How much difference is there?

[Midnight Mick]

I currently have a Athlon 3400+ Newcastle CPU.

I'm looking at buildinga new PC and thought about a E4600 for the CPU.

I'm not up to today's CPU spec's. Is this CPU much faster/better than the one I have currently?

[gwai lo]

Faster is such a vague word, oh well.

My guesstimate would be 20-25% faster in most processor tests that aren't hard drive or GPU limited.

Now if you're looking for specific numbers..then you'll have to be more specific. If you're wondering whether or not you need to upgrade, chances are you don't. I don't believe upgrades are productive unless the user sees a deficiency in their current computer. Just from your phrasing, it doesn't sound like you do.

[+PeterUK MVC]

Its definitely a...

:p

[Midnight Mick]

Sorry, I was a bit vague wasn't I!

Basically, the games I run are starting to get a bit sluggish now.

I don't want to go to Q6600 and above realm but just need a CPU that can quite happily get a long with most modern games.

I'm also looking at getting a 8800gt graphics card.

Also, I use my machine to convert video's, so if the cpu can work a bit faster with this then that would be great.

[+shift. MVC]

What video card are you running right now?

[Midnight Mick]

What video card are you running right now?

7600GT AGP

[+shift. MVC]

I think if anything, your GPU is the thing that is affecting your frame rates. I would upgrade to maybe a 8800GT (or 9600GT since it's more budget friendly) and if you still think your frame rates are inadequate then go ahead and upgrade your CPU as well.

[MightyJordan]

I wouldn't exactly call the Q6600 "above realm". The public is opening their arms to quad-cores now. It'll do you a lot of good if you go for it. I'm running a Q9500, and it's caused me no problems so far.

[+PeterUK MVC]

7600GT AGP

I think if anything, your GPU is the thing that is affecting your frame rates. I would upgrade to maybe a 8800GT (or 9600GT since it's more budget friendly) and if you still think your frame rates are inadequate then go ahead and upgrade your CPU as well.

Just how is one meant to put a PCI-E in a AGP slot? :pinch:

[+shift. MVC]

Right, completely forgot about that. Totally my bad.

I guess upgrading CPU is the only viable option then if you want to see a boost in gaming performance.

Either that, or a complete system overhaul maybe? Since that Newcastle is a single core Socket 754 processor. =\

[Midnight Mick]

I'd be getting a completely new motherboard to accommodate the new cpu & graphics card but by the sound of things I'm not getting to many votes for the E4600 anyway?

[+shift. MVC]

It would definitely be an improvement over your current processor.

[+PeterUK MVC]

I'd be getting a completely new motherboard to accommodate the new cpu & graphics card but by the sound of things I'm not getting to many votes for the E4600 anyway?

Then theirs the RAM, PSU... & HDD, DVD as they are likely IDE.

[chconline Veteran]

It will own your current processor so badly, it won't even be funny. :p

[MMaster23]

I'd go for an faster Dual Core .. try the new 8xxx series if they aren't too expensive for you..

Quadcore isn't really needed for gaming..yet....

[+shift. MVC]

Or, go even more budget and grab a E21x0 and overclock the **** out of it. :p

[ViperAFK]

That cpu would be MUCH faster than a 3400+. A gpu would get you more frames than upgrading from the 4600. That cpu could easily run any modern game. Get something like a 9600GT/3870 or better yet an 8800GT for a video card.

[+shift. MVC]

I think the best idea is go for a complete system overhaul anyway.

Since upgrading to a C2D requires a new motherboard, and going for PCI-E GFX will require a new motherboard as well, and maybe even a new PSU too.

[Midnight Mick]

I made my mind up & have ordered the following...

MSI P35 Neo-F Socket 775 FSB1333 onboard 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 Socket 775 (2.66GHz) FSB1333 6MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor

Point Of View 8800GT 512MB GDDR3 256bit Dual DVI PCI-E Graphics Card

Maxtor STM3250310AS 250GB SATAII 8MB Cache - OEM

Corsair VX 550W PSU

Corsair 3x1GB DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2

In for a penny, in for a pound! :)

[08993]

Corsair 3x1GB DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2

Hmmm, won't that stop you from running in dual channel? Either get 2x1 & 2x512 or go for the 4.

[Midnight Mick]

Hmmm, won't that stop you from running in dual channel? Either get 2x1 & 2x512 or go for the 4.

Does dual channel really make a difference then?

[ViperAFK]

Dual channel technically doubles the bandwidth but some say there is not much of a "real world" performance increase. I'd just go for 2x2gb kit imo they can be found for around 70 bucks for 2x2gb ddr800 and that leaves more slots open for future ram upgrades.

[Midnight Mick]

Since I already have Vista 32 bit, that OS won't use all the 4gb will it?!

[08993]

Since I already have Vista 32 bit, that OS won't use all the 4gb will it?!

Correct, you'll be able to use about 3.2 gig of it, however it will still have double the bandwidth since the memory bandwidth is not set by the OS.

[+shift. MVC]

Hmmm, won't that stop you from running in dual channel? Either get 2x1 & 2x512 or go for the 4.

There is asynchronous dual channel as well.