CPU Upgrade???

[Montimon]

Hi Fellas,

I would like some expert opinions from you guys in regards to upgrading my computer's (Gaming Only) CPU please. I am just not sure if the gains in performance will be worth the time and money. Here are my computer's specs:

Intel D865PERL MOBO
CeleronD 2.26 Ghz, (400 Mhz Bus)
ATI Radeon 9800 PRO w/Catalyst 5.6
*2 Ghz DDR333(PC2700)running @ 266 Mhz
40 GB Samsung HD w/2MB Buffer

* The memory is running at 266 Mhz instead of its max potential of 333 Mhz due to the processor, and that is why I ask.

I eventually want to upgrade the GPU, but not at this moment. I'll appreciate any imput and advice from you bright people out there.

Thanks guys...

 

[dunklegend]

What's your budget for the CPU?

<b><font color=blue>If you try to please everybody, nobody will like you<font color=blue></b>

 

[Montimon]

Hi dunklegend,

I wouldn't mind spending around $159 for a new CPU. Is it worth it though, as far as performance gains is concerned? If not, I might as well just upgrade my graphics card and be done with that since I only use my computer for gaming.

I'll appreciate any advice you may have...

 

[Starfishy]

What is the budget for the upgrade?

 

[Guest]

Well if you can find a P4 2.4c/2.6c/2.8c around that rpice, might be worth it...Exept your ram wont like it!!so you wont fit into budget so I guess you should hold some...

Asus P4P800DX, P4C 2.6ghz@3.25ghz, 2X512 OCZ PC4000 3-4-4-8, MSI 6800Ultra stock, 2X30gig Raid0

 

[P4Man]

Yup, should be worth dropping in a faster CPU.

BTW, I assume you have 2 GByte RAM, not 2 GHz like you wrote. thats a bit much to throw it away, and at PC2700, it should be a good (enough) match with a 3 GHz P4 or something thereabout. Your videocard is quite a bit more powerfull than your current cpu, and adequate for todays games. Your motherboard will even take P4Cs (800 MHz FSB), even though you will not gain much over a P4B (533 MHz FSB) with that RAM.

In short: yes drop in a faster CPU. ~3 GHz northwood if you still can find one.

= The views stated herein are my personal views, and not necessarily the views of my wife. =

 

[Montimon]

Thanks for your wisdom P4man,

That sounds good and very logical to me. This is sort of what I had in mind but was't sure if it was worth it. By the way, why do you recomend the "Northwood" P4?

Thanks again...

 

[Guest]

Stay away from prescoot and willamette's (if you can fin one)
NorthWood "B" or "C" is recommanded, to take full advantage of the "C" youd need new ram thought

Asus P4P800DX, P4C 2.6ghz@3.25ghz, 2X512 OCZ PC4000 3-4-4-8, MSI 6800Ultra stock, 2X30gig Raid0

 

[P4Man]

Northwoods run (considerably) cooler and perform (marginally) better than the newer Prescotts at the same frequency, even though they have a smaller cache (northwoods cache is smaller, but a lot faster, and its pipeline is shorter). You're also less likely to run into compatibility problems with your motherboard, but you might check, maybe your board supports prescott with a bios update.

The only downside of getting a northwood rather than a prescott is the lack of SSE3, but SSE3 really doesnt bring much, especially not for gaming, it only shows some potential for specific video encoding stuff.

= The views stated herein are my personal views, and not necessarily the views of my wife. =