CPU upgrade

[Jacky-Boy16]

Hey guys I built my PC December 06, and I'm looking to upgrade my CPU, as I use a lot of 3D software,ZBrush, Maya, Houdini etc, and it's struggling a bit.

My current CPU is an Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.86GHz (1066FSB)

and my current motherboard is this ConRoe945G-DVI

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=ConRoe945G-DVI&s=775

I'm not sure how fast a CPU my motherboard can deal with, but I'm probably gonna be looking for the best CPU I can get my hands on, that'll work.

Thanks

 

[PhoenixUK]

# Supports FSB 1066/800/533 MHz processor, EM64T CPU and H-T Technology
# Supports Dual Channel DDRII667/533 x 4 DIMM slots with max. capacity up to 4GB

Looks like it wont get any of the newer CPUs because of the 1066 FSB, tho it should take the Q6600 and I think thats the best thing you can get for this mobo in terms of graphic stuff.

Also it supports only 667 memory so there is not much of an overclocking headroom.
I think you could OC your CPU to about 2.6-2.8GHZ depending on your cooling and wait few months yet for nehalem or something new.

Or you can just take Q6600 but you wont see that much of a difference for the price since your memory will probably hold it back anyways.

 

[Trunks9486]

I wouldnt upgrade... Overclock it. E6300 was known to overclock in excess of 3GHz with relative ease on good mobos.

Nehalem aint that far away either and given that your system is good even by todays standards i would wait for that.

 

[dagwoood]

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=ConRoe945G-DVI&s=775

Following your link above, there's a list of supported CPU's for your board.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/cpu.asp?Model=ConRoe945G-DVI&s=775

From the list, the fastest CPU your board will take is an X6800, but you're going to find it nigh on impossible to source a new one TBH, ditto for the E6700.

You can find some E6600's floating around, but as you've already got an E6300, you wont see that much of an improvement in performance if you sourced one.

 

[Hesky82]

I would think about upgrading the motherboard not the processor! looking at it logically, the weakest link in your system is most definitely going to be that pants asrock board.

Hear me out

For less than 80 pounds you can get a nice modern P35 motherboard and clock the heck out of that E6300 chip!! something an i945 based board doesn’t have a chance of doing.

On a decent modern board your cpu should easily be able to hit the 2.8GHz mark, you’ll wonder how on earth you got by with a stock clocked processor.

Also by buying a new mb you won’t just get more out of your current processor you'll also future proof your system so when these new quad cores come down in price you will just about be ready to give up your overclocked dual core!

 

[Jesus]

Totally agree with Hesky, a new motherboard will breathe life back into your rig.

 

[Vir]

Yep I agree to with Hesky. Get a P35 chipset and overclock that baby. If you still don't like it (which I doubt) then try and get a Q6600 later... they aren't that expensive anymore (second hand will do aswel) and quad core is nice for the programs you use...

 

[psychas]

q6600 cheap these days

 

[PhoenixUK]

I would say just leave what you got, try to OC it a bit, you should be able to get 2.8ghz even on this mobo without probs.

No point paying 70 for mobo and then extra 120-140for CPU since after that you will have to change your ram which is another 60quid for 4gb, and probably you got some old slow HDDs too ;]. To see that much of a diff later you will need to OC your new bought already 270pound combo which means u gotta buy good cooler for around extra 30 on top of that .

Upgrading systems just doesnt work anymore ;]. Maybe apart from expanding your 4gb ram to 8gb on your 3ghz quad for graphics works or buying bigger hdd if u run out of space.

Nowadays new stuff is coming so fast that buying newest 200quid mobo with hope for it to last 2years till the new CPU comes might be stupid coz yeh, maybe it will somehow take that newest CPU but it won't clock at all since the mobo will be at its limits already and by that time the new 60pound mobos will be probably better and faster .


The only futureproofing parts you can buy I think are the CASE and PSU, and thats pretty much everything. Ah and if you buy good widescreen 24" or 26" monitor this would last you for maybe 3-4years too.


------
So just try to squeeze out few more mhz from your current cpu and ram.
Save your pennies and when you get enough of 'em just get sell what you got and buy new shiney build which should deliver you 200-300% perfrormance of what you got if not more than a silly 300pound upgrade from which u gonna get maybe 30%.

 

[-iceblade^]

Upgrade the mobo if you want to upgrade, but really, you don't need to bother.. Save your pennies for Nehalem.

 

[Hesky82]

I would say just leave what you got, try to OC it a bit, you should be able to get 2.8ghz even on this mobo without probs.

400FSB with a 945 based board?? not a chance in hell! they struggle to post over 300FSB, which will net you just over 2GHz. Thats hardly going to be noticeable! Not all motherboards have the potential to overclock matty.

Most of what you say doesnt make sense, the chap needs an upgrade now, he doesnt want to wait around for hardware that isn’t even out yet!

A stock clocked e6300 is pretty slow but get it near 3ghz and the damn things fly! definitely the cheapest route is upgrade the mb and then start to upgrade other components if nessasery.