AMD 64-bit CPUs

[tim3003]

Hi,

My (fairly old) self-built PC seems to be getting slower, I think because when web-browsing with many tabs, its 4gb RAM is too little. I am running Win 7 32-bit, so am wondering about upgrading to Win 7 64-bit and increasing RAM. I have an Asus M5A78L mobo, which I think will run 64-bit CPUs. I currently have an AMD FX-4170, which I think is a 32-bit CPU. Can anyone explain which AMD FX- or other suitable CPUs are 64-bit capable, so I can upgrade? The mobo socket handles up to AM3+.

Thanks.

 

[tim3003]

All of their processors can run 64bit including the FX-4170. Without overhauling the whole system to newer stuff, your best bet would be a FX-8350. But I'd imagine the RAM and OS change should do the trick.

Thanks, I Googled the subject, and people said to check Windows Start menu/System Info, and if it said the CPU was x86 (instead of x64), it means 32-bit, which mine did. Were they wrong?

 

[tim3003]

youll be limited to 3gb addressable anyway with a 32bit system , another gb from an os upgrade should help a wee bitty

Actually, I've already upgraded to 8GB in preparation, but of course Win 7 32-bit can only see 3.2GB - I can see from Task Manager that when RAM usage gets much over 2GB the system slows down..

 

[tim3003]

I've just installed an FX-8350. It runs at 4.0ghz and has a turbo setting up to 4.2, but I'd like to overclock it further. I have dabbled with altering clock ratios before and could do that again. But this is a Black edition, and has the CPU-VID unlocked too. (AMD Overdrive shows it at a default of 1.35v, but the slider goes up to 1.41v). Is it best just to up the clock ratio, or up the voltage as well? If so, do I up the voltage by one step per 100mhz clock speed, or is there a safer way of jointly increasing them?