Upgrading CPU

F

ferrytrip1

New Member
Hi, I am just upgrading to Vista with my MSI K8N Neo4 MB. I have the skt 939 Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, there is also 2GB of RAM installed. Would I see much improvement to upgrade the CPU to either 4000+. Would there be much improvement to move to a X2 dual core? MSI says the board supports the CPU.

Thanks

Simon
 
Lately I've seen a good buy at newegg for the 4200+ X2 dual core model there. I was hoping to grab the FX-60 to replace the 3500+ currently in use on an Asus 939 model. You would most likely see the boost a faster model would give. If you are regularly running any graphics intense games or running programs that demand cpu time then the dual core models are the ones to consider for the multitasking capability.

Since I game a little and more demanding video capturing programs the X2 line fits for multitasking since the FX-60 is the only dual core model seen in the FX line. Having the 2gb of memory there would help with just XP alone. The FX models are the performance series for the 939 there. You have to decide which line depending on how you use the system there. For single core the FX is the choice for gaming.
 
ferrytrip1 said:
Hi, I am just upgrading to Vista with my MSI K8N Neo4 MB. I have the skt 939 Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, there is also 2GB of RAM installed. Would I see much improvement to upgrade the CPU to either 4000+. Would there be much improvement to move to a X2 dual core? MSI says the board supports the CPU.

Thanks

Simon
Click to expand...

Well since you now know what PC Eye has, doesnt have, wants and cant get. Going from a 3200 to a 4000 you will see a performance gain, not alot but a gain and as far as Dual core. If you multitask alot a Dual core will help but your 3200 is 2gb so you could go with something like a 4200 and up but your price is going to double from the 4000.
 
The thing I like do first before advising on "any" cpu change is look over what the board actually supports.

CPU Socket Type
document.write(neg_specification_newline('Socket 939'));Socket 939CPU Typedocument.write(neg_specification_newline('Athlon 64 FX / Athlon 64'));Athlon 64 FX / Athlon 64FSBdocument.write(neg_specification_newline('1000MHz Hyper Transport (2000 MT/s)'));1000MHz Hyper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...TT=13-130-491&CMP=KNC-overturesmx&ATT=product

CPU •Supports 64-bit AMD® Athlon™ 64FX/64 processor (Socket 939) •Supports 3000+, 3200+, 3500+, 3800+, 4000+, FX53 and FX55 http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8N_Neo4-F&class=mb

CPU •Supports 64-bit AMD® Athlon™ 64FX/64 processor (Socket 939) •Supports 3000+, 3200+, 3500+, 3800+, 4000+, FX53 and FX55 http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8N_Neo4_Platinum/SLI&class=mb

The first is for the K8N-F model while the same is seen for the Platinum edition on the last link as well.
 
Often they will. But the problem seen there as well as other makes of boards is not listing everything the board will actually support. But the FX line is the performance line for gaming while most models are single cored. That model would probably even support the FX-60 as well as the 4800+ X2 and some 939 Opteron models. But the companies never tell you that exactly. If you go with a dual core model you may have to update the bios however. Sometimes with some models the switch to dual core sees aome minor issues.
 
You did happed to see the (big) green circle right beside the photo of the board on the MSI site that says (Athlon Dual Core Ready X2)
 
The majority of the 939 boards out will run X2 models. But that doesn't stop the need for updating the board's bios version if problems are seen when going with one of the dual core models. AMD had also released their own patch for the initial problems first seen. The models generally shown in text are those they recommend whether or not others will run. You also see certain brands of memory like Corsair or Kingston being their recommendation depending on make. With MSI as well as Gigabyte you will see Kingston while Asus points at Corsair. And you know either brand will work without problems.
 
The Bios update for different processors and the AMD patch has nothing to do with each other. The second part about memory, I dont know what that has do do with it unless you just found that out. I,m glad your educationing yourself.
 
StrangleHold said:
The Bios update for different processors and the AMD patch has nothing to do with each other. The second part about memory, I dont know what that has do do with it unless you just found that out. I,m glad your educationing yourself.
Click to expand...

As always you missed the point being made there to simply make a comparison. When the 939 models were first coming out problems were seen when moving upto the dual core models then. AMD had also released a patch for XP for this reason. The cpu models seen are those recommended by the manufacturers themselves as seeing the best results. Likewise the memory they recommend is for the same reason as far as testing they have done.

Anyone that has been involved in any technical field for any lengthy period of time always knows one thing. No matter how that is you still have to continue to keep yourself updated as well as referring back to the book on things at times. :rolleyes:
 
I could add something to that but... then I would have to "self educationingalize" myself for this. :confused: And that wouldn't be much of a help for ferrytrip1 on deciding which model cpu to go with. That is where the focus should be don't you agree?
 
PC eye said:
As always you missed the point being made there to simply make a comparison.
Anyone that has been involved in any technical field for any lengthy period of time always knows one thing. No matter how that is you still have to continue to keep yourself updated as well as referring back to the book on things at times. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Missed the point, your talking about Ram and nobody else is. And the second part about referring back to the book, I agree you need to.
 
Interesting thread....

..that developed.

Thanks for the input guys. I have checked MSI site - looks like it will take the FX60 and upto 4800+ dual core. Think these CPUs are out of my price range.

I really just want a cheap upgrade to help some multimedia stuff with "simple dvd editing". Reckon a 4200+ or 4400+ will be OK [they are in my price range], unless somebody advises otherwise and says the gain is insignificant & not worth the outlay. [I did miss the big green circle]

Thanks

Simon
 
Yea a 4200 would be a nice upgrade, on newwegg its going for 135 OEM, even the single core 4000 for 64 bucks, its 2.4ghz would not be bad for the price if you dont do much multitasking
 
StrangleHold said:
Missed the point, your talking about Ram and nobody else is. And the second part about referring back to the book, I agree you need to.
Click to expand...

I think you "missed the point" by not following the example of how manufacturers are simply "giving you ideas" rather then the question the title of this thread asks which is "which one?"! The reference to memory simply reflects this with "what brand?". They intentionally show a list of cpu in on the product information as the "recommended"(their's) to help you decide not pointing to those as the only ones supported by the board.

ferrytrip1 said:
... That an Opteron 170 or 175 might be better than my 3200+. Any thougts on this plse

Thanks

Simon
Click to expand...

For video capturing and editing with the 939 board here I have already been tossing and turning about whether to go with the fastest FX dual core since I also run a few games or go for the top Opteron model for the work horse type build still seeing upgrading over a period of time. The price tag if you are on a tighter budget is usually the main drawback where you have to wait and wait while other newer type boards and cpus come out.

The Opeteron 165 is the model known for ocing while the 185 is the top 939 model. The FX-60 is the only dual core model in the FX performance line. The X2s were mainly intended for multitasking desktops rather then the Opteron server type for multitasking common to server cases.
 
PC eye said:
I think you "missed the point" by not following the example of how manufacturers are simply "giving you ideas" rather then the question the title of this thread asks which is "which one?"! The reference to memory simply reflects this with "what brand?". They intentionally show a list of cpu in on the product information as the "recommended"(their's) to help you decide not pointing to those as the only ones supported by the board.
Click to expand...

What dont you get, he never asked about ram. He already has 2gbs installed, you can ramble on about nothing better than anybody I think I,ve seen.
 
StrangleHold said:
What dont you get, he never asked about ram. He already has 2gbs installed, you can ramble on about nothing better than anybody I think I,ve seen.
Click to expand...

What don't you get? The reference there simply shows why manufacturers only list certain model cpus while the board will easily run others. You are the only one harping on that. The question was already answered as to whether an X2 dual core cpu would run on the Socket 939 MSI board mentioned. One of those will work. The 939 version of an Opteron will work. And the FX single core models as well as the FX-60 dual core are the performance line compared to the Atholons.

Eventually I will simply jump out of the 3500+ model currently used to go for one of the dual cores that also see a faster then 2.2ghz clock speed. The jump up from the 3200+ 2.0ghz model there will see a difference right away. The type of build there as far as for gaming, desktop apps, or even a server type case is the way to determine the line of models to be looking over.

The dual core over a single model even at the same speed will also see a performance gain since the multitasking capability just doubled +. The 3800+ X2 runs at the same speed as the 3200+ but offers more with the second core seen there. The decision still has to be made by ferrytrip1 cost wise as well as application wise there.
 
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