Need a good upgrade from my old M2N-E/Athlon x2 5200+

[clopnaz]

Basically, see heading. I'm not too great at picking good components, so I've put off upgrading my CPU In the past hour and a half I think I've learned next to nothing about a workable upgrade.

I really want a new CPU. I'm pretty sure that'll take a new mobo.
-4GB of DDR2 I think I'd rather not change unless It's a good idea to.
-AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ (socket AM2)
-Asus M2N-E motherboard, has an AM2 slot (Right?)

I forget my psu but I think it'll handle anything you can throw at it.
The absolute most I'm spending is $300. I'd really like to spend <$200.

Oh, and it has to support 64 bit. ><

Thanks!

 

[saaiello]

Well the best you can put on that board is a Phenom x4 which will cost you around 100 to buy new for the fastest one. I would not recommend doing that. You should upgrade your MoBo and processor to an AM3 socket for about 250 you can do this and reuse the ram that you have now.

 

[clopnaz]

250 for the mobo or altogether?

 

[saaiello]

Couple of routes you can go you could go with a

Phenom II x2 550BE and most likely be able to unlock the other 2 cores which will cost
$100

Phenom II x4 955BE which is a great processor will give you 4 cores of solid performance and will overclock low 4 ghz range easily

Depending on which one you go for get a ASUS, Gigabyte, or ECS Mobo for 75 to 125 range

If you go with the x2 you would be able to probably go with a ddr3 ram

So

$100 for x2 550BE could possibly be unlocked into an x4
or
$155 for an x4 955BE this will give great overclockability

$75 to $125 for MOBO

$75 to $100 for DDR3 ram

You tell me your thoughts and i will pick a motherboard for you.

 

[clopnaz]

Might as well go all in for the x4, right? 😀

 

[saaiello]

well i would yes gives you better future proof are you in the States so i can pick a place for you to show you what to buy.

 

[clopnaz]

I'm in the states. Newegg is great cause they have a place that ships like right next to me and it's always next day delivery, but of course, time is money. Thanks a ton for all the help so far

 

[saaiello]

And also what is your ram is it DDR2 800

 

[saaiello]

yea newegg is same for me fast ship in new jersey

 

[saaiello]

Another thing are u useing a micro atx case or a standard case?

 

[clopnaz]

o.o good question. Standard, probably. It's the same as I've ever seen, I think. Is there any definitive way to tell?

 

[clopnaz]

If micro is a whole lot smaller and standard, I have a standard, no doubt.

 

[saaiello]

best way to tell is how many slots are on the back if there are more then 3 slots it is a standard case.

 

[saaiello]

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard 99.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 159.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

Total is 259.99

 

[clopnaz]

I got tons of slots. The horizontal ones near the bottom,right? Way more than 3.

 

[saaiello]

you have DDR2 800mhz ram right

 

[saaiello]

o shoot wrong board that was the DDR3 board 1 sec

 

[saaiello]

ASUS M4A77D AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131618

its actully 20 bux cheaper without the DDR 3 clicked wrong board when i was listing it get this one

total comes down to 239.99

 

[clopnaz]

CPU-Z says.... DDR2 dual channel CPU/7 387.5MHz.

 

[saaiello]

ok then its DDR2 800 your not overclocked at all right

 

[clopnaz]

So then I just get the quad core and my mem stays the same?

 

[saaiello]

Yup the board i picked supports your memory

 

[clopnaz]

Sweet. Thanks!

 

[clopnaz]

Best answer selected by clopnaz.

 

[saaiello]

Your welcome have fun with your new rig