Amd athlon 64 x2 5000+ opinion

Hi
I would like to know if this processor is any good

I have a current sempron @ 1.8ghz and sapphire hd4650
my current processor seems to bottleneck performance

I use my computer for light gaming and media so just let me know what you think of this processor

Thanks

It's an obsolete CPU but roughly comparable with a budget Athlon II X2 240.
If your motherboard supports the newer Athlon II series with a BIOS update I would choose a triple core Athlon II easily over the old Athon 64 X2 CPU's.
However if you can't upgrade, the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ CPU would be a worthwhile upgrade especially at newegg over your current Sempron CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103219
For about $40 why not?

...it has it's up sides that processor...yes it is old tech...but if you are lucky it will be a BE edition with an unlocked multiplier...if it is you will have no trouble cranking it up to 3.0 GHz just by upping the multiplier...so you get the increase from the architecture, increase in speed (2.6GHz at stock = 800MHz gain ...not to be sneezed at)...and an easy OC to boot...not to mention a 2nd. core.....if it's cheap enough you'll get a very nice performance gain for stuff all $$$$

oh and while you are ...use AMD's Catalyst software to OC that GPU of yours too...it's very safe...and my experience has always been better value from a GPU OC than from a CPU one...should have no trouble getting that up to 4770 specs...

...yes...but the OP was asking about allieviating the bottleneck they were experiencing. That 5000+ will out-perform a 740/939 or a 940 Sempron... well worth it even if he needs a another mobo to run it..there is a large disparity in speed alone ... let alone all the other feature that CPU will bring to the table....I only just upgraded my X2 6000+ and that was far from exhausted.. and I am an avid gamer... that CPU is very competent...have no fear about that...

Bottleneck wouldn't be that bad if it was a dual-core Sempron. Heck I'd say a dual-core Sempy is enough, buit without any data, how could you even know what socket mobo the OP is using. For all I care he could be using a Sempron (Socket A) with a AGP HD 4650.

Like I said, a CPU-Z or some more info would be very helpful.

...be that as it may...but that 5000+ will have many more system wide benefits than just FPS increases..I have aknowledged the importance of the GPU in this equation by suggesting the OP OC's that in the process...looking at an overall system upgrade not just game bottlenecking...the OP can enjoy some considerable gains with this upgrade...if the CPU is a BE and he can run it on his current board then IMO this upgrade is a no brainer..he should be encouraged to do it.. if a new mobo is required.. well we can then do a bit of a cost analysis with him on whether and how much upgrade he can achive within the OP's budget..


...but if he hasn't posted his system specs and he is using this site and seemingly knows something about pc platforms ...i'll assume in the first instance that the OP thinks that he might simply be able to run that AM2 proc on his current mobo.. there's no harm in putting forward some food for thought...

..as for the OP's system...my wifes pc is built around a 4800+ X2 and a 3650 GPU 4Gb of RAM and it games very nicely as well as looking after her speadsheets and text docs...no as I said I have no fear in the capability of the 5000+...it is a very competent CPU....

..thanks very much for the GPU information ....but I own a 4850 and a 5770 crossfire platform, just finished with a 3870... and there is a 3650 in my wifes pc all tested all benchmarked.....

....I might have some idea where these relative gpu's lie in regard to performance, there will be considerable room in the OP's 4650 to work with..only the 4670 & 4750 between his current gpu and the 4770...same interface at 128mb so RAM and GPU clocks only need to be lifted..the CCC software will do that automatically for him..of course there is never a gurantee in any OC... we all know that...

what ur suggesting is that 4670, which already have the same clock as 4770, can be occed so.much that this small 59w card will perform the same as 80w 4770(4770 is 40nm and 4670 is 55. so it will consume a lot more power to reach 4770 performance)? thats just wrong....where will that card draw its juce from? 4670 don have pci e power cord.

and there is no 4750. 4730 is a 110w card as it is 55nm process.
please do get ur facts straight. no point misleading ppl

here is a review of 477p. www.guru3d.com/article/ati-radeon-hd-4770-review/10

please sugest how a card that bests 4830 can be out matched by 4670 oced

also pleaselet us know how 4670 with clock speed of 750 and ddr3 + 320 cores out perform a 640core ddr5 at 750mhz when overclocked

www.guru3d.com/article/ati-radeon-hd-4770-review/2

heres what u get when u oc a 4670
http://www.guru3d.com/article/ati- [...] -review/13

cheers

^ yep. plus you will no longer be stuck with compaq's bios, if that matters to you.

Yes it will, a full 2GB will smoothen up your computing experience by quite abit, perhaps more than a CPU upgrade.

Ok thanks guys with all your replies
I have run into one last problem that I can't solve..

I have no thermal paste..
Is there a substitute I can use that will last for a while until I can get some?

If you don't intend on doing anything CPU intensive, you might be able to get away with no thermal compound. Temps should jump 5-10*C higher than with thermal compound. But be careful and watch those temps. Your choice to risk or not.

Any thermally conductive material could work temporarily before it dries up. Unfortunately, most are also electrically conductive and runny and therefore dangerous to try. Your choice to risk or not.

If you decide to go the first route, I'd undervolt and underclock the CPU in the bios before booting up to keep the temps down.

^old paste? keep an eye on your temps, especially if the paste was dried up.