best.

I suppose that answers my question...

 

[choirbass]

you can still upgrade to an 8800GTX though, and see a substantial improvement over your current 7900GTX... but to exploit the most that an 8800GTX has to offer, performancewise... you would need to replace most of what you have (cpu/motherboard/memory/psu possibly)

which also begs the question if your current psu is capable/stable enough to even drive an 8800GTX (check the amperages on your psus 12v rails)

and if your case has enough clearance to fit an 8800GTX, 10.5" in length

 

[kooch66]

I would have to check for sure but I am 99% positive that I got a 500w or 550w psu in case of a future upgrade to SLI. That, I think, is fine for the 8800GTX. My case is an XBlade, by the way.

 

[choirbass]

well... aside from the provided watts on the psu, be it 500w, 600w, or 1000w... you just want to make sure your psu isnt under 30 amps total on the 12v rails (for the 8800GTX)... otherwise youll run into instabilities from insufficient power being supplied to it... also, youll need 2 PCIe power connectors on the psu (or 2 molex to PCIe adapters will work)

should be okay... but just in case

 

[digitaldoc]

I'm not really sure that the change from an X2 4200+ to a Core 2 Duo is worth the expense of a new motherboard in addition to the processor. If I were you, I'd hang on a few months for the processor upgrade, and wait for some more affordable quads to come out and decide. In the meantime, if you're bottlenecked, a new graphics card is probably the better way to spend the bux.

 

[ajfink]

I'm not really sure that the change from an X2 4200+ to a Core 2 Duo is worth the expense of a new motherboard in addition to the processor. If I were you, I'd hang on a few months for the processor upgrade, and wait for some more affordable quads to come out and decide. In the meantime, if you're bottlenecked, a new graphics card is probably the better way to spend the bux.

Agreed. His system is still rather up-to-date, especially for his needs. What he needs is a new video card, that's it.

 

[Bache]

Last year I spent about 2,000 bucks on a new rig that I had a small store build for me (case, building, and 2 year warranty included in 2,000 price) because I was sick to crap of my three year old Alienware piece of junk laptop. Overall I am very happy with the new rig but am considering getting one of those new Core Duo CPUs from Intel sometime during Q1/Q2 2007. However, I don't know if "upgrading the CPU" is easy or even possible. Can anyone help? Specs below and thanks in advance

ASUS A8N-SLI MoBo
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
2 gigs Crucial DDR RAM PC 3200
Nvidia 7900GTX
WD Raptor HD 140
XP Pro
DVD/CDRW
etc., etc...

Next time build the PC yourself and save $$$, it's very easy

 

[Bache]

Last year I spent about 2,000 bucks on a new rig that I had a small store build for me (case, building, and 2 year warranty included in 2,000 price) because I was sick to crap of my three year old Alienware piece of junk laptop. Overall I am very happy with the new rig but am considering getting one of those new Core Duo CPUs from Intel sometime during Q1/Q2 2007. However, I don't know if "upgrading the CPU" is easy or even possible. Can anyone help? Specs below and thanks in advance

ASUS A8N-SLI MoBo
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
2 gigs Crucial DDR RAM PC 3200
Nvidia 7900GTX
WD Raptor HD 140
XP Pro
DVD/CDRW
etc., etc...

Next time build the PC yourself and save $$$, it's very easy