Buying a processor, how?

[pregovsky]

Right guys, i've come to the conclusion i desperately need a new processor for the absolute shambles of a computer i'm running. I just bought and fitted a new GPU (radeon 6670) not the best obviously but i hoped to play guild wars 2 at a playable fps, i can't but i've been told the game is massively CPU intensive. Also, i've been told my CPU probably bottlenecks the GPU or something (i don't really know what i'm talking about)..

Anyway, i need some advice on what will fit & run in my current machine and what to buy etc.

Here's some info from speccy, my mobo & current CPU:

Motherboard
Manufacturer ASRock
Model G31M-VS2 (CPUSocket)
Version To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Chipset Vendor Intel
Chipset Model P35/G33/G31
Chipset Revision 10
Southbridge Vendor Intel
Southbridge Model 82801GB (ICH7/R)
Southbridge Revision A1
System Temperature 31 °C
BIOS
Brand American Megatrends Inc.
Version P1.00
Date 02/23/2010
Voltage
CPU CORE 1.144 V
MEMORY CONTROLLER 0.496 V
+3.3V 3.312 V
+5V 4.968 V
+12V 11.542 V
VIN5 1.712 V
VIN6 1.784 V
PCI Data
Slot PCI-E
Slot Type PCI-E
Slot Usage In Use
Bus Width Unknown
Slot Designation PCIE1
Slot Number 0
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI1
Slot Number 1

CPU
Intel Pentium D 820
Cores 2
Threads 2
Name Intel Pentium D 820
Code Name SmithField
Package Socket 775 LGA
Technology 90nm
Specification Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz
Family F
Extended Family F
Model 4
Extended Model 4
Stepping 7
Revision B0
Instructions MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, Intel 64
Virtualization Unsupported
Hyperthreading Not supported
Fan Speed 2636 RPM
Bus Speed 201.1 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 804.6 MHz
Stock Core Speed 2800 MHz
Stock Bus Speed 200 MHz
Caches
L1 Data Cache Size 2 x 16 KBytes
L1 trace cache 2 x 12 Kµops
L2 Unified Cache Size 2 x 1024 KBytes
Core 0
Core Speed 2816.3 MHz
Multiplier x 14.0
Bus Speed 201.1 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 804.6 MHz
Thread 1
APIC ID 0
Core 1
Core Speed 2816.3 MHz
Multiplier x 14.0
Bus Speed 201.1 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 804.6 MHz
Thread 1
APIC ID 1

Thanks for viewing, hope you can help!

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

Here's the supported CPU's list for that board http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/G31M-VS2/?cat=CPU

I would try to find one of the higher end Core 2 Duo's or any of the Core 2 Quad's that it supports, if you can.

 

[pregovsky]

Here's the supported CPU's list for that board http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/G31M-VS2/?cat=CPU

I would try to find one of the higher end Core 2 Duo's or any of the Core 2 Quad's that it supports, if you can.

Thanks very much! What should i compare CPUs in terms of, to know what i'm buying generally?

And also, will i need a new PSU to run some of these CPUs?

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

Thanks very much! What should i compare CPUs in terms of, to know what i'm buying generally?

And also, will i need a new PSU to run some of these CPUs?

You won't need to worry about the PSU. It'll still be just fine.

As far as where to compare the CPU's, this is a good site:

Core 2 Duo E8600 vs. a Core 2 Quad Q6600 (Best C2D vs. a low end C2Q, and this is only an example, there are quite a few there to compare) http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/54?vs=53

Aside from that site, you can just search for benches of the CPU's that you're interested in and compare them that way, as well.

 

[pregovsky]

You won't need to worry about the PSU. It'll still be just fine.

As far as where to compare the CPU's, this is a good site:

Core 2 Duo E8600 vs. a Core 2 Quad Q6600 (Best C2D vs. a low end C2Q, and this is only an example, there are quite a few there to compare) http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/54?vs=53

Aside from that site, you can just search for benches of the CPU's that you're interested in and compare them that way, as well.

Thank you very much, great help and greatly appreciated!

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

You're welcome.

 

[pregovsky]

You're welcome.

I managed to snag a intel core duo E6550 from ebay for a crazily cheap amout on ebay after a night of bad luck with other processors.

I realize it's not the best! but i think it'll do! it has SLA9X at the end of the name, do you have any idea what this means and if it'll work with my mobo?

It's Socket's an LGA 775 which will work fine, and it's listed on that CPU support list you linked me, but i'm a tad worried about this "SLA9X" business as i can't find anything about it anywhere...

 

[InvalidError]

It's Socket's an LGA 775 which will work fine, and it's listed on that CPU support list you linked me, but i'm a tad worried about this "SLA9X" business as i can't find anything about it anywhere...

SLA9X is simply Intel's internal SKU# for that CPU model.

 

[jay_nar2012]

Thats like a code name or model number or ID or something,.

http://ark.intel.com/products/30783/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-E6550-(4M-Cache-2_33-GHz-1333-MHz-FSB)

As long as its on the support list it will work.

 

[pregovsky]

Ah great i see. I shouldn't need a new fan/heatsink should i?

 

[jay_nar2012]

I wouldn't think so, you would need new thermal paste, recommended ones are Arctic Silver 5, MX-4, most cheaper ones will work fine, remember to clean off any residue thermal compound and other stuff of the CPU and heatsink (with cleaning alcohol and a tissue or a lint free cloth).

 

[jay_nar2012]

Double posted again...