> Would Getting A Better Cpu Improve My System?

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Rip the Jacker

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
5,415
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GFX Card : 5200 blows. almost as worse as intel gfx. used 9500/9700 pro for $75-100ish
CPU : p4 1.8ghz blows as well. used athlon xp 2500 for $70ish & a7n8x deluxe / nf7-s for $65ish
 
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magomago

Lifer
Sep 28, 2002
10,973
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no a FX5200 is MUCH better than intel extreme graphics. With Intel Extreme you get an ugly pixelated slide show. with a FX5200 you get a pretty slideshow.

But ithat site is right in that if you aren't gaming...that 1.8 is doing just fine. But if you are heavy multimedia user(encoder, CAD user, 3DS Max, etc. etc.) or Gamer...an upgrade is definitely needed
 
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GaryKing

Member
Aug 14, 2004
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What type of upgrade? I'm not a heavy gamer at all; just a regular user. Of course I play games SOMETIMES, but not often (once every 3 months.) GFX intensive games like The Sims 2, Doom 3, Halo, etc. but I don't play them often.

Also, I hear that the FX 5200 is decent; of course it's not a powerhouse but it's not bad either.
 
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GaryKing

Member
Aug 14, 2004
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My system is slow when playing games; like The Sims 2, for instance (that was the last game I played anyways, but other games are the same idea.. normally slow;)
 
mechBgon

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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More memory and more CPU power would help, and so would a better video card for The Sims 2. More everything! :D Is your computer an off-the-shelf system from Gateway, HP, Dell, eMachines or something, or is it "built?" If it's "built," then could you tell the brand & model of the motherboard and whether it has one 512MB memory module or two 256's.
 
mechBgon

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Ahh, I see, and the details page shows you have an Asus P4S333-VM. It would help to know whether it's a pre-built computer or not, too.
 
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mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
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Originally posted by: GaryKing
What type of upgrade? I'm not a heavy gamer at all; just a regular user. Of course I play games SOMETIMES, but not often (once every 3 months.) GFX intensive games like The Sims 2, Doom 3, Halo, etc. but I don't play them often.

Also, I hear that the FX 5200 is decent; of course it's not a powerhouse but it's not bad either.
Click to expand...


aklright, im feeling sorry for your rig. trying to run doomIII on a 5200fx. generally, the extire fx line is worse than the radeomn line of the same generation(the 9xxx series)

go for a p4 2.8-3.0
and a
Radeon 9700 used(about $100)
 
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MisterChief

Banned
Dec 26, 2004
1,128
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If you are willing to spend some time and money on it, you should buy a whole new A64 system. All you really need is a new MoBo, an A64 3000+, and maybe a new video card, if you are willing to spend a little over $250. It's well worth it!:D
 
mechBgon

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Originally posted by: GaryKingAlso, this PC is a pre-built by a friend, pretty mch
Click to expand...
Good deal. What brand & model of power supply is it equipped with (open the case and the power supply's label will say).

 
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GaryKing

Member
Aug 14, 2004
33
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When you say 'whole new system' do you mean an upgrade of what I currently have? just replace certain parts?
 
M

mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
1
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nevermind. just for about $250 get a 9700pro(used 100)
and a 2.8ghz p4(new 150)
 
mechBgon

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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I had a look at Asus's site to determine what CPUs your existing motherboard can take. The fastest CPU it'll handle is a 2.6GHz Northwood with a 400MHz bus speed, if you can even find one. Looking at Newegg, I found that $132 would get you a 2.2GHz Northwood at 400MHz bus speed, and if they had a 2.5GHz in stock, it would be over $200. At that rate, it might be good to move up to an Athlon64.

For an Athlon64 upgrade package that would run modern games adequate-to-well, how about:

[*]Socket 939 Athlon64 3000+ $152

[*]2 x Corsair ValueSelect 512MB PC3200 modules $111 per pair

[*]Abit AN8 motherboard $149

[*]Fortron Blue Storm 500W 24-pin power supply $89

[*]...and a 6600GT PCI-Express video card for $185.


Cheap, no. Fast? Fast enough for Doom3, HalfLife2, FarCry, The Sims 2. Upgradeable? Yes it is :) You can only go so far with an old Pentium4 1.8GHz before it's time to bail.
 
mechBgon

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Originally posted by: mwmorph
nevermind. just for about $250 get a 9700pro(used 100)
and a 2.8ghz p4(new 150)
Click to expand...
Careful there, his motherboard won't take 2.8's.

 
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imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
1,375
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Originally posted by: ItmPls
GFX Card : 5200 blows. almost as worse as intel gfx (presuming the messager means built-in on MB). used 9500/9700 pro for $75-100ish {??}
Click to expand...
Where? I had to pay more than that for used ($130 shipped).
CPU : p4 1.8ghz blows as well. used athlon xp 2500 for $70ish & a7n8x deluxe / nf7-s for $65ish
Click to expand...
Agreed that the FX series was overpriced, underpowered, etc. The better Radeons haven't come down in price anything like as much as the FX's, so halfway decent 5700's are available new at comparable prices to used ATI stuff of similar capability.

The choice of the word "better" in the OM's query is all too similar to the totally useless types of questions these forums are so full of in which the word "best" is included in the subject title. I never read those. Silly stuff. Nothing but opinions, and those are like excretory orifices, of which all mammals have one. FASTER is a worthwhile criteria, USEFUL is good, if matched to intended usage, etc.

By definition, the AMD Socket A XP is different from the Pentium. "Better", quite often, for gaming PC's, than comparable Pentium cpu's, but not to the same extent that the AMD 64's are. But P4's beat the AMD product in various areas. Neither is "Best" overall.

There are already plenty of threads on AT covering very similar questions in great detail, and a few judicious uses of the SEARCH function is the fastest way to build up a little mental picture of how a given PC can be most effectively upgraded for a particular use.

:beer:

 
F

footbal07

Senior member
Apr 3, 2004
270
0
0
the first gen p4s where rather slow compared to the newer p3s and athlon xps. with that system it really depends on what you want and what your budget is, but there is not much room to upgrade on that platform. you could; however, upgrade in a series of steps starting with a new mobo and cpu, and then a videocard and ram. then again you may also then need a new psu depending on the quality of the one you are currently using. if you are on a tight budget take a serious look at some of the used dells that are resold online. ive seen nice p4c systems with 512 to a gig of ram, 9800pros, decent harddrives and sometimes even lcds for under 600. you could also get a an35 or similar nf2 mobo, mobile 2400 athlon xp, and 512 megs of corsair valueram for well under 200. then throw a 9600pro new for 100 and you would be good to go for a while. if you have a little higher budget then look for an a64 2800+ and a cheaper nf3 250 mobo with that ram and a 6600gt. the athlon 64 setup would cost you around 400 if you can use your current psu.
 
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