I'm considering to upgrade mu CPU. Need advice

Castout · 03-31-09, 05:05 PM

My specs are the following
Core 2 Duo E4400 2.0GHz 800MHz FSB
Matched to 8Gb DDR 2 800MHz(PC-6400)
Nvidia 9800GTX+ 512Mb DDR3
2 DVD ROM
1 HDD
Powered by 630Watt PSU

Running on Vista x64 OS.

For application that don't use dual core(I have many games that don't) will upgrading to higher clock speed help to increase performance? In fact I don't know any game which specifically claims that they are designed to be played with multi core CPU.

I've been researching and found if I want an optimum system by changing the CPU, I could only go as high as 2.6GHz. That is Core 2 Duo E4700 with a 800MT/s data transfer rate which is the optimum number for my 800MHz DDR2 memory. Will this help to improve performance in games that don't support dual core?

Or should I just neglect the FSB of the CPU and go for say E7400 2.8GHz core 2 duo with 1066MHz FSB speed? But considering that my memory can only calculate 800MHz data transfer so I would be wasting 266 MHz for nothing unless I want to upgrade my memory in some future time which I'm reluctant to do.

Plus everybody else in the other game forums always said that "you need at least 3GHz CPU if you want to run the game at high setting"- That is one guy at medieval 2 total war forum.

Core 2 duo only go as high as 3.3GHz. It doesn't make sense! Did they mean 3GHz single core? I don't get it either when people buy quad core to play games as most games don't even support dual core CPU including Medieval 2 Total War I think?!!

So if an upgrade is advisable should I go for E4700 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo with 800MHz FSB to match with my memory clock
or
should I just ignore the FSB and go for say E7400 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo with 1066MHz FSB?
or will upgrading result in minimum performance increase in games?

Zachstar · 03-31-09, 05:14 PM

Most modern games support multiple cores. Usually divvying up threads for certain parts to different cores.

Also its not just about MHz its about transistors. A modern 45nm Single core will beat the heck out of my 90nm single core from 04

Castout · 03-31-09, 09:22 PM

Somebody told me that Vista x64 is not very efficient to play games on.
something to do with Nvidia drivers not being optimized for Vista x64.

This casts a doubt whether I should upgrade my core 2 duo.

What do you mean modern games Zachstar? Is medieval 2 modern enough? I think it doesn't support dual core or mutli core CPU.

Still waiting for empire total war to hit the stores here. have left my numbers with the store. But have heard some gripes on performance and bugs in the empire game. Games these days are badly tested.

Arclight · 03-31-09, 11:03 PM

Medieval 2 is not that modern, really. PC tech moves so fast it's ridiculous. But even the most modern games that are actually multi-threaded would likely run the same on a 3GHZ dual-core as on a 3GHZ quad-core. One core will always take most of the load, so speed of individual cores is IMO more important then more then 2 cores.

If you're looking to upgrade, E8400 or E8500 is a good choice (1333MHZ FSB though). Probably will be my next purchase when I move on from my E6750.

Castout · 04-01-09, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arclight

Medieval 2 is not that modern, really. PC tech moves so fast it's ridiculous. But even the most modern games that are actually multi-threaded would likely run the same on a 3GHZ dual-core as on a 3GHZ quad-core. One core will always take most of the load, so speed of individual cores is IMO more important then more then 2 cores.

If you're looking to upgrade, E8400 or E8500 is a good choice (1333MHZ FSB though). Probably will be my next purchase when I move on from my E6750.

Thanks but that high FSB speed will be useless since my memory is tagged at 800MHz. wouldn't that be a waste of money?
Yea since many application relies on a single core, it pays to have a high speed/clocked core.

I'm thinking to upgrade to
E4700 Core 2 Duo 2.6GHz with 800MHz FSB which is matched to my memory?
Or should I just abandon the idea of matching my parts and go for say E7400 Core 2 duo 2.8GHz with 1066FSB?

The price difference is not that much. . .

04-01-09, 03:11 AM

[quote=Castout;1075757]
Or should I just abandon the idea of matching my parts and go for say E7400 Core 2 duo 2.8GHz with 1066FSB? [quote]

This is what you want. Then swap your RAM's to 1066 MHz as well and you're done.

Choosing new parts you need to pay special attention to your mobo and cpu.

================================================== ====

I'm going to upgrade my system too. Waiting for these parts to be delivered now.

1 x Foxconn ATX-TSAA725-USB 2x2.0/Audio (silver/black) + FSP ATX400W 12cm fan silent V2.03 P4 PFC CE PSU (ATX-TLA725)
1 x ASUS S775 IP45 DDR2 SATA2 GBL 8-CH HD (P5Q SE/R)
1 x INTEL CORE2D E7400 2.8GHZ 1066/3M S775
1 x GF 9500GT MAGIC PCIE 512MB DDR2 DVI-I (EN9500GT MAGIC/DI/5)
2 x 1GB 1066MHZ DDR2 CL5 5-5-5-15 DIMM (KHX8500D2/1G)

03-31-09, 05:05 PM	#1
Castout Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 4,794 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 6	I'm considering to upgrade mu CPU. Need advice My specs are the following Core 2 Duo E4400 2.0GHz 800MHz FSB Matched to 8Gb DDR 2 800MHz(PC-6400) Nvidia 9800GTX+ 512Mb DDR3 2 DVD ROM 1 HDD Powered by 630Watt PSU Running on Vista x64 OS. For application that don't use dual core(I have many games that don't) will upgrading to higher clock speed help to increase performance? In fact I don't know any game which specifically claims that they are designed to be played with multi core CPU. I've been researching and found if I want an optimum system by changing the CPU, I could only go as high as 2.6GHz. That is Core 2 Duo E4700 with a 800MT/s data transfer rate which is the optimum number for my 800MHz DDR2 memory. Will this help to improve performance in games that don't support dual core? Or should I just neglect the FSB of the CPU and go for say E7400 2.8GHz core 2 duo with 1066MHz FSB speed? But considering that my memory can only calculate 800MHz data transfer so I would be wasting 266 MHz for nothing unless I want to upgrade my memory in some future time which I'm reluctant to do. Plus everybody else in the other game forums always said that "you need at least 3GHz CPU if you want to run the game at high setting"- That is one guy at medieval 2 total war forum. Core 2 duo only go as high as 3.3GHz. It doesn't make sense! Did they mean 3GHz single core? I don't get it either when people buy quad core to play games as most games don't even support dual core CPU including Medieval 2 Total War I think?!! So if an upgrade is advisable should I go for E4700 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo with 800MHz FSB to match with my memory clock or should I just ignore the FSB and go for say E7400 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo with 1066MHz FSB? or will upgrading result in minimum performance increase in games? __________________ My blog: http://exposingsingapore.wordpress.com/

03-31-09, 05:14 PM	#2
Zachstar Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Posts: 1,956 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	Most modern games support multiple cores. Usually divvying up threads for certain parts to different cores. Also its not just about MHz its about transistors. A modern 45nm Single core will beat the heck out of my 90nm single core from 04 __________________

03-31-09, 09:22 PM	#3
Castout Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 4,794 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 6	Somebody told me that Vista x64 is not very efficient to play games on. something to do with Nvidia drivers not being optimized for Vista x64. This casts a doubt whether I should upgrade my core 2 duo. What do you mean modern games Zachstar? Is medieval 2 modern enough? I think it doesn't support dual core or mutli core CPU. Still waiting for empire total war to hit the stores here. have left my numbers with the store. But have heard some gripes on performance and bugs in the empire game. Games these days are badly tested. __________________ My blog: http://exposingsingapore.wordpress.com/

03-31-09, 11:03 PM	#4
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Medieval 2 is not that modern, really. PC tech moves so fast it's ridiculous. But even the most modern games that are actually multi-threaded would likely run the same on a 3GHZ dual-core as on a 3GHZ quad-core. One core will always take most of the load, so speed of individual cores is IMO more important then more then 2 cores. If you're looking to upgrade, E8400 or E8500 is a good choice (1333MHZ FSB though). Probably will be my next purchase when I move on from my E6750. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

04-01-09, 03:11 AM	#6
Contact Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	[quote=Castout;1075757] Or should I just abandon the idea of matching my parts and go for say E7400 Core 2 duo 2.8GHz with 1066FSB? [quote] This is what you want. Then swap your RAM's to 1066 MHz as well and you're done. Choosing new parts you need to pay special attention to your mobo and cpu. ================================================== ==== I'm going to upgrade my system too. Waiting for these parts to be delivered now. 1 x Foxconn ATX-TSAA725-USB 2x2.0/Audio (silver/black) + FSP ATX400W 12cm fan silent V2.03 P4 PFC CE PSU (ATX-TLA725) 1 x ASUS S775 IP45 DDR2 SATA2 GBL 8-CH HD (P5Q SE/R) 1 x INTEL CORE2D E7400 2.8GHZ 1066/3M S775 1 x GF 9500GT MAGIC PCIE 512MB DDR2 DVI-I (EN9500GT MAGIC/DI/5) 2 x 1GB 1066MHZ DDR2 CL5 5-5-5-15 DIMM (KHX8500D2/1G)