how much would I have to spend for this?

[luckyeight]

I have a Core2Duo E8400 @ 3.2Ghz. I use it for web browsing, spreadsheets, & Java-based productivity apps. However I typically have 3-4 apps running at once.

I'd like to know how much I'd have to spend for a mobo/CPU combo if I wanted at least 50-75% better performance? I already have the max amount of RAM and a SSD, so the CPU is the only place I can upgrade

 

[NTMBK]

There's an excellent comparison by Tom's Hardware of old Core 2 chips and modern Ivy Bridge parts: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ivy-bridge-wolfdale-yorkfield-comparison,3487.html

Short story, if you want a 75% improvement then you will want at least a Core i3.

 

[Maximilian]

Stick a Q6600 in.

 

[ejjpi]

go with an i3-4130 and a ga-h87-d3h, you can get both with about 200$

 

[piasabird]

I like the idea of the i3 or i5 4XXX, however you need new DDR3 RAM and Motherboard.

The Q6600 is just too old and not good for basic tasks because it is just too old. If you want an i5 you want a processor with turbo boost. Plus you can use faster DDR3 1600 RAM.

 

[Schmide]

The Q6600 is just too old and not good for basic tasks because it is just too old.

Dude??? Worst sentence and reason evar!!!

Although showing age, the q6600 is an easy overclocker due to its high multiplier and low FSB. Running at 3ghz it easily runs at 70% of a 2500k. Its 8mb L2 makes it decent for multitasking.

 

[ElFenix]

Dude??? Worst sentence and reason evar!!!

Although showing age, the q6600 is an easy overclocker due to its high multiplier and low FSB. Running at 3ghz it easily runs at 70% of a 2500k. Its 8mb L2 makes it decent for multitasking.

for office apps? over an E8400 with a mild overclock? i'm going with not noticeably different. even an ivy or sandy isn't going to be noticeably different. an SSD would be a bigger difference and the OP already has one.

 

[Headfoot]

. Running at 3ghz it easily runs at 70% of a 2500k. Its 8mb L2 makes it decent for multitasking.

Source?

 

[StinkyPinky]

Source?

There's no way a Q6600 at 3Ghz runs at 70% of the speed of a stock clocked 3.4GHz 2500K. And of course a 2500K can clock to well over 4GHz which blows the Q6600 out the water

 

[Schmide]

Source?

This good enough? I was just pulling the number off the top of my head based on the various jumps.

Core -> Nehalem -> Sandy Bridge

~10% each.

Intel is pretty consistent in its jumps.

Regardless if I'm off it's not by much. Sure there are some specific benches that break the number one way or another but for the most part it holds.

I wasn't btw comparing a overclocked 2500k to a q6600 (3ghz) it was just a reference to the level of performance.

 

[GRAFiZ]

Hmm... I have a system running right here, in fact, I'm posting from it. Powered by a Q9650 with 4gb's of DDR2. It does everything I need it to do, from web browsing, to video watching, to Battlefield 3.

Sure, my i7 system is much faster, but, the older core2duo/quad cpu's still have plenty of horsepower for many many daily activities.

As for the OPs question: You're going to get stuck paying a couple hundred for a cpu/mobo combo. Maybe $175. Older technology that still has practical application is relatively, never as affordable as newer more competitive products. But, if you don't want to invest in newer DDR3 ram, you're sort of stuck.

 

[Essence_of_War]

It's going to be kind of pricey since you'll need CPU, MoBo, and new DDR3 RAM (I have an E8400 in my work desktop and it uses DDR2). Figure on the neighborhood of $250-300 depending on deals and such. If you're in the US, here's a decent Newegg combo for the CPU/MoBo, and a reasonably priced RAM. If you maxed out the E8400's RAM, I assume you'll still want 16 GB.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-K Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.94 @ Amazon)
Total: $277.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-23 11:44 EST-0500)

A desktop Haswell i3 should give you the desired performance increase, at least according to application benchmarks.

 

[Schmide]

It's going to be kind of pricey since you'll need CPU, MoBo, and new DDR3 RAM (I have an E8400 in my work desktop and it uses DDR2). Figure on the neighborhood of $250-300 depending on deals and such. If you're in the US, here's a decent Newegg combo for the CPU/MoBo, and a reasonably priced RAM. If you maxed out the E8400's RAM, I assume you'll still want 16 GB.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-K Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.94 @ Amazon)
Total: $277.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-23 11:44 EST-0500)

A desktop Haswell i3 should give you the desired performance increase, at least according to application benchmarks.

Dude in almost all metrics a faster processor (quad) with 8gb ram will outperform a slower processor with 16gb ram. Especially when a SSD is involved.

 

[Essence_of_War]

*shrug* it largely depends on what you're doing.

But if you're not using more than 5-6 GB of RAM in day-to-day use, you can totally go w/ 8 GB which makes it closer to a more palatable $200.

 

[Headfoot]

Dude in almost all metrics a faster processor (quad) with 8gb ram will outperform a slower processor with 16gb ram. Especially when a SSD is involved.

Yeah it would be more noticeable to move the extra money for 16gb of RAM into a faster processor with 8GB of RAM instead

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Well, the pros and cons of a Q6600 replacement have been raised, and someone mentioned a Yorkfield core. Unless you're using an old NVidia 680i chipset, the Yorkfield option is feasible.

Problem is -- finding a good processor at a decent price. Maybe you can find a used one for less. The resellers seem to adhere to Intel's pricing, long after the chips are only available as "tray" units for OEMs. Sometimes -- the prices seem to have gone up, seeking someone in desperate need and no other place to go.

If you could swing it, your outlay may be considerably less than just building a new computer.

 

[shady28]

I have a Core2Duo E8400 @ 3.2Ghz. I use it for web browsing, spreadsheets, & Java-based productivity apps. However I typically have 3-4 apps running at once.

I'd like to know how much I'd have to spend for a mobo/CPU combo if I wanted at least 50-75% better performance? I already have the max amount of RAM and a SSD, so the CPU is the only place I can upgrade

Naturally everyone answered the question you didn't ask.

As you state, you have max RAM and want only a CPU upgrade, the only place to go is a Q9550 or Q9650. In general productivity you mention, especially with multiple apps running, you'll see a good speed-up with the quad core "Core 2" generation. However, it's more likely to be 50%, not 75%, and in single-thread apps you'll gain nothing over an E8400.

According to the first link below, you can get the Q9550 for ~$70 from Memory4Less - a reputable dealer.

At that price, it's a major steal and I would definitely recommend it to extend the life of your socket 775 system :



http://www.memory4less.com/m4l_itemdetail.aspx?itemid=1441349629&partno=AT80569PJ073N

 

[Schmide]

For $62 I'm in for one. I have plenty of friends with 775 systems that would love a bump.

Edit: To original poster. If your MB does not accept Yorkfield (q9550) or you miss this? I will prob be finding a q6600 in these trades. That is assuming i get the q9550 for this price. PM me if you need it.

 

[Headfoot]

Upgrading to a s775 quad is just not a good idea at this point in time. They haven't come down in price really all that much considering their age and you get all of 0 increase in single threaded performance (i.e. the most important metric for a gaming processor)

 

[Schmide]

Upgrading to a s775 quad is just not a good idea at this point in time. They haven't come down in price really all that much considering their age and you get all of 0 increase in single threaded performance (i.e. the most important metric for a gaming processor)

Dude $62 for a q9550 is like the best bang for the buck I've seen this year.

 

[TeknoBug]

^ Q9550 for $65 wow, good find. Same goes for the guy that got a Phenom II X6 1100T for $55 on another thread.

 

[MrSquished]

that's a really good deal. can't ask for more than that. OP do you know how to OC and how fast your RAM is?

 

[Schmide]

Canceled

 

[CHEMEMAN]

Take this for what it is worth.

I had a 790i chipset with a Q9650 at 4.1ghz, an X58 I7-940 at 4.4ghz and a Z77 with a 3570k@4.5ghz all set up side-by-side. I set them all back to 4.1 and the performance was almost identical. They all had SSD's and the Z77's main advantages came when SATA 6 and USB 3.0 became a factor, otherwise they were incredibly close and too close to call by "feel" or perceived performance.

 

[Headfoot]

Dude $62 for a q9550 is like the best bang for the buck I've seen this year.

I must have missed that deal. That is a good price for sure. Last year I bought my brother a q9400 and paid twice that. The bubble has finally popped. I was thinking they were still in the $130-140 range. I agree that would be the easiest and most straightforward upgrade. Nice catch