Would buying a dual core help my FPS massively?

[Normalcey]

I have had this computer for about 4 years now, bought it and upgraded most of the parts. New power supply, graphics card(9800GT) 4 gigs of ddr2 ram, but I have not touched the CPU cause 1. I break things 2. You cant buy them in stores in Canada..........ANYWHERE. I prefer to buy them in store, its instant, I hate waiting.

Anyways, I get pretty sketchy frame rates in games. For example, just got Bad Company 2, average FPS around 20, but it drops dramatically sometimes.

My video card is not awesome, but it shouldnt have anything to do with it on low, so all is pointing back to my CPU.

Would upgrading it to a dual core this one to be exact (the one im considering buying) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103694 give me a stable frame rate? For sure? So to clarify my system specs are=

CPU= AMD Athlon LE-1640 2.71 GHz
GPU= 9800GT
4 gigs of ram
Windows XP home

 

[obsidian86]

you gonna have to check if your board supports a dual core

 

[Normalcey]

Why wouldn't it? this is my mobo btw. http://www.e4allupgraders.info/dir1/motherboards/socketam2/ecsMCP61SM-GM.shtml

 

[welshmousepk]

if the motherboard supports it then yes, you will see a massive improvement with a dual core.

ESPECIALLY with BC2, which really favors multicore systems (and really, needs a quad to run it well)

your current system is probably very bottlenecked by that processor, so an upgrade will do well.

 

[SpadeM]

No your motherboad being AM2 (check ECS site for CPU support) does not work with Phenoms. Your options are either to replace both the mobo and the cpu or go with an older dual core from the athlon x2 family. For more info on supported CPUs go here:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Support/CPU_Support_Model.aspx?detailid=820&MenuID=69&LanID=0

 

[rsmith13]

Your motherboard isn't AM2+ so the Phenom X4 you linked to wouldn't work. Try the Brisbane: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103279
It's low power so shouldn't stress your motherboard's voltage regulators. Make sure that the motherboard is setting Vcore (1.3v) to the proper value. Many older motherboards are setting Vcore too high (1.4+v) for the Brisbane cpus.

 

[daship]

I hope your using 64 bit windows?

 

[welshmousepk]

I hope your using 64 bit windows?

why would you hope that?

:S

 

[dkenz]

Sounds like video card to me.. I have Corei7 at 2.66 standard and 6gig ram. And i also run Bad Company 2 I never see my CPU go above 20% and ram on it is only at 600k. Altough i do have a GTX275... max settings i still get 40-60

Sorry... I just ran BFBC2 and I noticed it was using all cores. All 8 using hyperthreading.
Yes you would see a huge improvement if you went dual or quad.

 

[Normalcey]

I am using 32 bit -_- What difference does it make? 1 gig unused, whoop whoop.

Socket AM2 (940) with AMD Athlon 64 FX/ Athlon 64/ Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core/ Sempron processor

Didin't think choosing a new processor was so deep : /

Ill consider buying that one Brisbane CPU but first questions.

1. Is it hard to replace a mobo? My case is stock, mobo seems to be rather small.

2. If I do get a new Mobo which brand? AMD or Intel?

3. How would this be with the processor I posted before? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128397

4. If that one wont work on it, could you suggest a mobo around the 100$ price range? Thanks

 

[dkenz]

I cant answer all those questions.. but I do know allot about intel and AMD. Think of it like your buying a Porche VS mustang. Intel is proven... I read something a very long time ago.. pry on this same site... AMD melted before intel did. Intel is build better... if you want speed sure.,. go with AMD.. you want stable.. intel is the way to go.

Should mention... 32 Bit windows will only see 4gig ram... Itll regonize all 4 in bios ... I dont i remember the final amount... its around 3gig. Go 64 if you plan on upgrading.

 

[welshmousepk]

I cant answer all those questions.. but I do know allot about intel and AMD. Think of it like your buying a Porche VS mustang. Intel is proven... I read something a very long time ago.. pry on this same site... AMD melted before intel did. Intel is build better... if you want speed sure.,. go with AMD.. you want stable.. intel is the way to go.

ignore this guy.

if you are on a budget, AMD are the way to go. similar performance at a lower price.

a decent AM2+ mobo will allow you to keep your current RAM and get a better processor. something like a gigabyte GA-MA790x-UD2 shoudl do the job, then you can grab something like an athlon II 620, or Phenom II 550 and see pretty big performance gains for a fair price.

 

[obsidian86]

GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 with AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus 2.6GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor

Combo Price: $164.98

 

[Normalcey]

alright thanks. I just have one last question, is it worth it to buy a DDR3 mobo? is ram backwards compatible? can I put my ddr2 in a ddr3 slot?

If not, is there much difference between 4 gigs of ddr2, and ddr3? (Yes specs ofc, but I mean performance right now in games, not in 5 years when it might count)

 

[welshmousepk]

no, its not backward compatible.

and no, DDR3 is of no advantage at all over DDR2 in real world situations.

EDIT: and that mobo/proc combo that obsidian linked is very good. in fact, i have that exact mobo lying around here somewhere going totally unused.

 

[jitpublisher]

I cant answer all those questions.. but I do know allot about intel and AMD. Think of it like your buying a Porche VS mustang. Intel is proven... I read something a very long time ago.. pry on this same site... AMD melted before intel did. Intel is build better... if you want speed sure.,. go with AMD.. you want stable.. intel is the way to go.

Should mention... 32 Bit windows will only see 4gig ram... Itll regonize all 4 in bios ... I dont i remember the final amount... its around 3gig. Go 64 if you plan on upgrading.

Wow. It has been a while since I seen someone so blatantly spout nonsense like this.

 

[aus10]

no, its not backward compatible.

and no, DDR3 is of no advantage at all over DDR2 in real world situations.

EDIT: and that mobo/proc combo that obsidian linked is very good. in fact, i have that exact mobo lying around here somewhere going totally unused.

Qucik Q so is it worth buying ddr3 over ddr2? whats the diffrence between DDR3 and DDR2?
this is the ram i just put in my new computer. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224&cm_re=corsair_dominator-_-20-145-224-_-Product

Asus p6t mobo
intel i7 920
xfx 4890
corsair dominator DDR3 running at 1600

 

[welshmousepk]

Qucik Q so is it worth buying ddr3 over ddr2? whats the diffrence between DDR3 and DDR2?
this is the ram i just put in my new computer. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224&cm_re=corsair_dominator-_-20-145-224-_-Product

Asus p6t mobo
intel i7 920
xfx 4890
corsair dominator DDR3 running at 1600

if you are buying a new mobo/RAM anyway, then you'd be better off getting DDR3 since its newer and slightly better performance wise.

but theres no need to go out of your way, or spend more than needed to get DDR3 if you have perfectly good DDR2, since the performance gains are negligible.

 

[Normalcey]

Is it hard to put in a processor manually?

 

[welshmousepk]

not at all, it pretty much just slots in.

 

[scudst0rm]

Putting the processor in isnt that bad, just read the instructions and make sure your putting it in the right orientation. be careful not to bend any of the pins. Honestly the trickiest part can be the thermal paste, but if you use the fan that comes with the cpu it should be pre applied.

P.S. Where are you in Canada? I live in Toronto and there are tonnes of places to buy PC components.

 

[Normalcey]

I live in Kelowna BC. There is one store that sells processors, but they are about 300 bucks for a dual core that costs 89 bucks online. So I stand by my statement. And I didint say they didint have pc components, just not processors. Bestbuy doesnt have them, staples, smaller stores RARELY have them but charge 10x more than it probably costs them.

 

[obsidian86]

look on youtube there are tons of vids showing how to assemble a pc

 

[Normalcey]

Best answer selected by Normalcey.

 

[sanchz]

Seriuosly bro, it0s much easier if you trust the internet and order online. Prices can't be bet, and you can make prior research (especially with motherboards) to make good decisions.

Best way to go it Athlon II 630 (the Phenom II 550 is good too, but the extra cores make the 630 be a better option for new games); plus some AM2+ motherboard that suits your needs and DDR2 memory.