Can I update a single core processor to a dual core?

[Topangadan]

Hello,

My son has a Compaq Presario SR1730z desktop. It uses an Athlon 3800+ 64 processor, which appears to be single processor. He just got a game which requires a dual processor. Can we just switch out his processor with a new dual processor? or do we need a whole new computer to play this game?

 

[Topangadan]

Motherboard: ASRock FM2A55M-DGS FM2 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157332
49$ + 5 shipping


CPU:AMD A10-5800K Trinity 3.8GHz (4.2GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 7660D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113280
130$


Ram:8 gigs Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104173
40$ free shipping

320Gig drive gig harddrive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136591
50$ (I don't understand why these drives are so expensive on newegg atm) The flood is long gone

DVDR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136247
16$

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233073
20$

PSU
CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 (CMPSU-430CXV2) 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
45$

Total of full new computer is: 350$
+ Not sure what taxes are like in your area
+ misc shipping if I didn't miss it


This computer will run skyrim quite well.

If you don't want to build it, print the list, take it to a computer shop and have them build it for you... an equivalent acer costs... too much more.


(I also still suggest you upgrade that old computer to a dual core... it's only like 20 to 30$ to give it new life for all basic tasks and very light gaming

What processor would you recommend for an upgrade?

 

[lilotimz]

It's useless to even upgrade it. Skyrim is fairly demanding on the cpu with the requirements being at least an intel core 2 duo or amd equivalent (Anthlon II X2). Chivalry is a fun game but still needs optimization for you get decreased frame rate when there's a bunch of people grouped together in a small map or its a server running more than 32 players.

Just get an APU and run with it. Not worth it trying to upgrade the old computer.

 

[NoUserBar]

The A-10 he mentioned is the CPU. You should be able to upgrade it entirely with a new APU that will increase the CPU and the GPU both, in the future.'

If you can afford It, I'd go with a 750 or 1tb harddrive. Just cause.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

 

[UnlimitedBanana]

wow, thanks for such concise info...getting this level of information is amazing. I think we can do this.

So the video card is built into the CPU on the Llano, correct? Would this make it impossible to upgrade video cards in, say, 2 years..or I guess he would just upgrade the entire CPU?

What version of Windows would be best to run? Chivalry will not run on Linux.

Yes, you will be able to put an Add In Graphics card since there is a PCI-E x16 slot on that motherboard. The A10 is a quad core so it should be plenty for gaming for at least 3 more years with pretty decent settings and a good Graphics card to go with it. Thankfully the 7660D is good enough for most any game, if you don't mind 1280x720 or 1024x768 resolutions, but for a mainstream gamer that shouldn't really bother you and your son

 

[Raiddinn]

The Llano or Trinity APUs have graphics hardware built into the processor, yes.

If you decide later to get a stand alone card, you can just plug it into the computer and the computer should auto detect that you don't need the processor graphics and use the stand alone card instead.

However, as mentioned, a better processor down the road might kill two birds with one stone in 3 or 4 years and give you another processor and graphics upgrade in one shot.