Best processor to get

[lordoftheaxe]

Best processor to get

Cheers folks, Hope Everyone is well ;DI've been thinking lately of upgrading my processor to something a bit more cutting edge, As lately I've been getting some serious lag in most newer games. RAM isn't an issue as I have 2GB, The graphics card is also debatable, But I want to attend to the processor first. Essentially I'm looking for recommendations, What's the best stuff to get right now? I'm not talking about the best thing to get right now, Even if it means getting the best there is out there right now, And not having to replace it for another 3 years or so (Like I did when I first got this PC).Cheers and thanks in advance!Solas Agus Neart.

 

[username_2082780]

What do you have right now and which of your current components do you want to keep?

 

[lordoftheaxe]

AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3000+. MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHZI remember someone telling me I have to change my Motherboard aswell if I change to Intel, Or even to a newer model of AMD, Even? Anyway, If that's what I need to do, I will. Right now, I'm looking to keep the rest of my components.

 

[massacher]

new motherboard usually means new everything... to a certain extent. depending on the processor you get you may be able to keep the rest of your components.check your motherboard manual for the highest processor it will support.

 

[username_2082780]

I take it your motherboard is either socket 754 or 939 (not am2), so you will need to upgrade your motherboard with the processor. Ram, video card and possibly a new power supply needs to come with that.If you tell us your budget and what you will use your pc for, we will be able to give you some examples for a new system (or parts thereof).

 

[Licaon_Kter]

what sum do you want to invest? what parts do you keep?

 

[pnjunction]

Unfortunately you are in the same boat as me: Socket 939 (or maybe older 754) that can only take older processors and DDR1 RAM. AM2 (DDR2) has been out for a few years now and AM3 (DDR3) is just out recently.I've been eying an AM3 setup so that I won't have to upgrade the Mobo/RAM again any time soon. Here's what I'm looking at:CPU: Phenom II X3 710 or 720 or X4 810 or 920 (range from $125 to $200)Mobo: Asus M4A78T-E ($140)RAM: Mushkin DDR3-1600MHz 4GB (2x2GB) 7-7-6-18 ($130)It'll run almost $500 (those are newegg.com prices, unfortunately each item is about $20-50 more up here in Canada :-[), but it will scream and I figure the socket AM3 should be good for at least 3-4 years. I was thinking I might even just go with the lowest CPU out for the platform right now (710, still plenty fast for now) since there will probably much faster ones for the platform in a couple of years.Edit: Hopefully you least have a PCIe video card you can still use, an AGP one would probably be pretty dated by now anyways. I'm not sure how many Athlon 64 mobos had AGP but apparently they did exist, most people I know got PCIe when they moved to an A64 platform.

 

[username_2082780]

I've been eying an AM3 setup so that I won't have to upgrade the Mobo/RAM again any time soon. Here's what I'm looking at:CPU: Phenom II X3 710 or 720 or X4 810 or 920 (range from $125 to $200)Mobo: Asus M4A78T-E ($140)RAM: Mushkin DDR3-1600MHz 4GB (2x2GB) 7-7-6-18 ($130)It'll run almost $500 (those are newegg.com prices, unfortunately each item is about $20-50 more up here in Canada :-[), but it will scream and I figure the socket AM3 should be good for at least 3-4 years. I was thinking I might even just go with the lowest CPU out for the platform right now (710, still plenty fast for now) since there will probably much faster ones for the platform in a couple of years.

Haven't heard of Ncix yet, eh? ;-)This is what I purchased recently, not going DDR3 yet, since the difference in performance does not in any way justify the higher prize.720 BE for 185Gigabyte MA790X-UD4P for 146Gskill DDR2 4GB 1066 for 65Total: $397.97 CAD before taxes

 

[d_ahura]

I'm soon shopping for a new gaming PC. I'm not really after the cutting edge performance. I'm willing to settle for good enough performance. I'm intrigued by the 'all' AMD Dragon platform for gaming since it's pretty decently priced. It consists of 790FX/GX + Phenom II + 48xx GPU. Avoid the 790X since it's neutered I/O wise./Dan

 

[pnjunction]

Haven't heard of Ncix yet, eh? ;-)This is what I purchased recently, not going DDR3 yet, since the difference in performance does not in any way justify the higher prize.720 BE for 185Gigabyte MA790X-UD4P for 146Gskill DDR2 4GB 1066 for 65Total: $397.97 CAD before taxes

I've heard. Looking, it's a bit cheaper than the Canada Computers down the street, especially on that mobo (the CPU is only cheaper because it's on sale). A good chunk of that would be eating up by shipping. Not worth it to me when I can pick things up (and return them if necessary) nearby.The only thing more expensive to go AM3 is the RAM, about $50-80 more depending on how high-end you go on the sticks (not a big deal on a $400-500 purchase). Even if you decide the performance isn't worth it, this gen of processors is likely to be the last that is backwards compatible to AM2. You really want to get into a new mobo and RAM again in a year or two?

 

[MrG721]

I have Intel based PC (C2D E6750, P35, 8800GT) but I'm also interested in buying that Phenom II X3 with AMD 770 chipset based motherboard for my secondary PC, I have spare GeForce 7900GS and 2x1GB DDR2 800 sticks.Friend of mine said that this CPU with this "cheaper" 770 chipset version is pretty nice buying, it can provide nice performance for a decent sum of money so I'm gonna give a shot to this AMD platform based PC.Phenom II X3 + 770 or 790 motherboard is my recommendation. :wave:

 

[pnjunction]

Phenom II X3 + 770 or 790 motherboard is my recommendation. :wave:

Me too. Intel was mopping the floor with AMD for the last couple of years (their entire Athlon lineup was really dated) with their core2's and the i7 is great if you want to drop mundo cash (not really worth it for games, it only really cleans up in benchmarks and other apps), but with the Phenom II AMD has really gotten their act together. Also, like I've said, the AM3 platform should be good to drop in a sweet new CPU for cheap in a couple of years, whereas an LGA775 or AM2 setup isn't going to get any better processors than are out right now.

 

[username_2082780]

You really want to get into a new mobo and RAM again in a year or two?

Yes I am going to probably wait for Bulldozer (Llano) to come out in early 2011.My better half just started playing video games recently and so far has only my hand downs (5000 BE, crappy leftover 7600 GT), so she gets whatever I replace on my puter.My recent upgrade was pretty budgety, but its going to do its job for the next 2 years.But with longlivety in mind, I would have gone DDR3 with a Gigabyte MA790FXT-UD5P. (and would likely have waited for the X4 955 BE)/back to cutting apart wifey's antec 300

 

[lordoftheaxe]

The computer is is mainly for gaming, So it's gotta be strong for that. I'm willing to put in as much as 640-730 euros if neccesary.

 

[username_2082780]

You are Irish, right?How about that:AMD X3 720 BE: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=434415 € 114.40Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=431466 € 132.51OCZ DDR3 1600MHz 4GB: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=344297 € 62.55Sapphire HD 4890 1GB: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=444231 € 184.77Corsair Powersupply TX 750W: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=340678 € 89.71Total: € 709.50 incl. VATThis should let you play pretty much any game on high settings and last for quite a while as well.

 

[Biz]

unless you have lots of money to spend just get DDR2 and a good graphics cardDDR3 motherboards and RAM and processors are more than double the price and you're barely going to get any performance boost now. maybe for a few games you'll get more than a 10% boost, but I don't think it's worth it.on the other hand, if you spend double on a graphics card, you'll probably see double performance for high-end games

 

[lordoftheaxe]

You are Irish, right?How about that:AMD X3 720 BE: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=434415 € 114.40Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=431466 € 132.51OCZ DDR3 1600MHz 4GB: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=344297 € 62.55Sapphire HD 4890 1GB: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=444231 € 184.77Corsair Powersupply TX 750W: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=340678 € 89.71Total: € 709.50 incl. VATThis should let you play pretty much any game on high settings and last for quite a while as well.

Cheers mate, Much appreciated !

 

[username_2082780]

 

[lordoftheaxe]

If I choose to go with Intel for the processor, Which is better, The i7 920 or the Core 2 Q9650?

 

[Licaon_Kter]

If I choose to go with Intel for the processor, Which is better, The i7 920 or the Core 2 Q9650?

that depends, do you want to change your motherboard and memory too? get i7 920if not get the Core 2