Upgrading from socket 478

[andybris2]

Hi,
New forum member here, looking at upgrading from socket 478, to Amd or Intel dual core.

my system at the moment is;
Intel P4 3.2Ghz Intel 3.2Ghz-1meg cache
Asus P4p800-x mobo
WD Raptor system drive
4x 200Gig sata maxtors -8meg cache on raid 5
Matrox Parhelia 128meg agp 8x
Triple 17" hitachi monitors
2Gig ddr 400



used 40% video/sound editing semi pro work
rest for DTP and games (racing and flight sims)

Question is which path to go for Pci-e mobo for dx9 support (Parhelia only dx8) will get around 7600 or 7900 pci-e video card and Matrox TH2G for triple out support;

do I go;

Intel dual 950
Amd Athlon64 x2 4200+ socket 939
Amd2 x2 4200+
(approx for money i have)

Any info on what to get and why?

(seen new mobo's have raid 5 support with 4-8 connectors so free's up pci slot)

[Awatef]

You seem to be more focused on games than on video encoding, so I would say, you better go with the AM2 CPU, which is slightly faster than the S939 one, future-proof, and enables you to profit from the new nForce 500 based mainboards.
Else, you're better off w/ the D 950 processor, which is faster than the X2 4200+ on most encoding disciplines.

[andybris2]

Sorry I did sound a bit bias towards the games, I had made up my mind to upgrade and get a dual cpu to speed up for the editing work I do (time is money).

Was looking at what to get that would give me dx9 support as it's a pain getting a demo of a new game and only having dx8, when I do chill out between jobs.

There are so many "flavours" of each cpu that it's hard to know which way to, when you havnt been keeping upto date.

Thanks once again for your reply.

[foxyshadis]

Are you comfortable with overclocking? If so, the cheapest chips in each family are overclockable to the levels of the top chips, with similar cooling requirements, so it isn't worth spending the extra money. The rating just guarantees that it'll work at that level with the stock cooler, but they're all fabbed on the same processes.

[andybris2]

"Are you comfortable with overclocking?" .... no.

comp is for semi pro work so needed it stable so never had a go at overclocking.

are you saying I could get Athlon64 x2 4200 and get it running like FX-62?

or have I lost the plot?

[foxyshadis]

Pretty much, but it'd take a better heatsink and fan. You can usually get a 3800+ to the level of 4200 or 4600 without extra cooling, thought. All of the lower end AMD chips, as well as low Intel 900s and conroes, are easy to boost without getting any less stable with basic fans; they're mostly artificially limited these days.

[HardwareGeek]

looking at upgrading ... to Amd or Intel dual core ... Question is which path to go for Pci-e mobo for dx9 support ... Any info on what to get and why?Most anything should work for PCIe and DX9. The most important thing for games remains your graphics card(s), and you already seem to have your mind made up on that.

Generally speaking, if you are in the market for a new computer, now is a good time to wait. One of the most anticipated processors of our time is on the verge of release this July 23. Preliminary tests put all current processors to shame. Tests include games. The new CPU can be yours for $200-$300.

Even if you decide to not get the new chip, it could still be a good idea to wait, because prices should drop dramtically on other chips after the 23rd.

[andybris2]

More cpus to put decide from?

In that case I'm glad I posted a message, sounds like you just saved me $$$$.
I take it the $200-$300 is US? (I'm in Australia)
and would it be available in Australia? or will we have to wait months like all the other releases of new stuff?
Theres always ebay no doubt :)

I havnt 100% made my mind up on video card - I did say "will get around 7600 or 7900"
I cant say I'm a game "nut" I just want to play newer games available and heard that around 7600-7900 will still support games for a few years?

[Awatef]

I conclude from your post, that you're a bit limited on the graphics card budget.
If it is so, I would recommend the Nvidia GeForce 7600 GT, which is the best compromise between speed and price at the moment.
Cards w/ 256MB RAM are available for about 220US$.

[foxyshadis]

It's likely that all games will support DX9 for a few years, like games supported DX8 cards up until recently. DX10 cards are still 6-10 months out (timed to release with vista) though, so no way to entirely futureproof atm.

I know Chinese, Japanese, US, and Euro wholesale prices are falling come July, so I'd expect Aussie prices will, but that depends on if the vendors decide to take it as extra windfall profits or not. >.> (Retail prices seem to be on a steady decline in expectation of price cuts anyway, so they likely won't be as severe a drop as wholesale price sheets hint.)

[andybris2]

Thanks for all your reply's, thoughts so far are, wait for new CPU's coming out, (Wont worry about SLI as it's a work computer firstly Editing and DTP makes up for more than gaming. and will look at over clocking bottom of the range cpu so I can spend a bit more on video card I can get in 7 series, for when I do play games).

Hopfully this will give me maximum productivity for work use with the dual core while giving me a few years good gaming support.

Great forum guys, will have a read on over clocking, hopfully I will know enough not to fry whatever I buy.

[HardwareGeek]

I take it the $200-$300 is US?Yeah. Should have specified USD. Dok!
would it be available in Australia?Should be. Dell & HP get first dibs. CPU launches 7/23. But it should be available by retail or etail soon after that. Don't know how soon, tho'.