FLY2HMO From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (4 years 2 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 1439 times:
So I've been thinking about doing a final upgrade on my nearly un-upgradeable computer. Pretty much everything I can upgrade is already maxed-out, RAM, GPU, and I have 3x HDDs. I was thinking the final upgrade would be to get a new processor, I currently have a 3ghz P4, 800mhz bus, and 1mb L2 cache. My mobo is an old Intel socket 478 and the CPU has the Prescott core (aka Preshot, they're cooking even at idle! )
I was thinking about upgrading to an Extreme Edition 3.4GHz. It's the fastest CPU you can get for socket 478. The specs for it are pretty much the same of what I already got except it has 400 more Mhz and 2mb of L3 cache. Here are the full specs: http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL7CH#
I don't know the sSpec number for my current processor and I'm too lazy to open my case and unscrew my fan, heat sink and clean the thermal compound just to find the number printed on the CPU dye. But AFAIK Both my CPU and the Extreme edition are very similar.
I've seen the Extreme Editions selling on Ebay for $100 at most. I was wondering if it would be worth the money. I figured I could get part of my investment back by selling my current CPU, it usually goes for about $60 or so on ebay.
Also this may be my last post on A.net for a while, that is if my experiment on overclocking the FSB fries my mobo
An upgrade in porcessor speed of like 12% usually is not noticeable in daily life.
Some benchmark tests might run faster, but that's it.
Ask yourself: Do I currently have processes that run too slow while the CPU is operating at 100% capacity ?
If so, an upgrade might be a thing to consider.
If not, it makes no sense from a technical point of view.
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
VonRichtofen From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 4621 posts, RR: 40 Reply 2, posted (4 years 2 months 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1413 times:
As HT pointed out, you won't notice any difference. If you want to see real performance gains save your money for at least a socket 775 upgrade so you can go Quad core. Hell even the higher end Core 2 duo's would probably outperform your current CPU pretty badly.
Or you can take it up another notch and go socket 1366, but I think socket 1366 mobo's might require new cases, RAM and everything. Haven't really looked into them much.
Also,
Are you sure you could get $60 for your CPU on ebay? I wouldn't spend a dime on a used CPU.
VonRichtofen From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 4621 posts, RR: 40 Reply 3, posted (4 years 2 months 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1408 times:
Actually, come to think of it pretty much all Core 2 duo's will outperform your current CPU and the "Extreme" pretty badly, and they are a dime a dozen. A higher end Core 2 duo would destroy any P4 CPU. Core 2 Quad? Fuhgetaboutit. Your $100 would be better spent towards a full mobo and CPU upgrade in my opinion.
FatmirJusufi From Albania, joined Jan 2009, 2410 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (4 years 2 months 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1406 times:
Quoting VonRichtofen (Reply 3): Your $100 would be better spent towards a full mobo and CPU upgrade in my opinion.
It's great advice from VonRichtofen. I would suggest also. Get a mobo which supports at least Core2Duo Processors. Your wouldn't be wrong with this choice. Then gradually you can upgrade other hardwares such as RAM and GPU.
I'd get a more modern Intel-chipset motherboard & stuff and replace directly. There's a good chance your Windows (XP?) will run right away without an on-top reinstallation. Your HDDs are what? SATA? Good. ATA? Bad, as modern MBs only have one ATA channel, and you'll still have your CD drives needing a connector.
Fly2HMO From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (4 years 2 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1357 times:
Thanks for the responses guys.
I actually bumped into a Biostar socket 478 mobo in newegg for $50. It actually has PCIe (though its 1.0) and DDR2 ram (i only have DDR now). I could get that and 4gb of ram to max it out and an ATI HD4870 for less than $300 total.
My roommates all had Core 2s and one of them had the Quad 6600. We'd have LAN parties in our dorm room between the 4 of us and my computer could definitely keep up with them. Yes it loaded a few seconds slower but the frame rates were sometimes even better than theirs at times.
At any rate while I know getting a quad core 6600 nowadays is dirt cheap, It's kinda old technology already now that the Core i7 is out, not to mention I'd have to swap mobos again yet again. I really want a Core i7, they are massively overclockable, but the cheapest I can get a Core i7 920, and MSI X58 mobo and 6gb of ram is $560. That's pretty steep for me right now. Not to mention that's just barely enough for me to have the computer run, I'd still need to add a GPU, and my C drive is still an ATA, and its only 40GB, but I'm planning on making a move to all SATA soon.
What do you guys think? Should I save up for the Core i7?
Comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4671 posts, RR: 17 Reply 9, posted (4 years 2 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1262 times:
You'd need a 64-bit OS to address anything over 4GB RAM - were you planning to do that? How about getting a Solid State Disk (SSD) too to blow away your buddies
FLY2HMO From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (4 years 2 months 11 hours ago) and read 1193 times:
Quoting Comorin (Reply 9): You'd need a 64-bit OS to address anything over 4GB RAM - were you planning to do that?
Yeah I have access to Vista Ultimate 64 for free
Quoting Comorin (Reply 9): How about getting a Solid State Disk (SSD) too to blow away your buddies Smile
Nah they're freaking expensive, and from what I've read the technology isn't all that mature yet and they're still not much faster than a good HDD. Also considering I can get a WD Caviar Black with 1TB for just over $80 I don't see the point of spending close to$300 for just 256Gb which is the most I've seen in capacity for an SSD.
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