CPU UPGRADE QUESTION

[JK949]

I as thinking about upgrading my cpu and motherboard to an Athlon 64.
What cpu and motherboard should i get without spending too much cash.
I need something that will handle medium gaming and benchmarking
and general use like internet and light word proccesing and so on.
Right now i have an XP2800, MSI k7n2l mobo, WD 80 gig hd 8 meg cach, 512 dual channel
memory and a 9700pro card. I don't need raid or sata. Just the basics.
Also will i need a new power supply. I have an Enermax Whisper Quite 350 watt.
I have a cdrw, cdrom, and a floppy drive.
Thats about all the info i can think of.

 

[mechBgon]

Is your memory PC3200 or faster? Also, that's really not a bad rig already!

 

[JK949]

Yes it's 3200. what do you think would gain performance wise.
I found the retail 64 3000+ cpu at pricegrabbers for $ 222.00 out the door.

 

[mechBgon]

This page might give you a general feel for it... they're comparing the A64 3200+ to several other systems including an AthlonXP 3200+. In one benchmark the AthlonXP actually leads! :Q But in the last one on that page, the A64 is leading by a pretty significant margin in UT2003, where there's physics and AI to deal with.

I upgraded my work system from an AthlonXP 2500+ to an A64 3000+ and the difference was rather subtle in routine office usage. Programs re-launch from RAM a bit faster, for example. When it's doing a really big job like WinZipping 9GB of data (actually did this the other day), then the A64 is going to perform faster, about in proportion to its 3000+ rating over the 2500+.

 

[AsiLuc]

When you got a XP2800+ it won't be like a 50% percent boost, more like 5-15%. That's hardly worth all the money. Just hold on to it and buy a 939-board in half a year or so, along with a X800 Pro. That's serious stuff.
Save the money until it gets you a proportional increase in performance.
Good luck!

 

[JK949]

What about the difference in buss speed. 333 for the 2800 and 800 for the 64 3000.
That isn't going to make any real difference ?
I would have thought it would. what about cpu intensive benchmarking like 3dmark03
cpu test's. would the fps increase with the 64 3000. if it's not going to be much
of a gain then maybe i'll just keep what i have. what about going with an intel cpu.
Any suggestions.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: JK949
What about the difference in buss speed. 333 for the 2800 and 800 for the 64 3000.
That isn't going to make any real difference ?
I would have thought it would. what about cpu intensive benchmarking like 3dmark03
cpu test's. would the fps increase with the 64 3000. if it's not going to be much
of a gain then maybe i'll just keep what i have. what about going with an intel cpu.
Any suggestions.

I still think you are great with what you have right now.
I was tossing around the idea of upgrading myself, but I am on an XP2500+ and Radeon 9800 Pro.. it's good enough for now, and the benefit of going to something "a little faster" is not worth it man.

you can get a P4 3.0 and mobo, but you will be less than 10% performance increase i would be willing to bet. not worth it... I'd say do as the other fellow said and wait for another generation of stuff. (socket 939, x800's, etc)

 

[myocardia]

Since you came to the overclocking/cpu forum to ask your question, let me be the first to ask. Why don't you just see what your XP2800 will do, since you have PC3200 ram already? I would think that it wouldn't have any problems at all with 180-190 fsb, even with that motherboard you have, which is a considerable "upgrade" for free.

 

[AsiLuc]

So speaks the overclocker.. (check his sign)
I admire him, and he has a good point.
But, be ready to invest time and energy to make such a plan fly.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: AsiLuc
So speaks the overclocker.. (check his sign)
I admire him, and he has a good point.
But, be ready to invest time and energy to make such a plan fly.

You mean his sig?