Confusion with CPU upgrade on a 939 socket

[ProPhotoCS3]

I have a gigabyte GA-K8N51GMF-9-RH motherboard and want to upgrade my old 3000 cpu but I am confused with the CPU Support List and what cpu I can actually use. Here are the dual core processor I am interested in:

Vender Model System
Bus(MHz) 2000
AMD Athlon 64x2 4800+(E6,Toledo,90nm,1MBx2) 2000
AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+(E6,Toledo,90nm,1MBx2) 2000
AMD Athlon 64x2 4600+(E4&E6,Manchester,90nm,512KBx2) 2000
AMD Athlon 64x2 4200+(E4&E6,Manchester,90nm,512KBx2) 2000
AMD Athlon 64x2 3800+(E4&E6,Manchester,90nm,512KBx2) 2000

Do I have to get a toledo chip or any Athlon 64x2 socket 939 chip?

 

[myocardia]

What's to be confused about? The page you linked says you can use any of those CPU's, as long as you use at least the F7 BIOS for that board. Welcome to anandtech, BTW.

 

[ProPhotoCS3]

So I can only use a chip made by Toledo? or can I use any x2 chip that is socket 939 because some companies don't list what core model it is. and what is the f7 bios?

 

[ProPhotoCS3]

f7 is the bios version right?

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: ProPhotoCS3
So I can only use a chip made by Toledo? or can I use any x2 chip that is socket 939 because some companies don't list what core model it is. and what is the f7 bios?

That is just AMD's code name for a particular core desgin. You may have noticed "Brisbane", "Windsor" and others too. And yes, f7 is the bios version you will need to support the newer CPU core designs.

And as long as it is a skt 939 dual core A64 you should be ok, but you best try and go by the correct core design just in case.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: ProPhotoCS3
So I can only use a chip made by Toledo? or can I use any x2 chip that is socket 939 because some companies don't list what core model it is. and what is the f7 bios?

No, you can only use one that's made by AMD. And whoever you buy iy from doesn't need to tell you whether it's a Toledo or a Manchester core. The X2 4400's and 4800's are Toledo cores, and the X2 3800's, 4200's, and 4600's are Manchester cores. Although, AMD recently released some X2 3800 Toledo cores, but why would you care? Gigabyte says you can use either core.

 

[ProPhotoCS3]

why are these more expensive than the new cpu's? and where can I find one for cheap?

 

[chinaman1472]

They're more expensive because the supply is very limited but the demand remains somewhat high. There are lots of users out there with S939 motherboards that don't want to buy a new motherboard and CPU (and possibly RAM) for $200-500+ but will settle for a $40-120+ CPU chip.

Just save up the extra cash and do a bigger upgrade, imo.

 

[heyheybooboo]

My $.02 ...

Upgrade your video to a PCIe card that you can move to a new system 'down the road'

OR

A dual-core cpu is not a 'magic bullet'. With the price premium of s939 duak-core CPUs your best 'bang-for-the-buck' cpu upgrade may well be something like the Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 2.2GHz 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 89W Single-Core for $40

Posting all your system information including your power supply would be a big help

 

[Martimus]

The Toledo cores are known to overclock better and run cooler than Manchester cores, but a Manchester works fine too (I have one).

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: ProPhotoCS3
why are these more expensive than the new cpu's? and where can I find one for cheap?

Unfortunately you are caught (like many others) in AMD's decision to discontinue the socket 939 platform. They are no longer producing chips for this socket so the few remaining out there are skyrocketing in cost as supplies dwindle rapidly.

At this point it is a much better idea to put your money into a full upgrade, including cpu/mobo/ram. What flavor you buy depends on several factors: typical uses, budget, and whether you are willing to overclock your system. If you can provide details on these factors we can give you a good idea of what parts to buy that will suit your needs within your budget constraints.

 

[ProPhotoCS3]

Well ignorantly I just bought 2 gigs of ram for 84 bucks for my obsolete motherboard so that is why I wanted to upgrade CPU.

Here is my current set-up:

Gigabyte GA-K8N51GMF-9-RH, AMD Athlon?64 X2/ Athlon?64 socket 939 platform
3 Gigabyte DDR PC3200 400mhz
CPU is AMD 64 3000+ Single Core
ATI All in Wonder 2006 edition PCI

I needed an upgrade because I have to use CS3.

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: ProPhotoCS3
Well ignorantly I just bought 2 gigs of ram for 84 bucks for my obsolete motherboard so that is why I wanted to upgrade CPU.

Here is my current set-up:

Gigabyte GA-K8N51GMF-9-RH, AMD Athlon?64 X2/ Athlon?64 socket 939 platform
3 Gigabyte DDR PC3200 400mhz
CPU is AMD 64 3000+ Single Core
ATI All in Wonder 2006 edition PCI

I needed an upgrade because I have to use CS3.

Look on e-bay what those components are going for - used. You may find that you can sell the RAM you just bought for more than you purchased it for. I was amazed when I went to look for old S939 parts to figure out an issue I was having. Most of the components were being sold for more than they were new, because they were obsolete and in high demand.

 

[ProPhotoCS3]

If I get a new socket 939 dual core processor would you guys suggest getting a new heatsink or can I use my preexisting one.

 

[Martimus]

The dual cores do run hotter than the single core equivalent. Mine ran about 15C to 20C hotter at load, and that was before trying to overclock it (I had a 3500+, which runs at the same speed and has the same cache as the X2 4200+.) The Toledo cores run cooler than the Manchester cores though (I have a Manchester chip).

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: ProPhotoCS3
If I get a new socket 939 dual core processor would you guys suggest getting a new heatsink or can I use my preexisting one.

I had issues attempting to use a standard all-aluminum block AMD stock heatsink, with an X2 3800+. The temps were obscene, especially when overclocking. I picked up a four-heatpipe opteron heatsink on ebay for $20, and now it runs much better.

 

[ProPhotoCS3]

What processor speed is worth upgrading to?

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: ProPhotoCS3
What processor speed is worth upgrading to?

It looks like the most cost effective option would be a X2 3800+. The best price I could find is still about twice what I paid for my X2 4200+ 3 months ago. I'm sorry to say but your options are pretty thin right now. I don't really notice a difference in everyday tasks, but it is nice to be able to run background tasks like antivirus scans without slowing everything else down to a halt.

 

[Mondoman]

Originally posted by: ProPhotoCS3
...

I needed an upgrade because I have to use CS3.

If you mean Adobe Creative Suite 3, I don't think any cheap socket 939 upgrade will make a big difference; rather, you should consider parting out and selling your old components/system and buying a new Intel Core2Duo setup. For example, a GA-P35-DS3L MB runs about $80, an e2160 boxed CPU (w/fan; should be OCable to 3GHz) runs about $75, 2GB of DDR2 RAM runs about $35, and a decent but lower-end nVidia 7xxx series PCI-express card runs about $50. Drives, case, etc, should be reusable from your old system, although I'd strongly consider getting a Seagate SATA hard drive.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Mondoman

Originally posted by: ProPhotoCS3
...

I needed an upgrade because I have to use CS3.

If you mean Adobe Creative Suite 3

I would guess that he meant Adobe Photoshop CS3. If so, about the best upgrade possible would be having 4-8 GB of RAM, if working with very large images, especially if using filters.