Should I notice much improvement if...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scott
  • Start date Start date
Scott said:
If I were to replace my ageing Athlon 1.33Ghz with a AthlonXP 3200+
(2.2Ghz)?(http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/processors/productView.htm?quicklinx=2N72)

I have a 512MB stick of DDR ram and a 128MB stick and I am using an Aopen
AK77-600GN (http://www.aopen.nl/products/mb/AK77-600GN.htm)

I know absolutely nothing about processors (though I do know a bit about the
actual building of a pc) so please be gentle.

Scott
Click to expand...

Yes, I would have thought so. What do you use the machine for though?
If it's only used for the web, word processing, and light games then
there is no point. If the machine does what you want it to do then I'd
just leave it. It will save you money.

If you do upgrade the new processor is going to produce more heat,
about another 7W. It's not a huge amount, but if the current CPU is
running hot, then a new cooler would probably be a good idea.

I upgraded from a Duron 1.1 to an Athlon XP 1700+ (1467MHz) about a
year ago, and to be honest I've barely noticed a difference. I've also
got a 1GHz C3 (slow) processor in my other machine, and it doesn't feel
any slower than my Athlon XP machine. Even when I play Counterstrike
(at high settings) my Althon XP is idle for about 44% of the time. A
lot of people think that the processor is really important, but for
normal use I don't think it is really. Oh, on benchmarks my Athlon XP
was only 1467/1100 times faster than the Duron :-o. So the FSB etc
didn't make any difference to benchmarks!

I would also expect that your motherboard will need a BIOS upgrade to
use the new CPU, but you'd need to check that. 640Mb is plenty of
memory, I only have 512Mb and it's engough for me.
 
Yes, I would have thought so. What do you use the machine for though?
If it's only used for the web, word processing, and light games then
there is no point. If the machine does what you want it to do then I'd
just leave it. It will save you money.

If you do upgrade the new processor is going to produce more heat,
about another 7W. It's not a huge amount, but if the current CPU is
running hot, then a new cooler would probably be a good idea.

I upgraded from a Duron 1.1 to an Athlon XP 1700+ (1467MHz) about a
year ago, and to be honest I've barely noticed a difference. I've also
got a 1GHz C3 (slow) processor in my other machine, and it doesn't feel
any slower than my Athlon XP machine. Even when I play Counterstrike
(at high settings) my Althon XP is idle for about 44% of the time. A
lot of people think that the processor is really important, but for
normal use I don't think it is really. Oh, on benchmarks my Athlon XP
was only 1467/1100 times faster than the Duron :-o. So the FSB etc
didn't make any difference to benchmarks!

I would also expect that your motherboard will need a BIOS upgrade to
use the new CPU, but you'd need to check that. 640Mb is plenty of
memory, I only have 512Mb and it's engough for me.
Click to expand...

I mainly use my machine for encoding video for friends (kids parties from
tape to dvd - that sort of thing), also for encoding my own home videos to
divx to have on the media centre enabled (chipped) xbox.
I would also use it for internet and email of course and watching the odd
dvd, but my main thing is encoding video and creating my own DVD's.

I have been upgrading my bios every so often just to be sure I'm getting the
most out of it, and going by the website it will support this processor.

Should I notice a vast improvement in applications that need raw processing
power like my encoding apps?

Cheers for the advice

Scott
 
Scott said:
I mainly use my machine for encoding video for friends (kids parties from
tape to dvd - that sort of thing), also for encoding my own home videos to
divx to have on the media centre enabled (chipped) xbox.
I would also use it for internet and email of course and watching the odd
dvd, but my main thing is encoding video and creating my own DVD's.

I have been upgrading my bios every so often just to be sure I'm getting the
most out of it, and going by the website it will support this processor.

Should I notice a vast improvement in applications that need raw processing
power like my encoding apps?
Click to expand...

Yes. From both the raw CPU speed and the FSB increase, assuming your memory
is capable of it.
 
Maybe you don't need to make any changes at all. It depends on how you use
your computer. For email and internet browsing and office tasks, your
present system is more than ample. If you are looking for improved internet
performance, but are using dial-up, upgrading your system will not help. In
that case you need broadband (cable or DSL - preferably cable). If you are
heavy into media functions (video files, photography, etc.) or into advanced
gaming, then, yes, a faster CPU will definitely help, and adding more RAM
will help too. Make sure that whatever you purchase is compatible with your
motherboard.
 
Scott:
I mainly use my machine for encoding video for friends (kids parties
from tape to dvd - that sort of thing), also for encoding my own home
videos to divx to have on the media centre enabled (chipped) xbox.
Click to expand...

Then yes, you will benefit quite a bit from a faster processor.
 
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