Upgrading CPU

[rammy23]

Sup guys, need some advice on upgrading my CPU on my old system. Below are the specs.

MOBO: Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-S4
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+
Ram: 2Gig ddr2 800
GFX: 4870 1Gig ddr5

My old 8800 GT recently went faulty and was replaced with the 4870, but am experiencing almost no improvement in games. Yes games are are alot more smoother but they are still sporting terrible frame rates. Seems that the CPU is the culprit, so am looking to upgrade to a decent one somewhere close to my GPU's lvl.

I am not looking to change my motherboard, so would like some suggestions on what CPU i should get to rival the GPU or should i just not bother and save up to get a new system? Btw the MOBO accepts socket AM2/AM2+.

Thanks

 

[tecmo34]

My Recommendations:
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail
GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Total Cost: $228.99
You can go with a cheaper MOBO but this is very good board for the price!! I'm a fan of the Phenom II X3 720 BE myself, so I recommend it over the Phenom II X2 CPU's

Reason I recommend a new MOBO is for three reasons... 1) I don't see a new CPU that is worth upgrading to that will work with your board!! 2) Your MOBO doesn't support AM3 chips, which are the newest and best chips for AM3!! 3) You have a ATI card and an SLI board. You will not be able to Crossfire down the road and your second PCI slot isn't going to be useable.

edit: Based on your last sentence... I would save up for a new system, if you don't want to upgrade your MOBO at this time!!

 

[rammy23]

Figured as much. This pc is currently my backup and am hesitant to splash out for a new mb/cpu and most probably a new ram while it is still functioning. Only reason I got the new GFX was the store gave me credit for my old 8800gt since they dont hold stock of the card anymore, and basically offered the ati card as a direct swap.

Is upgrading within the AM2 path significant enough? As mentioned before, am using a AMD Athlon X2 4800+. Would upgrading to any of the following chips be worthwhile?

1)AMD Phenom X4 9850 - £83
2)AMD Phenom II X4 940 - £133

Upgrading the Mobo and CPU comes up to around £190.

 

[tecmo34]

Option 1 isn't worth the upgrade. I've always heard to stay away from the Phenom.
Option 2 is not support by your BIOS or an updated BIOS (well... At least what I reviewed on Gigabytes website.)

I still support you upgrading both MOBO and CPU.

 

[warmon6]

Well here a list of support cpus from the Gigabyte website.

http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2287#anchor_os

Unless i have the wrong MB you should have a wide range of cpu options.

Motherboard Model GA-M57SLI-S4(rev. 1.0)
PCB 1.0
Vender Model Frequency L2 Cache Core Name Process Stepping Wattage System
Bus(MT/s) 2000
AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 2800Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90 nm F2 125W 2000 F2
AMD Opteron 1210 1800Mhz 1MBx2 Santa Ana 90nm F2 103W 2000 F5
AMD Athlon X2 5050e 2600Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 45W 2000 -
AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2500Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 45W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon X2 4450e 2300Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 45W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon X2 4050e 2100Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 45W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon X2 BE-2400 2300Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65 nm G2 45W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon X2 BE-2350 2100Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 45W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon X2 BE-2350 2100Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G1 45W 2000 F9
AMD Athlon X2 BE-2300 1900Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 45W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon X2 BE-2300 1900Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G1 45W 2000 F9
AMD Athlon X2 7750+ 2700Mhz 512KBx2 Kuma 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Athlon X2 7550+ 2500Mhz 512KBx2 Kuma 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Athlon X2 7450+ 2400Mhz 512KBx2 Kuma 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ 3200MHz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F3 125W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon X2 6000 3100MHz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 89W 2000 -
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3000Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F3 89W 2000 F10
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3000Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F3 125W 2000 F6
AMD Athlon X2 5800 3000MHz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 89W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 2900MHz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 89W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600 2900MHz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 65W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 2800Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F3 89W 2000 F6
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2800Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 65W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2800Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F3 89W 2000 F6
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2600Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F3 65W 2000 F6
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2600Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 89W 2000 F5
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2700Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 65W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2700Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G1 65W 2000 F8
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2600Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F3 65W 2000 F6
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2600Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90 nm F2 89W 2000 F2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2600Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 65W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2600Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G1 65W 2000 F8
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850+ 2500Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 45W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2400Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90 nm F2 89W 2000 F2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2400Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 65W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2500Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65 nm G2 65W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2500Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G1 65W 2000 F8
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2400Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 65W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2400Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F3 65W 2000 F7
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2400Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 89W 2000 F2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2400Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 65W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2200Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 89W 2000 F2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2200Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 65W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2300Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65 nm G2 65W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2300Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G1 65W 2000 F8
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 2200Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 89W 2000 F2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 2200Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 65W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 2200MHz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65 nm G1 65W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ 2000Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 89W 2000 F2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ 2000Mhz 1MBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 65W 2000 F2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ 2100Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G1 65W 2000 F8
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2000Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F3 65W 2000 F7
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2000Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 89W 2000 F2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2000Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 65W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2000Mhz 512KBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 35W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 2000Mhz 256KBx2 Windsor 90nm F2 65W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 1900Mhz 512KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G1 65W 2000 F8
AMD Athlon LE-1660 2800Mhz 512KB Orleans 65nm G2 45W 2000 F14
AMD Athlon LE-1640 2600Mhz 1MB Orleans 90nm F3 45W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon LE-1620 2400Mhz 1MB Orleans 90nm F3 45W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon LE-1600 2200Mhz 1MB Orleans 90nm F3 45W 2000 F11
AMD Athlon 64 4000+ 2600Mhz 512KB Orleans 90nm F3 62W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ 2400Mhz 512KB Orleans 90nm F3 62W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ 2400Mhz 512KB Orleans 90nm F2 62W 2000 F2
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ 2400Mhz 512KB Lima 65nm G1 45W 2000 F8
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2200Mhz 512KB Orleans 90nm F3 62W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2200Mhz 512KB Orleans 90nm F2 62W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2200Mhz 512KB Orleans 90nm F2 35W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2200Mhz 512KB Lima 65nm G1 45W 2000 F8
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2000Mhz 512KB Orleans 90nm F2 62W 2000 F3
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2000Mhz 512KBx2 Lima 65 nm G1 45W 2000 F8
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1800Mhz 512KB Orleans 90nm F2 62W 2000 F3
AMD Sempron X2 2300 2200Mhz 256KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 65W 1600 F14
AMD Sempron X2 2200 2000Mhz 256KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 65W 1600 F14
AMD Sempron X2 2100 1800Mhz 256KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G2 65W 1600 F14
AMD Sempron X2 2100 1800Mhz 256KBx2 Brisbane 65nm G1 65W 1600 F14
AMD Sempron LE-1300 2300Mhz 512KBx2 Sparta 65 nm G2 45W 2000 F11
AMD Sempron LE-1250 2200Mhz 512KBx2 Sparta 65 nm G2 45W 2000 F11
AMD Sempron LE-1200 2100Mhz 512KBx2 Sparta 65 nm G1 45W 2000 F11
AMD Sempron LE-1150 2000Nhz 256KB Sparta 65 nm G1 45W 2000 F11
AMD Sempron LE-1100 1900Mhz 256KB Sparta 65 nm G1 45W 2000 F11
AMD Sempron 3800+ 2200Mhz 256KB Manila 90 nm F2 62W 1600 F3
AMD Sempron 3600+ 2000Mhz 256KB Manila 90nm F2 62W 1600 F2
AMD Sempron 3500+ 2000Mhz 128KB Manila 90 nm F2 62W 1600 F2
AMD Sempron 3400+ 1800Mhz 256KB Manila 90nm F2 62W 1600 F3
AMD Sempron 3400+ 1800Mhz 256KB Manila 90 nm F2 35W 1600 F3
AMD Sempron 3200+ 1800Mhz 128KB Manila 90nm F2 62W 1600 F2
AMD Sempron 3200+ 1800Mhz 128KB Manila 90 nm F2 35W 1600 F3
AMD Sempron 3000+ 1600Mhz 256KB Manila 90nm F2 62W 1600 F3
AMD Sempron 3000+ 1600Mhz 256KB Manila 90 nm F2 35W 1600 F3
AMD Sempron 2800+ 1600Mhz 128KB Manila 90nm F2 62W 1600 F3

Socket AM2+
Motherboard Model GA-M57SLI-S4(rev. 1.0)
PCB 1.0
Vender Model Frequency L2 Cache L3 Cache Core Name Process Stepping Wattage System
Bus(MT/s) 2000
AMD Phenom II X4 940 3000Mhz 512KBx4 6MB Deneb 45nm C2 125W 3600 N/A
AMD Phenom II X4 920 2800Mhz 512KBx4 6MB Deneb 45nm C2 125W 3600 N/A
AMD Phenom X4 9950 2600Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 140W 4000 -
AMD Phenom X4 9950 2600Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 125W 4000 -
AMD Phenom X4 9850 2500Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 125W 4000 -
AMD Phenom X4 9750 2400Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 125W 3600 F14
AMD Phenom X4 9750 2400Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 95W 3600 F14
AMD Phenom X4 9650 2300Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 95W 3600 F14
AMD Phenom X4 9600 2300Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B2 95W 3600 F14
AMD Phenom X4 9550 2200Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 95W 3600 F14
AMD Phenom X4 9500 2200Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B2 95W 3600 F13
AMD Phenom X4 9450e 2100Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 65W 3600 -
AMD Phenom X4 9350e 2000Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 65W 3200 -
AMD Phenom X4 9150e 1800Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 65W 3200 -
AMD Phenom X4 9100e 1800Mhz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B2 65W 3200 F14
AMD Phenom X3 8850 2500Mhz 512KBx3 2MB Toliman 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Phenom X3 8750 2400Mhz 512KBx3 2MB Toliman 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Phenom X3 8650 2300Mhz 512KBx3 2MB Toliman 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Phenom X3 8600 2300Mhz 512KBx3 2MB Toliman 65nm B2 95W 3600 F14
AMD Phenom X3 8550 2200Mhz 512KBx3 2MB Toliman 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Phenom X3 8450 2100Mhz 512KBx3 2MB Toliman 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Phenom X3 8450e 2100Mhz 512KBx3 2MB Toliman 65nm B3 65W 3600 -
AMD Phenom X3 8400 2100Mhz 512KBx3 2MB Toliman 65nm B2 95W 3600 F14
AMD Phenom X3 8250e 1900Mhz 512KBx3 2MB Toliman 65nm B3 65W 3600 -
AMD Athlon X2 7850 2800Mhz 512KBx2 2MB Kuma 65nm B3 95w 3600 -
AMD Athlon X2 7750 2700Mhz 512KBx2 2MB Kuma 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Athlon X2 7550 2500Mhz 512KBx2 2MB Kuma 65nm B3 95W 3600 -
AMD Athlon X2 7450 2400Mhz 512KBx2 2MB Kuma 65nm B3 95W 3600 -

(Note) If you install AMD AM2+ CPU on AM2 motherbord, the system bus speed will downgrade from HT3.0(5200 MT/s) to HT1.0(2000 MT/s) spec; however, the frequency of AM2+ CPU will not be impacted.

 

[tecmo34]

You have the right MOBO. If you look at the two Phenom II CPU's, they have N/A for the BIOS revision, which means not supported. I don't see another CPU that is really worth upgrading.

 

[warmon6]

You have the right MOBO. If you look at the two Phenom II CPU's, they have N/A for the BIOS revision, which means not supported. I don't see another CPU that is really worth upgrading.

Well your right about it.

 

[rammy23]

Thanks for the input guys. Think I'll hold out for a few more months before replacing the mobo/cpu.

As the backup pc it is predominantly used for watching movies and my gf playing WoW. Since its working alright atm, decided against an overhaul of the system for now.

Instead will probably invest in a new build or just the mobo/cpu further down the line. The newer Intel i5 chips look promising considering I wont be running multiple gfx in the pc anyway. Hopefully the prices of the boards and i5 chips level out by than.

Thanks again for the replies.