Upgrading to AMD From pentium 4

[Akareza]

i was thinking i might upgrade my CPU on my Dell dimention 5150 (since i have basicly upgraded everything else on it )

i might want to get this ( AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core)
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15708&vpn=ADA3800BVBOX&manufacture=AMD

Problem is i dont know if everything else would work ok with this, i have this mobo, CPU and RAM spec



400 forton PSU
Rest of rig spec is in sigy

Looking forward to any recommendations. also i know the AMD 3800+ will out perfom my CPU but is it worth the upgrade? or any recommended CPU's that are better than this with similar prices

thanks

 

[palmmann]

that amd processor is not compatible with that motherboard. to get an amd computer, the best way (and cheapest)would be to get a new case(dells are propriety) power suply(again, dells are propriety) and new am2 motherboard and cpu. the better option would be to wait for intel to release conroe cpus, which will support everything in your rig.

 

[Christian Darrall]

and new am2 motherboard and cpu

dont run out any but a am2 as there was a thread about this and weather is was worth the money

 

[Geoff]

dont run out any but a am2 as there was a thread about this and weather is was worth the money

Well seeing that there only a few bucks more, i would just buy AM2. Especially since they say there will be a greater performance increase in the near future.

 

[34erd]

the better option would be to wait for intel to release conroe cpus, which will support everything in your rig.

Not true, conroe will require at least a 965 chipset.

 

[Bobo]

the better option would be to wait for intel to release conroe cpus, which will support everything in your rig.

It doesn't matter whether you get Conroe or AM2, you still would have to replace PSU, case, motherboard, and CPU

 

[apj101]

greater performance increase in the near future.

how near? and how great?

It doesn't matter whether you get Conroe or AM2,

well it does since with conroe you get a cpu and if you buy AM2 your have an empty socket since it is not a model of cpu

 

[Bobo]

well it does since with conroe you get a cpu and if you buy AM2 your have an empty socket since it is not a model of cpu

but with conroe you still need a motherboard...

You know what I mean. I was just using AM2 to refer to the actual processor, just like everybody does....

 

[Geoff]

how near? and how great?

I cant say for sure, but i remember reading that once AM2 actually takes better advantage of DDR2, there will be a greater performance increase.

 

[apj101]

I was just using AM2 to refer to the actual processor, just like everybody does...

well dont because is bugs the hell out of me, and makes you sound.... politely... dumb

I cant say for sure, but i remember reading that once AM2 actually takes better advantage of DDR2, there will be a greater performance increase.

intel fell into the trap of thinking that constant bumps to clock speed would keep them competative, the result was amd closing the gap of performance. Intel survived because amd's core was gaming centric and lets face it intel have enormous selling power.
If amd fall into the same trap of thinking that constant bumping to memory bandwidth will solve all problems then I worry for them

 

[Bobo]

well dont because is bugs the hell out of me, and makes you sound.... politely... dumb

That sounds like something that my nitpickey self would say. And don't be afraid to call me dumb

intel fell into the trap of thinking that constant bumps to clock speed would keep them competative, the result was amd closing the gap of performance. Intel survived because amd's core was gaming centric and lets face it intel have enormous selling power.
If amd fall into the same trap of thinking that constant bumping to memory bandwidth will solve all problems then I worry for them

Wasn't AMD's big performance gain because the processor could access the RAM way faster than Intel's could?

 

[Geoff]

well dont because is bugs the hell out of me, and makes you sound.... politely... dumb

I know what you mean, i dont know why i used to refer to AM2 as a processor (remember AM2 vs Conroe ). But ya, AM2 is just a socket, like 939. Some Sempron, Athlon 64's, X2's and FX are also AM2, so you cant just call AM2 a type of processor.

 

[helmie]

Not true, conroe will require at least a 965 chipset.

And different VRMs, conroe uses lower voltages than any of the current 775 chips, so even if you did have a 965 chipset, you would still need a new board.

 

[Akareza]

why a psu upgrade? this is not dells psu btw i have upgraded it my self to 400 watt forton(sp?) without any issues

but seems like i need a new mother board if i wana get this CPU?

 

[Cromewell]

Wasn't AMD's big performance gain because the processor could access the RAM way faster than Intel's could?

That was part of it, the other is K8 is fairly efficient, where as netburst is very clock happy.

 

[apj101]

Wasn't AMD's big performance gain because the processor could access the RAM way faster than Intel's could?

yeah... and thats what i said. I was likeing intels attempts to constantly bump net clock speed, with the potential attempts of AMD to constantly dump bandwidth. Sure you'll see performance gains, but returns deminish past a point.

That was part of it, the other is K8 is fairly efficient, where as netburst is very clock happy.

a very big part indeed

 

[fade2green514]

lol trying to get an AMD proc into a dell... lol
you'd need at least a new motherboard and then you'd buy the cpu.
2 things... if you get an amd proc, get it for socket AM2, 939 is now outdated. also you may need a couple of other things such as new ram or even a video card.
what do you plan on doing with this machine, gaming?
another thing is power ratings. if you upgrade and the 400watts can't power a new video card that you get, then you're in trouble.