New CPU

[Oxaqata]

Hey CPU Forumers

Looking to get a new CPU because this Celeron like all Celerons is abysmal at gaming.

Im on a VERY tight budget so C2D isnt an option for me. I have done some research and the following 2 fit my budget. (A C2D would cost double this)

Pentium D 925 3.0Ghz (Would i need a Fan?)

AMD 3800 939 Venice but im not sure of the cost of a motherboard that can use DDR,AGP and PATA.

I would like to play Oblivion not neccesarily at max det, my video card is capable but the CPU is not. Any new suggestions are welcome.

 

[DrMrLordX]

The stock HSF on a 925D should be sufficient unless you plan to overclock.

Were I in your position, I'd get a s939 NF3 board, snap up an old A64 3000+ or 3200+ and overclock it. Heck, you could probably get a s939 x2-3800+ for less than a 925D and do better with that if you want dual-core. That being said, good luck finding any s939 NF4 board with AGP slots.

If you want to go with the Pentium D 925, you won't be dealing with as many EoLed/used parts so availability should be better on processors anyway. As for motherboards . . . there may be a lot of options available, but the only one that comes to my mind is the ASRock 775Dual-VSTA given your need for DDR and AGP support.

 

[Oxaqata]

Yea I was also skeptical about the AMD option because of the lack of Motherboards supporting what I need. I have found a few but they cost insane amounts. If you can reccomend a good relatively cheap and overclockable AMD board it would be very helpful.
If I choose Pentium option I already have a motherboard but Overclocking on it is unlikely.

 

[Oxaqata]

Another question, in the future when most games support Multi Core, would the Pentium or the overclocked AMD do better?

 

[DrMrLordX]

Depends on how well the game is multithreaded, but a Pentium D or used s939 X2-3800+ would probably be your safest bet.

Honestly I'd get a used X2, used NF3 s939 board, and do a mild OC to 2.2-2.4 ghz (however far you can go on stock volts). You might find some good deals on used Opteron 165s or Opteron 170s as well. As for board, I'm drawing a blank right now, but if memory serves the NF3 s939 boards from MSI weren't very good (yeah, that doesn't help much does it?).

It might help to ask around in the motherboards forum too, for what it's worth.

 

[Oxaqata]

I'd love an X2 but being in Australia makes it that much more expensive. Its so expensive that I could almost get a C2D for the same price
Thanks for your help

 

[harpoon84]

Mate, I'm from Australia too, give me your budget in $AUD, I may be able to help you out.

 

[Shimmishim]

So there's no way you can move over to pci-e video card? cuz that would open up the dfi nf4 ultra-d + single core AMD 939 processor which would be an awesome budget gamer!

 

[Oxaqata]

Quick Question, what happens if you plug a CPU that uses Speedstep into a non supporting Mobo?

 

[IntelUser2000]

Quick Question, what happens if you plug a CPU that uses Speedstep into a non supporting Mobo?

Well, if the Mobo supports the CPU, it just won't run SpeedStep, nothing else.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Originally posted by: Oxaqata
I'd love an X2 but being in Australia makes it that much more expensive. Its so expensive that I could almost get a C2D for the same price
Thanks for your help

That's why I mentioned getting a used one. You should be able to find someone with an old 3800+ or 4200+ or something that is looking to sell . . . and that's a good way to get a s939 chip now too, since AMD has EoLed all s939 products anyway. There aren't that many of them in the channels anymore.

Really, I wouldn't buy any s939 chip new at this point, but that's just me.