What's the fastest CPU I can put in my sig rig?

[Caveman]

Looking to refresh an old machine for the kids for a reasonable price...

 

[bendixG15]

Here you go .. took 33 seconds, my good deed for the day ..

http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=prodcpusupport&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=&cat3_no=&prod_no=587

 

[Caveman]

Thanks... Been out of the loop for years... Forgothow this is done...

So it looks like:

Athlon FX Dual Core 4800+ is best? WOW. Expensive... I was expecting something cheap ($100 or under).


Athlon 64 FX Dual-Core (Toledo, 90nm, L2 Cache 2 x 1MB)Athlon 64 FX60 (E6 version)20013NO Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core (Toledo, 90nm, L2 Cache 2 x 1MB)Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4400+ (E6 version)20011OK Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4800+ (E6 version)20012OK Athlon 64 FX Dual-Core (Toledo, 90nm, L2 Cache 2 x 1MB)Athlon 64 FX60 (E6 version)20013NO Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core (Toledo, 90nm, L2 Cache 2 x 1MB)Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4400+ (E6 version)20011OK Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4800+ (E6 version)20012OK Opteron Daul-Core (90nm, L2 Cache 2 x 1MB)AMD Opteron 165 (E6 version)2009OK AMD Opteron 170 (E6 version)20010OK AMD Opteron 175 (E6 version)20011OK AMD Opteron 180 (E6 version)20012OK Opteron Single-Core (90nm, L2 Cache 1MB)AMD Opteron 144 (E4 version)2009OK AMD Opteron 146 (E4 version)20010OK AMD Opteron 148 (E4 version)20011OK AMD Opteron 150 (E4 version)20012OK AMD Opteron 154 (E4 version)20014OK Athlon 64 FX Dual-Core (Toledo, 90nm, L2 Cache 2 x 1MB)Athlon 64 FX60 (E6 version)20013NO Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core (Toledo, 90nm, L2 Cache 2 x 1MB)Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4400+ (E6 version)20011OK Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4800+ (E6 version)20012OK Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core (Manchester, 90nm, L2 Cache 2 x 512KB)Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+ (E6 version)20010OK Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4200+ (E6 version)20011OK Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4600+ (E6 version)20012OK

 

[jacktesterson]

I would do a CPU/mb/ram upgrade only, not worth it CPU only

 

[Dravic]

Looking to refresh an old machine for the kids for a reasonable price...

You're too far back (939 -> am2 -> am2+ -> am3 -> soon to be released am3+), no 939 cpu's are being produced so you are going to pay an arm and a leg for a cpu that will get beaten in performance by at $50 modern cpu.


$99 AMD 640 quad core cpu (~$150 gets you into the 955 range, $180 gets you 6 cores 1055T[my sig] or AMD's fastest x4)
~$100 AMD AM3 880G Motherboard ( ~$135 for 890GX, ~$150 for 890FX)
~$70 4GB ddr3 1333 memory

$270 ($400 for all out x4, and entry[if not overclocking] 6 core)

You could prob get by with the on board video in a pinch until you decide on a GPU (5670 is ~$80 after rebate)

 

[toyota]

you also have a thread looking for an agp card. you need a modern platform. there is no point in refreshing something that old.

 

[VirtualLarry]

you also have a thread looking for an agp card. you need a modern platform. there is no point in refreshing something that old.

Totally agreed. Time to move onto something more modern, and cheaper besides.

If you have a Microcenter near you, OP, then you can get some pretty nice cheap combo deals at the B&M. I just picked up an Athlon II X4 640 (3.0Ghz quad-core), and an MSI 785G micro-ATX mobo with HDMI output and four DDR3 slots, for $120 or so, with a $20 MIR to either MSI or Microcenter, I haven't looked carefully at it. Microcenter also has 2GB DDR3-1333 DIMMs each for $35, which is comparable to Newegg pricing. So for $200 around, I got a new quad-core CPU, decent mobo, and 4GB of DDR3. Totally worth it, it's going into my HTPC rig.

 

[superccs]

agreed , there is no logical upgrade path leading from 939 boards.

Scour slickdeals.net for a new cpu, mb, and ram deal.

 

[Caveman]

Hmmm.... Thanks all for input...

$200 with graphics equal to 6800 Ultra would be possible...

I can see everyone's point... The situation is this...

The sig rig is getting replaced in its entirety with an SB rig / 580 GTX, new case, etc...

So... Just looking to keep the sig rig running... Was thinking if I could another 50% CPU speed for under $100 then I would go fo it... THe 6800 Ultra seems to be on it's last leg because when it heats up it freezes... So the thought was to slap a new vid card in and be done... Was thinking about 3850 ATI for that... About $80 I think...

I can certainly understand the advice given, but I think I'll just pop in a new vid card to keep it going and be done with it...

That $200 is too temping though... hmmm....

 

[cusideabelincoln]

I'd upgrade the rig not only for improved performance, but improved power consumption and lower thermals.

But if you just stuck a dual core CPU (3800+) in it you should get a 50% bump. A single core is going to bottleneck a 3850. By the time you do both a CPU and GPU upgrade perhaps it would have been better spending that money on new stuff.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Complete Phenom quad core system (minus Heatsink-fan and OS) for $210.

ECS A740GM-M
AMD Phenom X4 9750 Quad Core (2.4ghz 4MB total cache CPU)
Crucial 2048MB PC6400 DDR2
LG GH22NS50B DVD Writer
Western Digital 500GB Caviar Blue Hard Drive
Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
450w Power Supply

Sell your 939 stuff and hop on something much more modern and future resistant. This CPU obliterates the 939 x2 4800+.

 

[toyota]

actually the 9750 is a pretty slow cpu itself. I would hardly say it obliterates a 4800 X2 especially in apps that only use 2 cores. that is lot of stuff for just 210 bucks though.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

actually the 9750 is a pretty slow cpu itself. I would hardly say it obliterates a 4800 X2 especially in apps that only use 2 cores. that is lot of stuff for just 210 bucks though.

Idk, I would say so. It's subjective but IMO its true. http://www.anandtech.com/show/2489/12

Crysis CPU Benchmark:

AMD 6400+ 3.2ghz 2MB L2: 50.1fps
Phenom 9750 2.4ghz: 44.3fps
FX 4800+ 2.4ghz 2MB L2(theorectical with 100% scaling): 37.72fps.

Now, this is with 800mhz ram. The FX X2 4800+ (and likely paired with 400mhz) is 2.4ghz, and since the cache is the same and the bus is the same, at best it should scale 100%. That would put the 4800+ at 37fps. The Phenom is 17% faster per clock, per core. Go further down and you can see the Phenom is trailing the much higher clocked (33%) dual core by only 7% in a CPU limited game.

I know these are just benchmarks, and CPU performance can (and will) vary on a case by case basis, but it's a 2.4ghz quad. It is fast enough for every game on the market to at least play well, while the 4800+ is awful with most new games. The Phenom will last him a lot longer. Especially considering he has been holding onto old s939 tech for so long.

For everyone to even think about an old 939 CPU is ridiculous. The 4800+ is going to cost him around $250-400, as the last time I went on a nostalgic run for 939 CPUs it was around that ballpark.

Cliffs: Buy newer.

Edit: Math FAIL! Corrected.

Also, I just read the conclusion to that article, man it's hilarious. Were almost done with 2010 and look at this.

xciting times are ahead as well. AMD seems very confident in its 45nm transition, which should bring about higher performance and clock frequencies. Around the same time we'll be seeing the very first Nehalem CPUs from Intel, and before we know it it'll be 2009 and time to talk about Bulldozer. I've always said that AMD had a good roadmap, it just needs to be given the chance to execute on it; these new Phenom processors may able to buy AMD the time it needs to do just that.

:whiste:

 

[SickBeast]

I've got an Opteron 165 (dual core, socket 939), and it bottlenecks a few games on my 8800GTS, even with the CPU overclocked to 2.6ghz. Even if you get the best CPU possible on Socket 939, you're going to be CPU limited in quite a few modern games.

A platform upgrade is in order. If you want to make good use of that old rig, put Ubuntu 10.10 on it and watch it fly. Use it as a media and print server or something.

 

[fuzzymath10]

What are the kids doing that won't run well on that machine? It should run lots of things with a clean install. Unless your kids play SC2 or watch 1080P content 🙂

 

[iGas]

I'm willing to give you my Athlon II 2X 245 free of charge if you pay for the shipping. I'll throw in the factory cooler/fan & 300W Sparkle PS if you also want them.

A cheap AM3 or AM2+ mobo can be had for around $50.00, and you are on your own for DDR2/DDR3 ram.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

I'm willing to give you my Athlon II 2X 245 free of charge if you pay for the shipping. I'll throw in the factory cooler/fan & 300W Sparkle PS if you also want them.

A cheap AM3 or AM2+ mobo can be had for around $50.00, and you are on your own for DDR2/DDR3 ram.

He better give you some sweet heatware! If the deal doesn't go through, PM me 😀DD

 

[ModestGamer]

Ebay man, theres tons of good cheap used parts out there for the taking, hell try craigslist.

 

[manimal]

I'm willing to give you my Athlon II 2X 245 free of charge if you pay for the shipping. I'll throw in the factory cooler/fan & 300W Sparkle PS if you also want them.

A cheap AM3 or AM2+ mobo can be had for around $50.00, and you are on your own for DDR2/DDR3 ram.

Dude you are the man for help out the peeps!

 

[Martimus]

I bought my s939 4200 x2 for $65 about 3 years ago. It is very difficult to find X2's for S939 anymore though, and it is probably better to just buy a new CPU/MB/RAM than even try. Not only will it likely be faster, it will also be cheaper.