Complete upgrade

[Migroo]

Hi guys.

I'm looking to upgrade my PC. My budget is fairly small, and I like the look of the Pentium 4 805 Dual Core. I won't be extreme overclocking this, but it might get a mild OC.

Basically, I don't have much knowledge of the current hardware market. My question: is going with the dual core CPU a good idea or will the 2nd core be idle most of the time?

I mostly use my PC for surfing and a bit of light gaming. It really struggles with WoW and I can tell a RAM upgrade would give improvements, but I think it's really time to upgrade the whole machine.

 

[dBTelos]

For a low-end machine like this your better off buying a pre-made PC. Look at Dell for a C2D processor and 7900GT videocard.

 

[Migroo]

Thanks for the very quick reply.

Really? Wow, thats a first for me. I've always built my PCs ever since I started with a P166MMX.

My current spec (fwiw):
Athlon XP 2400+
Gigabyte GA-7DXR
512mb RAM (PC2100 - DDR266)
ATi Radeon 9800 Pro (AGP)

I don't mind re-using the 9800, but it's AGP. I also have a high end 19" CRT which I will re-use. I basically need a new mobo/CPU/RAM combo but I guess that also means a new HDD too as mine are all IDE.

I understand where you're coming from re: a new PC, but I don't need any of the 'extras' like monitor/keyboard/mouse/software so they won't be a benefit to me.

 

[Atheus]

Dual core will help with certain specialist applications like video editing, and intensive multitasking like compiling a program while playing a game. Browser + Word + Winamp for example does not count as intensive multitasking as those apps do not need the CPU(s) at all times. You would still notice a 'snappy' responsiveness when using these apps, you would never have to wait for the machine to 'catch up' when trying to start a new program or something, but in reality the difference between your current box and a fast single core would be much greater than the difference between the single and dual core.

As for the 805, that is the old Intel netburst architecture, which is outdated. There are 2 far supiror architectures out there - the AMD Athlon 64 or Hammer processor, and the Intel Core 2 Duo or Conroe. Either of these, in single or dual core configuration, will destroy the 805 in most things and can be had for a comparable price. Especially the AMD on socket 939 - that's even cheaper than Pentium 4 despite being faster.

 

[Migroo]

Thanks Atheus. It's worth knowing they are comparable prices.

If I look at an Athlon 64, should I choose AM2 or Socket 989??

2nd Q: Is there any way for me to re-use my video card?

 

[lobbyone]

With a socket 939, you will be able to re-use your PC2100 memory and video card with select mobos of course, ASRock being one such mobo, I think Epox also has a socket939 with AGP slot. Although, with prices on AM2 mobos, I don't see why not get it along with a AM2 processor and DDR2?

 

[Rockhound1]

Do you happen to live in a city where there is a Fry's Electronics store? If so, they run CPU/motherboard combo specials each week (Friday through Tuesday). These deals are sometimes very good - look at the "Hot Deals" forum.

 

[Noubourne]

AM2, and don't reuse the video card. It's time to retire it. There's no reason to cripple yourself with an AGP mobo if you're going to buy a whole new one: you might as well go AM2 and PCI-Express and get it over with.

You can re-use your hard drives. All the new mobos still have IDE channels on them - many devices (burners etc) don't have SATA versions.

Cheap non-OC route:
$75 Abit KN9 NF4 Ultra mobo
$120 RAM 512x2 DDR2 800 OCZ Gold
$160 CPU AMD AM2 X2 3800 (65w)
$117 eVGA 7600GTS 256MB 560/1400

That's $475 for a whole new rig basically. Assuming you don't need a new PSU. Which you probably do. Which would probably put you at $575 or so.

 

[vailr]

The ASRock 775Dual-VSTA (~$60) can run both the Core2 Duo 6300 Processor (~$180), and still allow re-use of the 9800 AGP video card.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=29&threadid=1896616
It can't run on older PC2100 memory; but can run on either: PC3200 DDR Ram (might look for bargain DDR memory on the For Sale/Trade Forum) or else: newer DDR2 Ram.

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: dBTelos
For a low-end machine like this your better off buying a pre-made PC. Look at Dell for a C2D processor and 7900GT videocard.

i agree

 

[Gautama2]

"Low end" "Core 2 Duo" and "7900GT" in the same sentence? Psshh....

 

[secretanchitman]

C2D E6300 + 7600GT/7900GTO/7900GT/7950GT or an ati equivalent card.

also the asrock mobo if you want to use ddr 1 and agp and also be able to use ddr2 and pci-e.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Migroo
Hi guys.

I'm looking to upgrade my PC. My budget is fairly small, and I like the look of the Pentium 4 805 Dual Core. I won't be extreme overclocking this, but it might get a mild OC.

Basically, I don't have much knowledge of the current hardware market. My question: is going with the dual core CPU a good idea or will the 2nd core be idle most of the time?

I mostly use my PC for surfing and a bit of light gaming. It really struggles with WoW and I can tell a RAM upgrade would give improvements, but I think it's really time to upgrade the whole machine.

Newegg has the fx-55 cpu on sale for 139.99$ here (buy a artic cooling freezer 64 fan for this) http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...&STARTPAGE=1&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear
With this motherboard for 90.00$ http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=110799
For light gaming I'd choose the 7600gt for 135.00$
This case for 50 bucks can't be beat http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068
Any good name power supply,Enemax,Antec ect. ect. with 450 watts and a 25 to 30 amp 12v rail about 70.00$

Thats about 500.00$ for a real nice set up for what your doing (light gaming and surfing). Last you for a couple years :beer:

Edit: you can use your ram on that motherboard also?

I took out the ram since you can reuse it. Yes this system will smoke your Thoroughbred. One more thing for what you want the computer to do you do not need a duel core cpu

 

[Migroo]

Thanks guys, that's given me a lot of ideas.

Would an FX-55 (running at standard clock 2.6GHz) PC be that much faster than my 2.0GHz Thoroughbred? I realise this is more than just CPUs (mobo and RAM are a factor). Assuming I pair something like an FX-55 with a nice mobo and fast ram (compared to the ancient motherboard that I'm using now).

Ideally I'd like a noticeable increase in speed, and to be really noticeable it ought to be at least twice as fast. In the old days it was easy as all you really needed to do was double your CPU speed. Nowadays, are CPUs doing that much more per cycle as it seems like a lot of money only to 'add' 600MHz to the system.

Hopefully this question makes sence

 

[Noubourne]

FX-55 is single core. Don't do it. The dual-core isn't that much more expensive and you can overclock that (trust me).

The build I showed you was far less than $700 and it included DDR2 and a dual-core CPU.

Wouldn't recommend the FX-55. It's really only good if you need to replace a really slow single core s939 chip in a board you already had and for whatever reason you don't want to overclock at all.

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: Noubourne
FX-55 is single core. Don't do it. The dual-core isn't that much more expensive and you can overclock that (trust me).

The build I showed you was far less than $700 and it included DDR2 and a dual-core CPU.

Wouldn't recommend the FX-55. It's really only good if you need to replace a really slow single core s939 chip in a board you already had and for whatever reason you don't want to overclock at all.

The FX-55 is a god for overclocking. Unlocked multiplier? Woot! Do 3GHz+ with a low multiplier and a crazy high FSB. Use a memory divider to make even ValueRAM work. Have an insane FSB and quick RAM and 3GHz or more easily. All on stock voltages. I love it.

And the price... so cheap!

Sorry, I was just rambling at how much I want to get an FX-55 and sell my current CPU(s).

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: Migroo
Hi guys.

I'm looking to upgrade my PC. My budget is fairly small, and I like the look of the Pentium 4 805 Dual Core. I won't be extreme overclocking this, but it might get a mild OC.

Basically, I don't have much knowledge of the current hardware market. My question: is going with the dual core CPU a good idea or will the 2nd core be idle most of the time?

I mostly use my PC for surfing and a bit of light gaming. It really struggles with WoW and I can tell a RAM upgrade would give improvements, but I think it's really time to upgrade the whole machine.

Newegg has the fx-55 cpu on sale for 139.99$ here (buy a artic cooling freezer 64 fan for this) http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...&STARTPAGE=1&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear
With this motherboard for 90.00$ http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=110799
For light gaming I'd choose the 7600gt for 135.00$
This case for 50 bucks can't be beat http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068
Any good name power supply,Enemax,Antec ect. ect. with 450 watts and a 25 to 30 amp 12v rail about 70.00$

Thats about 500.00$ for a real nice set up for what your doing (light gaming and surfing). Last you for a couple years :beer:

Edit: you can use your ram on that motherboard also?

I took out the ram since you can reuse it. Yes this system will smoke your Thoroughbred. One more thing for what you want the computer to do you do not need a duel core cpu

Edit Read above. That's a whole new system with psu and case and pci-e video

 

[lucasorion]

One thing you need to know about modern processors is that differences in MHZ/GHZ doesn't have nearly the same weight when it comes to evaluating the performance of the proc as it used to. Check out the Tom's Hardware CPU Charts: http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Atheus
Dual core will help with certain specialist applications like video editing, and intensive multitasking like compiling a program while playing a game. Browser + Word + Winamp for example does not count as intensive multitasking as those apps do not need the CPU(s) at all times. You would still notice a 'snappy' responsiveness when using these apps, you would never have to wait for the machine to 'catch up' when trying to start a new program or something, but in reality the difference between your current box and a fast single core would be much greater than the difference between the single and dual core.
As for the 805, that is the old Intel netburst architecture, which is outdated. There are 2 far supiror architectures out there - the AMD Athlon 64 or Hammer processor, and the Intel Core 2 Duo or Conroe. Either of these, in single or dual core configuration, will destroy the 805 in most things and can be had for a comparable price. Especially the AMD on socket 939 - that's even cheaper than Pentium 4 despite being faster.

Exactly!

 

[Migroo]

Originally posted by: Noubourne
That's $475 for a whole new rig basically. Assuming you don't need a new PSU. Which you probably do. Which would probably put you at $575 or so.

Getting back to this (3 months later!!) I have this PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103455

Do I need to upgrade if I go with the Abit KN9 NF4 Ultra mobo? Are there a new set of connectors that my PSU doesn't have, or is it all down to power?

 

[Roguestar]

Yes, you'll need a new PSU. That motherboard uses a 24-pin connector as well as the 4-pin CPU motherboard power connector but your PSU only has the 4-pin and a 20-pin. I'd suggest getting a new PSU with about 400W so you've got a bit of leeway.

 

[Blain]

Your Gigabyte GA-7DXR / 2400+ should be a good overclocking combo.
Have you pushed your 2400 higher?

 

[Migroo]

Roguestar - thanks. Not the answer I wanted, but very useful.

Blain - I haven't tried. Unfortunately the PC has (of late) developed some serious problems, and I reckon they're hardware related, so I won't be trying the OC! Definately upgrading in a week or two now.

 

[Blain]

If there's any possibility that your problems are OS/software related, I'd do a fresh relaod and try OCing that beast.

I'm all about keeping in "on the cheap".
1GB of nice memory along with your CPU & AGP OC'd would make a nice rig. Not dual core of course, but respectable none the less.

 

[Migroo]

I know what you mean .. but I really think the hardware is on it's way out. Had a look inside and spotted what I think are some blown capacitors on the mobo.. might explain a few things.

Mobo is 6 years old. One of the HDDs I'm using is older!

I just don't think it's worth the effort (and expense of getting 1gb compatible RAM) just to get this rig slightly faster. Been there already!

Just need to decide 100% on a few items and we're away!

Another question:
20-pin PSUs are out now (thanks Roguestar), but are all mobos still ATX? Are they going to fit in my existing case?

(Probably sounds funny.. just don't want to find I need a new case when I'm fitting it all!!)