Do I NEED a dual core processor?

[Roobomb]

I'm looking to ugrade my old rig (see below) and am wondering, would I be dumb to not upgrade to a dual core processor, or if I would be fine with a single core processor. Since I graduated , I don't use my computer for anything but playing games or surfing. I've got young kids, so I'm on a pretty tight budget. I've got a nice case, monitor, speakers and PSU already, I just would need to upgrade CPU, MB, video card and RAM. I like FPS's and RTS's, pretty much whatever grabs my attention.
I've thought about going with something like a 3500+ if I go single core, or a 3800+ if I go dual.
Any suggestions?

 

[deadseasquirrel]

What is your reason for upgrading? Is there a game and/or application that runs too slowly? What monitor do you use for gaming? At what resolution do you prefer to play?

 

[Blain]

Yes, a dual core E6600, 4GB's of memory and SLI video cards should allow you to check your email, surf the web and also watch a DVD.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes, a dual core E6600, 4GB's of memory and SLI video cards should allow you to check your email, surf the web and also watch a DVD.

Seems a little low spec for that. Email needs at least an E6800

Newegg has a combo deal on socket 939 3500+ and Biostar TForce 6100-939 for $160. The 3500+ should be fine with a 7900GT or lower.

 

[Roobomb]

One reason I'm upgrading is because I'm starting to get random re-boots while playing. I RMA'd my RAM to Corsair, but it's still doing it, even with only the video card plugged in. My PSU is brand new, so I don't think it's that. So, if I upgrade my MB, there is no use getting another Socket 754, therefore I need to get MB, CPU, video card, and RAM. As you can see in my sig, my video card is quite dated, and I'm looking to buy Oblivion as I've played all the others in the series, and I don't think mine will run it.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes, a dual core E6600, 4GB's of memory and SLI video cards should allow you to check your email, surf the web and also watch a DVD.

Well I require that just for a firewall

 

[bnads]

if you look at the price for the current 3800+ X2's...it's an amazing deal... thats what i'm planning to do in the coming months

even if you don't need all that power, i say it's a good investment

but the death of 939 really wouldn't change my opinion, it's still great technology

CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!!

 

[orangat]

Your problems are nothing to do with single vs multicore so you might run into it even after upgading.

Games are still primarily single core apps despite the new Nvidia drivers. I can't think of a well known multithreaded game. Multicore are useful if you encode or do stuff in the background. Several users think multicore is too much of a hassle to get it working right in games - affinity patch although the 3800+ has gotten cheap enough so its probably worth it even if you'll never use its full functionality in games.

 

[Roobomb]

Right now the best price I can find for the 3800+ X2 is $148, and I can get a 3500+ for $91. Would I be better off spending the extra $60 on a better video card?

 

[Roobomb]

Originally posted by: orangat
Your problems are nothing to do with single vs multicore so you might run into it even after upgading.

Games are still primarily single core apps despite the new Nvidia drivers. I can't think of a well known multithreaded game. Multicore are useful if you encode or do stuff in the background. Several users think multicore is too much of a hassle to get it working right in games - affinity patch although the 3800+ has gotten cheap enough so its probably worth it even if you'll never use its full functionality in games.

I didn't think my crashes were due to having a single core processor, nor did I mean to infer that a dual core processor might solve the instability. I think that is just from a system that's a few years old and has been tinkered with much too often. I merely wanted to know the most practical upgrade path for me.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Roobomb
Right now the best price I can find for the 3800+ X2 is $148, and I can get a 3500+ for $91. Would I be better off spending the extra $60 on a better video card?

Yes. especially for Oblivion.

 

[MrUniq]

Getting an X2 3800 and an Asrock SataII should serve you well...I just bought that MB myself. You can still use your AGP and get a new PCI express later on. That only leaves you with 2 items to upgrade ATM.

 

[MrUniq]

Better watch your NeoHE it's been problematic for alot of poeople...other than that check event viewer for bad HD blocks...and test each individual ram stick...

I had 3 sticks of new memory that would eventually quit working in an old socket A mb but works great in my Asrock.

 

[Roobomb]

Originally posted by: MrUniq
Getting an X2 3800 and an Asrock SataII should serve you well...I just bought that MB myself. You can still use your AGP and get a new PCI express later on. That only leaves you with 2 items to upgrade ATM.

I want to upgrade my video card so I can play some of the newer games. I have around $500 US to upgrade with.

By the way, I have tested the sticks of RAM individually, and in all the slots on the MB running Memtest86+, and they all show errors in the same location consistently no matter their location. I had this problem posted several weeks ago here, and the concensus seemed to be that the problem could either be the RAM or the MB...
As for the PSU, I've tested the system with my old PSU and the same problem occurs. I will try looking through the event log (I was unaware of this function in Windows).

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Roobomb
One reason I'm upgrading is because I'm starting to get random re-boots while playing. I RMA'd my RAM to Corsair, but it's still doing it, even with only the video card plugged in. My PSU is brand new, so I don't think it's that. So, if I upgrade my MB, there is no use getting another Socket 754, therefore I need to get MB, CPU, video card, and RAM. As you can see in my sig, my video card is quite dated, and I'm looking to buy Oblivion as I've played all the others in the series, and I don't think mine will run it.

Check your power supply!!!
I was also getting random reboots.
My generic power supply my faithful OKIA was carping out on me!!

 

[MrUniq]

Okay yea they are right..it's either your MB or the sticks. I'd say....how long have you had the memory. If you've had it ever since you built the system then I'm pretty sure is a Ram problem. MB's can be the cause as well....but in my case it was because it didn't like the combination of sticks I was using(plus I had RMA'd my DDR and recieved new ones rather than my originals). Event viewer is very important to keep track of..you can prevent/detect alot of hardware/OS errors by checking on it. The descriptions aren't very descriptive though...that's where google comes in handy.

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes, a dual core E6600, 4GB's of memory and SLI video cards should allow you to check your email, surf the web and also watch a DVD.

Seems a little low spec for that. Email needs at least an E6800

n00b. You need a physics card and 10, 000 RPM HDDs on top of what you mentioned for MSN to run acceptably.

 

[myocardia]

If you use more than one stick of RAM with Skt. 754 processors, the RAM requires more voltage, strangely enough. Try giving your RAM 2.70v, and then run MemTest again.

 

[Kromis]

I think dual-core is gonna become mainstream (duh) and that you should get one if you want to be popular (j/k)!

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes, a dual core E6600, 4GB's of memory and SLI video cards should allow you to check your email, surf the web and also watch a DVD.

Seems a little low spec for that. Email needs at least an E6800

Didn't know they had an E6800.

 

[Roobomb]

Originally posted by: myocardia
If you use more than one stick of RAM with Skt. 754 processors, the RAM requires more voltage, strangely enough. Try giving your RAM 2.70v, and then run MemTest again.

I am running my RAM at 2.7V currently. I even tried running it at 2.8V underclocked using Memtest86+ and still got the same errors.

 

[savvy]

No one even needs a computer.

 

[corkyg]

Agree. It is not a matter of "need," but want. There is a malady called "technolust." It knows no bounds.

 

[Roobomb]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Agree. It is not a matter of "need," but want. There is a malady called "technolust." It knows no bounds.

If you will read the initial post, you will notice that I'm upgrading because the computer is having random reboots which I have been unable to resolve, despite help I have received on this forum. Also, if you were to look at my signature, you would notice that my computer is hardly a new setup that would be indicative of someone who exudes "technolust". I "need" a computer because this is the main way I communicate with my family that lives a few thousand miles away from me. I "need" a computer because this is one of the ways I relax from the rigors of owning a business. I "need" a computer, because, even though I am no longer in school, I still occasionally do research and have to peruse medical journals, which I choose to do at home, not at my office.
I assure you I am much more practical, or frugal, or downright cheap, than I have to be. I choose to buy affordable stuff, not latest and greatest, as would someone with "technolust". I promise, I spend much more per year in diapers than I do on computers. So, no "technolust" here, merely a "need" to upgrade to a stable system.