I'm interested in upgrading a dell I have with a new motherboard and processor. I do lots of image processing with a particular program and I'm curious which would the best type of processor to look for. I would like to spend maybe $300 in total for the processor and motherboard, would I see a big increase from a pentium 4 2.8ghz? I notice that I can get a pentium D for about this price range but would it be much better then what I currently have? (Or would a server cpu be better? or a single core?) Like I said, it is primarily for running a single super intense program with other low power applications running in the background. (The program is an image processing program.) I have to run windows unfortunately. So what would give me the biggest bang/buck ration? Thanks for your time!
type of processor to get?
- Thread starter excalibur3
- Start date
If you're using a Pentium 4 then you'll probably be using either DDR 2700 or DDR 3200. This means to upgrade you'll either need to stick with socket 939 or buy new RAM on top of the CPU and motherboard costs.
Some of your other questions:
You may want dual core, what program are you talking about, photoshop is multithreaded and if you're hanging around waiting for filters to be applied then dual core will cut down on the wait time a lot. If you're not hanging around waiting for images to be processed then you don't need a faster CPU (more RAM might help though).
Server? No, the only one that's worht looking at is the opteron range, which are the same as normal socket 939 chips but tend to overclock realy well.
How much RAM do you have? Do you max it out?
Some of your other questions:
You may want dual core, what program are you talking about, photoshop is multithreaded and if you're hanging around waiting for filters to be applied then dual core will cut down on the wait time a lot. If you're not hanging around waiting for images to be processed then you don't need a faster CPU (more RAM might help though).
Server? No, the only one that's worht looking at is the opteron range, which are the same as normal socket 939 chips but tend to overclock realy well.
How much RAM do you have? Do you max it out?
It is a 2.8ghz Pentium 4
80gb hard drive
512mb ram (yeah I plan on upgrading that too)
cd-rw/dvd rom drive
I mean I don't know the make and model of the motherboard unfortunately but I've pretty much accepted the fact that I will have to ditch it. The computer is about 1 year old and it was a bottom of the line computer at the time. Its model is a dell dimension 3000. It is pretty good for everyday stuff but I'm upgrading it just because it needs to do serious stuff now.
Yeah it is 3200 ram (but 2x256mb
) The program is called SPIP, it is for processing topographical images from a scanning tunneling microscope. In a typical day we might get 4x120 images so to apply filters to them takes a loong time and brings the computer grinding to a halt. I have a core duo computer at home and I notice that it is great for working under heavy loads because the other core is free but i'm not sure how a pentium d would work since it doesn't have a smart cache. (Getting a core duo seems like it would be more like $400-$500.)
80gb hard drive
512mb ram (yeah I plan on upgrading that too)
cd-rw/dvd rom drive
I mean I don't know the make and model of the motherboard unfortunately but I've pretty much accepted the fact that I will have to ditch it. The computer is about 1 year old and it was a bottom of the line computer at the time. Its model is a dell dimension 3000. It is pretty good for everyday stuff but I'm upgrading it just because it needs to do serious stuff now.
Yeah it is 3200 ram (but 2x256mb
) The program is called SPIP, it is for processing topographical images from a scanning tunneling microscope. In a typical day we might get 4x120 images so to apply filters to them takes a loong time and brings the computer grinding to a halt. I have a core duo computer at home and I notice that it is great for working under heavy loads because the other core is free but i'm not sure how a pentium d would work since it doesn't have a smart cache. (Getting a core duo seems like it would be more like $400-$500.)Right, you need more RAM then, which means you might as well go P4D, assuming you can't wait for the AMD price cuts in a fortnight or so.
Either way rough budget:
1GB RAM = $75
Motherboard = $75
CPU = $150
I wouldn't bother truth be told, get yourself some second hand RAM and stick it in your current system. Another GB will make a world of difference.
Either way rough budget:
1GB RAM = $75
Motherboard = $75
CPU = $150
I wouldn't bother truth be told, get yourself some second hand RAM and stick it in your current system. Another GB will make a world of difference.
I'm not in that big of a rush so if the AMD is really going to be much better I can wait. I'll try out adding some extra ram to see how it works.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Of course the thing that didn't occur to me until I started to look into motherboards is that I will probably have to get a new case too since that dell one isn't very flexible.
Oupost currently has a Pentium D 805 + Ecs mb for $140. I suggest 2gb of DDR2 ram, which I have seen recently for $110ar. I am not familiar with the app you mentioned, but many other graphics apps seem to benefit significantly from more ram, and it also helps with multi-tasking too.
When I go to crucials site it says that I need pc3200 184 pin memory. Does it hurt to get say a pc4200 or something higher because it is cheaper now than the pc3200 by $30 on newegg.
if you get ram that is faster than pc3200, it really is only pc3200. it's just guaranteed to hit the speed it's labeled as.
what pc4000 (or 4200?) ram is cheaper than the pc3200 ram you're looking at? you shouldn't be spending more than $140 on 2gb of pc3200 ram in the first place
what pc4000 (or 4200?) ram is cheaper than the pc3200 ram you're looking at? you shouldn't be spending more than $140 on 2gb of pc3200 ram in the first place
When I go to new egg they have corsair ram that goes for like $175 at pc3200 and the pc4200 is like $145. The corsair is the cheapest before getting to memory that has no reviews that and no real name brand. Where is a better place?
You cant replace the mobo in Dell computers easily without case modding. But from the sound of it you have at least a 865p board thats socket 478. Best drop in CPU is a 3.2/3.4ghz Northwood.
Its hard to tell whats better, image procsesing isnt exactly mainstream. However, I suspect a memory upgrade (to 1GB or more) along with enabling HT will give a reasonable boost by itself.
Its hard to tell whats better, image procsesing isnt exactly mainstream. However, I suspect a memory upgrade (to 1GB or more) along with enabling HT will give a reasonable boost by itself.
How do you enable the hyper threading? Just by getting a new processor? Where can i find a good deal on a northwood. That keyword doesn't bring up many processors and most are $300. Is that right? Do I just search for socket 478 processors or what other limitations do I have? A celeron d is a 478 and that doesn't sound like it would work. Will a prescott?
On another note, I still can't find a really good price for pc3200, it seems like the better ram is cheaper than the stuff I need.
On another note, I still can't find a really good price for pc3200, it seems like the better ram is cheaper than the stuff I need.
they have rebates on the more expensive stuff typically.
If you have a p4 capable cpu, just go to the bios and there should be a hyperthreading option.
When I go to my bios I don't have any option to enable hyperthreading. It said that I had a p4 2.8ghz but nothing more.
then you can't get hyperthreading. Why are you asking?
EDIT: Oh!!! You're looking for a new proc? My bad... if you get a p4 northwood, it should have hyperthreading, then go to the bios and turn hyperthreading on. It should come factory enabled though...
EDIT: Oh!!! You're looking for a new proc? My bad... if you get a p4 northwood, it should have hyperthreading, then go to the bios and turn hyperthreading on. It should come factory enabled though...
Okay what you are saying makes sense. I thought I was being told that I could enable hyperthreading on my existing processor but that doesn't seem to be the case when I go to the bios. I still am not really having luck finding a good northwood. The only one I can find on new egg is a 2.8ghz one. It is dirt cheap but looks like what I have currently... The cheapest pricegrabber has is $222 for a 3.0ghz one. For that price I could buy a yonah...
here's what I'd do...
sell the P4 2.8 for 75 bucks right now before everyone realizes conroe
sell the ram for 25 bucks
that's a hundred bucks to start out with to building a new conroe, because once the conroe is released your current parts are going to cost jack~
===
otherwise, the P4 you have will be good enough to see a nice upgrade. get an Asus DX SE mobo for 80 bucks, a 1gig kit for a $70 (1.5 gigs totalled with the RAM you have), a much better cooling solution (zalman preferrably) - then overclock the processor to its last bit of stable juice.
200 bucks so far, spend the other 100 bucks on a better video card if you demand heavier loads off of the processor because I know the Dim3000's have integrated Intel graphics or a PCI gpu which isn't all that great compared to an AGP card.
===
or get an 805 dualcore with a cheaper priced mobo and just get a 1gig DDR2 kit for a hundred bucks, otherwise there are mobos with support for DDR1 and DDR2 (but not simutaneously running together) you could get a DDR1 512mb stick for 40 bucks to make 1 gig if you transfer you current 512mb stick to match up with the new 512 stick.
805 + mobo = 200
RAM = 40 for a single DDR 512mb stick or about a hundred bucks for a good 1 gig stick
eitherway you're spending 200 or 300 bucks.
===
however, keep in mind, that if you decide to just upgrade the memory you are on a win-win situation because you don't have to worry about swapping out the motherboard and worry about PSU costs and other such things like that. your best bet for performance would just be to get two 512mb sticks to make 1 gig and sell the two 256 sticks you already have in your system.
you should know that the PSU and mobo are not compatible with 3rd party hardware according to Dell standards. of everyone who wants you to upgrade the mobo and CPU to something else, you're being told that the PSU and chassis has already been taken care of - so in reality you're really looking at 500 bucks if you're serious.
===
upgrade your 256x2 to 512x2 (RAM). get another motherboard; you're looking at getting another case and PSU. RAM is probably the most universal in your situation to see a performance increase. RAM is RAM; supplying your CPU with more resources for productivity.
===
finally... you might as well go with a conroe for crying out loud, ultra significant peformance gains, meets beyond the extremes of the Athlon FX 62... and climbing.
sell the P4 2.8 for 75 bucks right now before everyone realizes conroe
sell the ram for 25 bucks
that's a hundred bucks to start out with to building a new conroe, because once the conroe is released your current parts are going to cost jack~
===
otherwise, the P4 you have will be good enough to see a nice upgrade. get an Asus DX SE mobo for 80 bucks, a 1gig kit for a $70 (1.5 gigs totalled with the RAM you have), a much better cooling solution (zalman preferrably) - then overclock the processor to its last bit of stable juice.
200 bucks so far, spend the other 100 bucks on a better video card if you demand heavier loads off of the processor because I know the Dim3000's have integrated Intel graphics or a PCI gpu which isn't all that great compared to an AGP card.
===
or get an 805 dualcore with a cheaper priced mobo and just get a 1gig DDR2 kit for a hundred bucks, otherwise there are mobos with support for DDR1 and DDR2 (but not simutaneously running together) you could get a DDR1 512mb stick for 40 bucks to make 1 gig if you transfer you current 512mb stick to match up with the new 512 stick.
805 + mobo = 200
RAM = 40 for a single DDR 512mb stick or about a hundred bucks for a good 1 gig stick
eitherway you're spending 200 or 300 bucks.
===
however, keep in mind, that if you decide to just upgrade the memory you are on a win-win situation because you don't have to worry about swapping out the motherboard and worry about PSU costs and other such things like that. your best bet for performance would just be to get two 512mb sticks to make 1 gig and sell the two 256 sticks you already have in your system.
you should know that the PSU and mobo are not compatible with 3rd party hardware according to Dell standards. of everyone who wants you to upgrade the mobo and CPU to something else, you're being told that the PSU and chassis has already been taken care of - so in reality you're really looking at 500 bucks if you're serious.
===
upgrade your 256x2 to 512x2 (RAM). get another motherboard; you're looking at getting another case and PSU. RAM is probably the most universal in your situation to see a performance increase. RAM is RAM; supplying your CPU with more resources for productivity.
===
finally... you might as well go with a conroe for crying out loud, ultra significant peformance gains, meets beyond the extremes of the Athlon FX 62... and climbing.
So why do I need to get a new motherboard while keeping the p4 the same? Does the asus allow me to overclock it while the dell one doesn't? I already bought 2gb of ram so hopefully it will speed up a lot. Thanks for the different options, this was very helpful.
y the hell u gonna get an asus board if you can't even stick it into the dell, it'll just be a waste of money
be careful with ram selection on dells, refer to the user's manual or the website, dell is pickier than daddy used to be in the candy shop
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