My last plans to buy a $1000 computer tided over, so I need a cheap upgrade for my Motherboard, CPU and RAM to tide me over to 12 months or so.
I'm in Australia and planning to purchase from [url=http://www.msy.com.au/Parts/PARTS.pdf]MSY[/url] as there's one around the corner from me.
I can get an E6600 for $100 or an E7400 for $150. Is there $50 worth of difference between the two processors? Or should I just clock the E6600 to the speeds of an E7400?
Motherboard is either ASUS P5QL-SE ($110) or G-B EP41-UD3L ($101). I'm not sure of the exact differences between the two though.
RAM is easy. 4GB Kingston 800MHz DDR2 for $63.
My current specs are;
M/B: Gigabyte 8I915P Duo Pro
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 550 (3.42GHz)
GPU: Nvidia 8800GTX
RAM: 2GB DDR
PSU: Thermaltake 420W
I've only got about $350 to spend, and my max/min prices here are $323/$264. I know my PSU and GPU are fine, it's just the three that I need upgraded. I'm just torn on CPU, really.
Get:
MA770-UD3
Phenom II X2 550
I would go with an E7400 and the G-B EP41-UD3L if you're set on Intel.
No experience with AMD, explain benefits/losses etc.
Benefits is better price:performance.
losses: none
That's really useful.
Is there a difference between L2 and L3 cache to warrant wanting the 550 over the E7400?
EDIT: I mostly use this computer for gaming, but I occasionally use things like Premier and Photoshop so I want some performance increase with those, too. I'll also probably install Win7 RC 64-bit on it with the format.
Intel is only really best for high end (Core i7), although their other chips are also great, however their amd equivalents are usually cheaper.
[QUOTE=adzicents;16238428]That's really useful.
Is there a difference between L2 and L3 cache to warrant wanting the 550 over the E7400?
EDIT: I mostly use this computer for gaming, but I occasionally use things like Premier and Photoshop so I want some performance increase with those, too. I'll also probably install Win7 RC 64-bit on it with the format.[/QUOTE]
Then your best bet is a Phenom II X3 720 for the processor, and a GA-MA790X-UD4P for the motherboard. That would be around 250 USD, I don't know what it would translate to in Australian dollars.
On that MSY thing it has an AMD Phenom II X3 720 for 188.
Too much. That's about $400 with RAM.
Am I correct in assuming that if I buy an AM3 socket mobo, I can use most AMD processors? Or is AM2+ a completely different mobo.
With an AM3 mobo, you can typically use any modern AMD processor.
So, what's the DDR2 alternative to the G-B MA770T-UD3P (that's available on MSY)?
AM3 boards require AM3 processors, AM3 processors will work on AM2+ boards, the only reason for getting an AM3 board is DDR3.
[editline]12:13AM[/editline]
If you're getting the 720 then go for a G-B MA770-US3 - $99
I'm probably going to go with the 550.
[QUOTE=ButtsexV2;16238563]Then your best bet is a Phenom II X3 720 for the processor, and a GA-MA790X-UD4P for the motherboard. That would be around 250 USD, I don't know what it would translate to in Australian dollars.[/QUOTE]
Exactly what I have. Runs great.
OP, if you're going to be doing video editing, you probably want the Phenom II X3 720. If you're just gaming, the 550 will be better.
It's on rare occasion that I do editing, I can't stretch this budget at all. I have to go with the 550.
[editline]01:06AM[/editline]
Actually, I should be able to stretch it now that I do some math and organising. I'll see how things pan out. Thanks guys.
If you don't do it that often, the 550 is fine. The 550 will actually perform better than the 720 in some circumstances.
Can the 720 still be hacked to unlock the 4th core?
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