Socket 462: Best CPU??

[Whitedog]

I've had an ASUS A7N8XE Deluxe for a few years now. Rock solid PC and I'm NOT replacing it anytime soon.
It just got it's final video card upgrade (X1950GT OC'd), and had 2 gig of memory.
Currently running a Mobile 2600+ @ 2.2ghz (Ran it at 2.4 for a couple years, but some games crash at that speed).

Is this about the best I'm going to be able to do with this? I'm sure my CPU is bottlenecking my video card somewhat.

No, I am NOT buying ANYTHING else right now. Just a CPU "IF" there's a better one. I have one of those GIANT copper sinks on it, so cooling isn't a problem.

===========

Right now, the only game I play, runs great (LOTRO)... so I will only build a new computer when I play a NEW game (or expansion) that doesn't run at max settings on this rig. This may be a year or so.

Thanks

 

[imported_Un4given]

You really are about as far as you can go. The fastest XP made was 2.4GHz. With an XP the difference between 2.2GHz and 2.4GHz, when you are looking at today's software, doesn't mean squat. I wouldn't even bother spending a dime on a faster CPU for that system. Since S462 you've already had S754 and S939 come and go.

If you aren't going to overhaul the system, then just don't spend money on your computer until you are ready to overhaul. Flushing it down the toilet would give you about as much performance boost as trying to upgrade your current box.

 

[f4phantom2500]

dude you really really should consider getting an athlon 64 mobo and cpu, either 939 or 754, that can use an agp card (8x of course). the motherboard would be pretty cheap and the processor would be very cheap as well ($70 or so shipped for both wouldn't surprise me) and if you get a good oc'er (if you don't know how well it will oc from the previous owner, or if you buy from an etailer, try to get a venice), you could probably hit 2.4ghz or higher without much problem, and it would be much much faster than your xp-m at 2.2ghz. i went from a barton 2500 to an athlon 64 3500, 2.2ghz, and it was just an amazing upgrade. seriously, i doubt you'll regret it. plus you can keep using your current drives, RAM, video card, etc, you would only have to replace the motherboard and processor. and honestly it would be money much MUCH better spent than buying any socket a processor. good socket a chips are actually expensive, relative to the cost of much faster, yet not quite as old, single core 754 and 939 athlon 64's since the socket a's are so hard to come by now and, even though the 754 and 939 athlon 64's are still old, they're also still athlon 64's so they're not too hard to come by.

also the fastest common socket a chip was the xp 3200, which was a 2.2ghz barton with a 200mhz fsb. i read a lot about the mobile bartons hitting the mid-2ghz range, but even if you managed to get one of those, it wouldn't be worth the cost. just do nothing or go 754/939.

 

[aka1nas]

There are already games out that require SSE2, so you're SOL for gaming on a K7. Second the recommendation for a platform upgrade,

 

[Arkaign]

Another nod to getting out of Socket A. It was great for it's time, but your X1950 is several generations ahead in terms of leaving it as a bottleneck. Because you have AGP and DDR1, you'll have to be careful finding a matching setup.

I recommend matching this :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813138247

with this :

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...sp?ProductCode=80699-R

Under $150, will work with your current ram/video, and you should be able to hit 2.2-2.5ghz easily, putting you in the 3800+ performance range.

Remember, the P4 Northwood notably edged out the Athlon XP series on the top end 3.2Ghz P4 > 3200+ AXP. The Athlon 64 notably edged the P4 Northwood/Prescott for gaming especially, so you'll be jumping a couple of big steps upwards in performance. The IHS and other improvements to the A64 line make it run MUCH cooler than the AXP as well, so it's just good news all the way around for you. Good luck.

 

[MadRat]

I've got a motherboard that doesn't directly support the Mobile Athlon I'm running but with CrystalCPUID its been excellent. It's down at 600MHz when below 20% usage and scales to 2.2GHz during anything over 50% processor time. Made a huge difference for gaming, especially since its so stable. If you aren't getting into Vista I see absolutely no need for a new rig.

 

[mhahnheuser]

S462 mobiles were multiplier unlocked and should be able to be set at any speed. 3200+ sat at FSB 200 x 11 that's why 2500+'s were so sought after cause they ran stock a 166 X 11 and could be clocked to max speed for Barton simply by raising voltage a tad and FSB to 200 MHz. Most Bartons are capable at running at 2200 MHz with little trouble. Higher than that was a bit of pot luck and a lot of finessing, but quite high OC's into the high 2000's could be acheived. Just for the record I have a 2500+ and 6600 GT combo running VISTA Basic on an nForce 2 mobo and it benched DOOM3 at nearly 40fps on high settings at 1024 X 768 and that's on only 512k of DDR 400. So they go and go quite well.

 

[maluckey]

The Barton Mobiles were/are excellent overclockers. You didn't talk about your cooling setup, but if it is not up to snuff, you could spend just 25 bucks on a cooler and see large differences in headroom for OC. I still use a 2400+ Barton Mobile, clocked @ 2.4 gHz for over three years of daily use. I can play many games at decent FPS.

 

[bryanW1995]

did anyone read this?

"No, I am NOT buying ANYTHING else right now. Just a CPU "IF" there's a better one. I have one of those GIANT copper sinks on it, so cooling isn't a problem."

You are too close to the max speed of that rig. Don't waste your money on a couple hundred mhz. I've done that a lot recently (upgraded from xp 2500+ to 3000+ to A64 3700+ to fx55 to operton 180 over the past 4 yrs). They all seemed like a "deal" at the time but my overall cost has been ridiculous. Run it until you need to upgrade, then part it out for as much as you can and rebuild it...bigger...faster...stronger...

 

[maluckey]

I read it... :roll:

"GIANT copper cooler" tells little. A quick check of Dans Data showed several copper coolers to be only a little better than stock coolers.

The 2600+ Mobile is likely to have a bit more in it than 2300, unless it is a DUD, which is a rare thing with these particular processors. The Mobiles were the cream of the crop of the Bartons. 2400+ and 2500+ Mobiles were regularly pushed over 2400 Mhz for extended periods with total stability. 2300 mHz was considered (back in the day) to be a mediocre speed with these processors. 2.5 gHz (stable) was bragging rights with these processors.

Upgraded coolers for his chipset can be found at a friends house or on ebay for under 20 bucks. Nobody needs them anymore. If I was home, I'd mail him my old Alpha 8045 for 5 bucks (for the postage) If it didn't help, it would be a great paperweight.

 

[Bateluer]

I wouldn't spend much money on the OPs machine until money was available for a complete overhaul, preferably with DD2 and a PCIe video card. As others have pointed out, you could get a DDR1/AGP board and save your video card and RAM, but you'd be in the same position, saddled with antiquated hardware that would need upgrading again before too long. Getting a solid DDR2, or DDR3 board, will give you much more longevity. You could offset some of the cost by selling the old stuff on eBay as well.

 

[bryanW1995]

I've had a lot of luck in the fs/ft forums here. I sold my 3700+, barton 3000+, 7600gt, and several other items for about what I could have gotten on ebay but without the ebay hassles.

 

[Killrose]

I would'nt spend another dime to upgrade your system, but I would try to max CPU and memory if you can. You will always have a benefit from any speed increase no matter how minor. If 2.4gig in not stable, why not 2.3gig? or somethng reliable?

I too have a 2600+ Barton Mobile @2.4gig in my main rig. Though I have been experiancing the upgrade bug for years, I only play BF1942 online and some older games which my current system has absolutely no problems puttin out the frame rates on.

 

[TheRyuu]

Ah, old Socket A, fastest CPU would probably be one of those 2500+ Mobile ones (or whatever the right xxxx+ rating was, I don't remember). You can reach 2.5ghz with those
Brings back memories.

But in all seriousness, the socket is dead.