Does a Socket 939 system still have legs?

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

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Joined
31 May 2005
Posts
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Nottingham
My Dilemma:

Current system:

Athlon A64 3000+ CPU
MSI Neo 4 Platinum Mobo
ATI X800XL - PCIe 256MB VGA
2GB RAM

Obviously, not cutting edge...... but does it have potential?

Im thinking with a new X2 CPU, and extra 2GB of RAM and new VGA card, I could get another good few years out of this system.

Is that the best route to take?

Would going with a new system with DDR2 RAM and maybe an Intel Core DUO system give that much more bang for buck considering I will need a new Mobo, CPU and RAM?

Thanks.
 
Considering you already have a case, PSU and monitor, an E6300 rig is certainly the way to go. The benchmarks say it all.

What's your budget and what will you be using the machine for?

Edit -

Gigabyte GA_965P_S3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
£84.59 inc VAT
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-063-GI

Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.86GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
£126.89 inc VAT
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-126-IN

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit
£176.24 inc VAT
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-058-GL

HIS ATI Radeon X1950 Pro ICEQ 3 TURBO SILENT Heatpipe 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
£132.76 inc VAT
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-065-HT


Hawt.
 
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2Gb is more than enough IMHO. 4Gb is just pure overkill, at least atm.

It's not worth it mate, if all you do is game I'd say stick with your 939 and just grab a X2 4200+ OEM here at OCUK while you still can with a 1950pro and you're all set.

If you are getting a new rig then certainly go C2D.
 
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MRBARKER said:
These nothing wrong with 939 , you can still have a great pc that will last you
Click to expand...

Like my system, see in sig. Its a 939 and its the old clawhammer,, Ive had it just over 2 years now and I Think its got another 1-2years left in it easy, if I get 2gb memory and a 8800gtx/R600 card.
 
I think your set up is fine for another year at least - overclock it and you wont be that far behind newer PC's. Only maybe in a year's time once dual core progs start comming out think about swapping over... I think even if you went to C2D you would be slightly dissapointed - yes its a improvement, but not night and day!
 
I'd upgrade the processor to AMD64 4000+ if available unless you're really wanting to go dual-core and possibly a x1950 Pro graphics card. The system should last you another year or so depending on the uptake of Vista gaming.

I've got a MSI K8N Neo 2 Platinum board, AMD64 4000+, 2Gb Crucial PC4000 DDR and a Gainward BLISS 7800GS 512Mb (AGP), which has been very good for gaming at 1280x1024.
 
It most definately is good enough for another year or maybe even two. 2GB RAM is more than enough and with an X2 4200 for a mere £105 you can't go wrong. It performs slightly under the 6300 level but then again its a lot cheaper once you take into account no need for new mobo/ram. Graphics card wise you can just upgrade as needed, your on PCI-E so thats no problem.

Basically your current motherboard and RAM are still top end and with a new X2 4200 and graphics card you have a system thats more than enough for any game coming out this year.
 
Completely agree, socket 939 still more than good enough for majority of users. I am just about to perform my last upgrade on socket 939 to try and squeeze a bit more out of it for a year or so. Upgrading Opteron 144 to an Opteron 165 (dual core) and overclock it. Im im buying an additional 2 x 512mb of ram to take it up to 2 gig for cheap...not bothered about 2t cmd rate etc. This will only cost me £80 for cpu and ram free as weill sell my opteron. Still a fine system for a fair while.
 
MRBARKER said:
These nothing wrong with 939 , you can still have a great pc that will last you
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Plonk an X2 in there, and maybe grab a 1950 on special for a little more boost, but otherwise its still a good system.
 
in the same boat too :rolleyes:

have a 3200 @ 2.5, 2 gigs ram, 1950pro 512 agp,

would i see a noticable benifit from an x2 chip ?

cheers
 
gkr said:
in the same boat too :rolleyes:

have a 3200 @ 2.5, 2 gigs ram, 1950pro 512 agp,

would i see a noticable benifit from an x2 chip ?

cheers
Click to expand...

Not sure about the 1950pro but why dont you throw the rest of that kit into a

[ ASrock Dual VSTA / E6300 combo for around £150] like I did..

The cheapest sweetest upgrade of my life. Yes the Asrock is a cr&p board but it will at least give you a taste of life with a dual core
 
gkr said:
in the same boat too :rolleyes:

have a 3200 @ 2.5, 2 gigs ram, 1950pro 512 agp,

would i see a noticable benifit from an x2 chip ?

cheers
Click to expand...

Theoretically its 2 processors, so you'd be doubling up the cpu power, but not everything is coded to use dual core, but too a degree you have twice as much processing power.

X2 will be my next upgrade, my 939 system its running BF2142 on max details, not bad for an aged system with only a 7900GS.
 
Subliminal Aura said:
Not sure about the 1950pro but why dont you throw the rest of that kit into a

[ ASrock Dual VSTA / E6300 combo for around £150] like I did..

The cheapest sweetest upgrade of my life. Yes the Asrock is a cr&p board but it will at least give you a taste of life with a dual core
Click to expand...

Doesn't that board have two RAM slots? Might make it a bit of a problem if people went the 4x512Mb route.
 
Subliminal Aura said:
True true true but who's mad enough to use 4x512s anyway ? A gig of RAM for XP seems ample for the average user anyway
Click to expand...

I would disagree on both counts. I see a noticeable improvement in running 2gig throught not just my apps but gaming as well is smoother and reduces load times massively. I have just gone back to two gig by purchasing 2 additional 512mb dimms giving 4 x 512mb. Only cost me £45 and I dont mind the 5% performance drop running at 2T, when this is far outweighed by having the extra ram and infact being able to achieve a higher CPU clock sometimes.

Completely agree though that a gig is suitable for "average" users. I mean I wouldnt call myself a heavy user, but then I will typically of an evening have a DVD encoding and being burnt, (sometimes two instances one running in a virtual machine) plus about 3 other apps at one time and a few broswer sessions. Then Im always wanting to game at the same time = hence I just got a dual core, as my single cor eopteron and gig of ram cant hack it at all.
 
Wack a dual core in there and get a good video card, and you'll have a PC that'll play the latest games in high res without any problem at all for easyily the next year.
 
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