Recommend Processor Upgrade For AMD AM2 System

[Ian]

I've been thinking about upgrading my AMD AM2 system at home. It currently has an X2 4500+ CPU and 2GB of ram. I'm thinking about picking up another 2GB of memory and getting a faster processor like a 6000+ since they're about $80 now. My question is.. would it be worthwhile to spend a bit more and get a Phenom X3 or X4?

[Dartman]

I spose it depends on what a little more is and what else you have to upgrade. I'd love to do a Intel Quad at this point but by the time I do new board, memory, CPU, etc it just doesn't pencil out what with the economy and all.
I don't think the AMD at this point is faster but I'd bet the upgrade overall is cheaper and still should be a lot faster then what you have now without having to re buy the whole box almost.
JUST for the board I'd like to use for a Intel it's almost 300 bucks right now...

[Ian]

Yeah, all I'm looking to get right now is a new CPU. I already scavenged an 8800GT from work and my motherboard supports Phenoms so its a cheap an easy upgrade. I guess I should read some old reviews and see how much of an improvement a 3 or 4 core AMD would be.

[LoneWolf]

Stick with a 95w part unless you're sure your mainboard is up to it. Some boards can't handle the 125w/140w ones; their power circuitry will eventually keel over and die.

This might be an option:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103244

Quad really helps me in one thing: Video encoding or transcoding, with the right product. If you can use all four cores, it can cut the time by 40% over a dual-core.

[Ian]

This might be an option:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103244

Doesn't the 9600 have a bug? Wouldn't the 9650 be a better option?

I was planning on sticking with the 95w processors. According to ASUS, my board supports them all but like you said, I don't want it to die on me.

[LoneWolf]

Not sure. I thought AMD had replaced all their Phenoms with B-steppings by now to get rid of the bugs, but I'll look into it and get back with you.

EDIT: You are correct. A 9550 or 9650 would be the B3 stepping, which would fix the TLB-bug. My bad; my last AMD processors were 939, so I haven't kept up with the steppings. I really thought the older ones with the issue would be off the market by now.

[LoneWolf]

Hey Ian, is your system socket AM2+?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103472

[Ian]

It would probably work with a BIOS update. Still, it would be like sticking a turbo charged V8 in a Honda Civic.

[LoneWolf]

Haven't you always WANTED to stick a turbocharged V8 into a Honda Civic?

As for RAM, it's so cheap now, it's insane. I have four 1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2 modules I'll probably let go for a song, since I just purchased two 2GB G.Skill's for $45 with free shipping.

Maybe a triple-core Phenom II makes sense (assuming AMD releases them), or a budget version will come out. Phenom II outperforms Phenom by enough that I'd probably skip Phenom altogether now that II is out. Power consumption is also lower.

[Dartman]

I've seen some WILD tiny cars with V8's in em around here over the years. It's a time honored way to make a really fast car cheap, stuff the biggest motor that will fit in the lightest body. I did the same thing back in the 8088 days putting a NEC V20 in place of the stock 8088 chip, was probably 20 percent faster for about 20 bucks and I didn't have to change anything else. I did it again with my newer 8086 based Tandy when I got it as well as they had a V30 chip for it.
My PC life has been downhill ever since, Only bought 4 prebuilt machines, and all of them got some mods, then started building my own.
Now I reuse the case and whatever parts are still current enough to use and upgrade the chip or whole board/chip every 2 or 3 years as deals come along.
My family gets the leftovers to play with.

[LoneWolf]

If this turns out to be true, you could see Phenom II prices dropping shortly to stay competitive.

[LoneWolf]

AMD has lowered its prices on the Phenom II.

The X4 920 is now $195 for the retail chip, with free shipping. I think it was previously $225-235.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103472

[SithTracy]

About a month ago I went with a AMD X4 Phenom II 940...Very happy with it.

[Dartman]

I was just given a Phenom black 9600 quad core and 4 gig of ddr2 800 ram on a Asus M3A32-MVP deluxe for helping my tech friend clean his garage for 3 days
It's a very nice jump up from my 4600 dual core with 2 gig and I guess all these chips are pretty cheap right now so a great way to upgrade without spending big money on the latest and greatest and still get a significantly faster system. Apparently if you have a newer AM2+ board many can also take the newest AM3 chip when it comes out, just doesn't use DDR3 memory. This board is listed as one that will support it so depending on how old that board you have now is your upgrade path may be better then you think...
Video encoding has now sped up about twice as fast as before, though recoding stuff to AHVC or whatever the blu standard for dvd still takes quite a while, 5 hours rather then 8.

[Ian]

I still haven't bought a new processory. I've been playing a lot of PS3 games so I haven't had an urgent need to upgrade my computer. That Phenom Black 9600 is a good deal. Newegg has it for less than $100. I'm tempted to pay a bit more and get a faster processor, but I'm wary about sticking a 125w CPU in my old motherboard.

[Ian]

Hmm.. the 9650 is only $120 at Newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103288

[Dartman]

Which board is it anyways? Most of the better Asus boards made when mine was claim AM3 support, don't know if any of the other boards will do it but if it can I don't see why a 9600 or something wouldn't work.
Mine has the 790fx chip set and sb600 memory chip set? and has a 8 pin EATX connector rather then the typical 4 pin on older boards so I think it's all set for the high draw chips. If yours is the same it might be OK for them as well.
I'd poke around other forums and the boards manufacturer site and see what everybody claims safely works.

[Ian]

It's an M2N-SLI Deluxe. According to ASUS, it will work with pretty much any Phenom out there as long as you update the bios.

[Dartman]

Well then I'd check their user forums and see how it's working for folks and get whatever chip ya want. The early Phenoms like mine have the bug in them that most users will never see happen and most boards have the TLB bug fix if needed. So you might or might not want to try one like mine depending on whether you think the bug will be a issue for you.
I'll have to go look that one up and see what they say.

[SithTracy]

It's an M2N-SLI Deluxe. According to ASUS, it will work with pretty much any Phenom out there as long as you update the bios.

What's stopping ya, Ian? Go for it. They are dirt cheap... Will be building my parents a new box to take with me when I visit them in AL and will likely go with a Phenom... for the price and what they do with it, it makes sense.... and I'll be pretty happy using it too when I visit.

[SithTracy]

I just noticed they put out a new BIOS a few days ago for that board... wonder if it adds Phenom II support?!!?

[Ian]

If I went Phenom II, I'd probably get a new mobo. I'm just looking for something that will get me by for another year or so.

I was kind of concerned about running a 125w CPU on that motherboard, but I did some searches and there seems to be a lot of people doing it.

[Dartman]

I think I'd just stay with what you have if it's stable and has all the ports/features you need. My new board is nice, it has 4 PCIX video ports and 2 PCI.
Where it really falls short is extra storage ports, only has 6 SATA and 1 IDE so I lost a IDE port and 2 SATA ports. I had to loose a couple of toys I wasn't using much and retire my last IDE 200 meg hard drive for the 400 I was given as part of the package.
The enthusiast boards seem to be loosing the huge amount of storage options you used to get in favor of WI FI and extra video card slots for massive SLI rigs. I all ready have a 3870x2 I got recently so I doubt I'll be stuffing it full f extra video cards, but I do miss being able to support 6 optical drives. I do like having the latest burner to play with after all, and then I can do comparison burns and multiple disk runs easily.

[LoneWolf]

Retail Phenom 8750 Black Edition triple-core $104.99, free shipping. 95w model, too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103295

[Dartman]

They also had a 9850 black edition with 4 gig of ddr2 800 for just around 100 last week, a bit less by itself, that would also be a smokin deal. I was very tempted to go for it even though this combo is new to me.
AMD is trying very hard to take back the not quite as fast but much better for the price crown.