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Time to Upgrade or Processor still good?

Forum CPU & Components : CPUs - Time to Upgrade or Processor still good?

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With games starting to want at last 3.0 ghz dual core processors or some requiring quad cores, i'm wandering if it's time to upgrade to an i5 system (budget constraints)

Right now I got the following:

DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2900 MHz (14.5 x 200) 5600+
4 GB DDR 2 RAM
BFG Nvidia Geforce GTS OC 250 (1gb) Video Card
1 TB Drive
550W Antec Neowatts power supply

I was thinking if getting these parts

Intel - Core™ i5 Processor 750 2.66GHz w/ 8MB Cache
Gigabyte - GA-P55-UD3R Motherboard
Patriot - Extreme Performance Viper Series DDR3 6GB (3 x 2GB) PC3-12800
ANTEC - Nine Hundred Ultimate Gamer Case

I was going to use the current HD, PSU, and DVD-RW drive.

Is it worth it upgrading to the i5 or hang on to the dual core Athlon for now?

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How is your gaming experience going now?
If you're reasonably happy I'd hold off on the upgrade.

Reply to WR2

some games good. some tend to stutter a bit when I up to hight, especially games like NBA 2k10 and sometimes in WOW in northrend (dalaran). But that may be because I'm running Windows RC1.

But with games like new FPS that recommend quad cores, was thinking the time is right.

Reply to clutz

If you want it, and can afford it.... sure, get it.
But are you getting a good gaming experience now? Or are you unhappy with how your games run?

Here is the PassMark CPU chart.
Your current CPU is still showing up on the high-end chart. Look around the 1456 mark.

Reply to WR2

For the most part, good gaming performance. but at the other side, it feels like the cpu is bottlenecking in some games (everything on max for graphics, run fine at times, but stutters at time).

Reply to clutz

That sounds about right when you're using max graphics quality settings and that 2 1/2 yr old CPU.

Reply to WR2

What monitor size resolution are you using?

Reply to WR2

22 inch

1680 x 1050

Reply to clutz

just ran performance test 7.0 and there's no comparision. it would get at least double the performance getting an intel core i5.

Reply to clutz

What AMD CPU would get you the same performance?

Reply to WR2

don't think I can upgrade the processor on this dell, If I could put one of the new Athlons quard cores, I would.

Reply to clutz

Whooops.... missed the 'Dell' part. You could be right.

But swing on over to the Dell forums and see what others are doing for upgrades.
Better to know you don't have any decent upgrade options if you're going to ante up for a new system.

Reply to WR2

this is what I found. not looking good for upgrading the cpu.

AMD Engineering Sample
AMD Processor model unknown
Dual-Core AMD Opteron™ Processor 12
Dual-Core AMD Opteron™ Processor 22
Dual-Core AMD Opteron™ Processor 82
AMD Sempron™ Processor
Mobile AMD Sempron™ Processor
AMD Sempron™ Processor 1
AMD Sempron™ Dual Core Processor
AMD Sempron™ Processor LE-1
AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology MK
AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL
AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor
AMD Athlon™ 64 FX
AMD Athlon™ Processor 1
AMD Athlon™ Dual Core Processor
AMD Athlon™ Processor LE-1
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor TK
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Processor
AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual Core Processor BE-2000

Reply to clutz

As you suspected - no attractive upgrade options.

Reply to WR2

Once I get Windows 7 64 bit on this friday, I'll test it with GTA 4 and other games and see how it goes.

But right now i'll probably upgrade in mid Nov. or earlier.

Reply to clutz

well if u are going to get a new mobo for intel u might as well get a new for AMD, they are cheaper as well, get an AM3 with a Athlonx4 610 and DDR3 RAM total can be around 200 USD, that Intelis probably 350 USD

------------------------------ HP 2 ghz 4 gig 320 HDD 512 VRAM 9600m GT
17 inch screen Blu Ray drive

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/3914957634_5502c4aca5_o.jpg

Reply to Upendra09

clutz wrote :

Patriot - Extreme Performance Viper Series DDR3 6GB (3 x 2GB) PC3-12800

Keep in mind with AMD or non socket 1366 intel you still add in pairs

right now only some xeons and i7-9xx series supports triple channel memory

Reply to rand_79

quick update

Ran the Arma II Benchmark tool in their demo and had the following:

Very High settings - 1680 x 1050 res - 18 fps
High Settings - 1680 x 1050 res - 21 fps

Was expecting a bigger jump going from VH to High.

Reply to clutz

yea, your right about the memory will go w/ 4gb for now or 8gb well se

Reply to clutz

What were your AA/AF filter settings?

Reply to WR2

Not sure just selected high & very high. At work now so I can't check

Reply to clutz

you still might be GPU limited on most games.

maybe sell your video card and try out a radeon 5850 .. then see if you need to upgrade processor.

and honestly the I5 is and upgrade but unless you overclock too its not amazing.

you might be better off with a value build off a phenom II quad core.

also when I played wow I lagged with a 3.6ghz q6600 .. it was just wow lag,

I'd also go from 80fps solo farming to 20fps in 25m naxx/ulduar

Message edited by rand_79 on 10-19-2009 at 05:29:43 AM

Reply to rand_79

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Forum CPU & Components : CPUs - Time to Upgrade or Processor still good?