CPUs

[SgtSwabs]

Well I have saved up about £140 (maybe more I havn't been to the bank recently) so I thought I would upgrade my CPU. I currently am using an Intel Celeron R 2.4ghz so I was thinking of upgrading to a new Intel Pentium 4 640 "LGA775 Prescott" 3.2GHz (800FSB) with HT Technology for £136. Here's the link (third CPU down on the list) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Onl...LGA775_380.html

So I know if I bought that would be getting a lot of bang but is it the right amount of bang for my buck?

I'm also considering buying a Intel Pentium 4 940 Dual Core "LGA775 Presler" 3.2GHz (800FSB) - Retail (CP-113-IN) for £164 so I was wondering what are the benefits of a Dual Core Processor of a normal Processor?

Here's the link http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Onl...l_Core_570.html (third one down on the list)

[carrotderek]

In dual cores, CPUs, since they are on the same silicon slate, will communicate alot faster with each other. They each CPU will have their own resources, and will process tasks at the same time, thus being more efficient.

Most CPUs will follow an instruction cycle: FEMW - fetch, execute, memory access, write back (may vary, but generally) In single-cores it will do this: fed instructions, executed, stored in cache, then if required, the data not in the cache will be retrieved through the bus from primary/secondary memory. This will restrict speed to the speed of the bus which really blows compares to the CPU.

Keep in mind that most programs aren't programmed to fully optimize multi-core processors. They will need to be programmed to split into multiple running tasks (threads) and then the multiple tasks are processed by the dual processing units, which will completely own clock speed in processing time. muah.

So far programs like 3dMax and Photoshop etc., and new games have been optimized for dual-cores, but expect that number to rise. Multi-core processors are essentially a revolutionary step in CPU architecture, I'm sure it will stick, but it will take time.

[SgtSwabs]

Sounds good, I suppose having a Dual Core is worth the extra cost, thanks for the help.

[Dale]

If you have such an old... or kinda low processor atm, are you sure the processor will work with your motherboard

[Samuel]

Your motherboard is likely to not be compatible with what you want to get. I highly stress that you get a new motherboard, that is compatible.

Also take a look a the new AMD 64 x-2's they kill all other processors hands-down. =)

[unit_number_43]

I posted something about this but apparently it didn't show up. You need to make sure that your socket is compatible with the cpu's socket type. The two you've got listed aren't even compatible so the odds that your celeron matches one of those is slim. If you pull out your current CPU (be careful to discharge all static charge before touching it at all) and look at the socket it should say on there (like SOCKET A or 940 or whatever type it is).

[SgtSwabs]

Yeah it turns out that with my motherboard I cant fit dual cores. And I would go for and AMD but I have no idea which ones are good and which ones are bad, I only know about Intel. It's the same for graphics cards with me, if somebody asked me "whats a good nVidia gfz card" I could tell them easily, but I dont know shit about ATI cards.

[Samuel]

You don't need to know shit about ATI cards, beacuse they suck when matched to nvidia!

Also, if you need some opinions, just give me a hollar!

[SgtSwabs]

Cool thanks.

[Samuel]

No problem, glad to help