performance increase?

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Just curious as i keep reading the rave reviews of the conroe cpus....
what if any....performance increase would i get with a conroe, ddr2 memory and new mobo, over an amd x2 4400, 2gb ddr400 and asus a8n sli premium.
 
well depends what you use your pc for,

i got a amd 4400 rig, (check my sig) and im gettin a conroe E6600 at xmas.

check out the Super PI benchmarks on the forum somewere thats how much of a increase performance the conroes are.

allso the conroes can go over 5ghz if you know how to.

the E6600 can do 3ghz easy on air which.... Wow its good

the conroes are just top dog of the top dogs of topness of dogness :D
 
well you put it and sell it so well, i think you might of just swayed my verdict abit more....

my pc is mainly used for games and cd/dvd writing.....will either of those benefit from conroes?

bit off topic i know but how do you rate the x-fi sound card? i've just sold my audigy 2zs card and am now looking at the x-fi range and wondering what to get.....i'm looking at either the oem x-fi music or the cheap x-fi gaming card
 
If you want to take a chance with the X-fi, cracking issues and all sorts last time i checked, see the creative forums, littered with problem threads.

http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board?board.id=soundblaster

Have 3 Audigy2 ZS cards, and they all work flawlessly, why did you get rid of yours?.....

In fairness its hit and miss, they work fine for some people, but for others its a nightmare, and i must say i've read seen a fair few x-fi problem threads, too many to make an x-fi appeal. I wouldnt invest in something that has a 50/50 chance of working properly.
 
I personally wouldn't upgrade, is your existing system so poor in performance you can't play any games at all? Windows running out of memory? Virus scans hogging machine?

For DVD writing a 1Ghz machine is more than enough. Why exactly does Superpi impress you?

Oh the X-Fi do have problems with certain Nforce 4 boards. Is this for gaming or music playback?
 
well.. in reality a 4400 amd rig is more than enough for people who arent going extremely to the limit of direct X10 gaming and next Gen stuff.
but if you have the money and would like an upgrade just go for it anyway cause the conroes well put it like this, i know some one who build a stock speed conroe rig and he installed win xp (service pack 1) and when he booted up the loading bar on the xp screen didnt even get half way befor he was onto his desktop :) thats how fast they are.

as for sound cards:
my Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS Edition is just... WOW :D its just wow amazing, its just so crystal clear with my 5.1 surround headset for games, its just absolutely stunning, its brilliant the X-Fi range is just amazing, id recommend them :)
 
squiffy said:
Oh the X-Fi do have problems with certain Nforce 4 boards. Is this for gaming or music playback?
It will mainly be used for gaming, and when dx10 and vista come out i will try and max my games like i always do....especially with games like crysis

t31os said:
If you want to take a chance with the X-fi, cracking issues and all sorts last time i checked, see the creative forums, littered with problem threads.

http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board?board.id=soundblaster

Have 3 Audigy2 ZS cards, and they all work flawlessly, why did you get rid of yours?.....
i sold my to a mate who couldnt afford a brand new one so thought id do him a favor an upgrade my pc in the process with the new x-fi cards. i have read a few problems, but surely all new hardware on release has some problems which will only get fixed in time by driver updates?
 
thanks for that link to the creative site, looks like still have problems with several chipsets, including mine.

Willbo, save your money. Why upgrade for a slight speed increase? :confused: Bragging rights/desire to have "the best" is just a waste, take it from someone who did that with PC's years ago.
 
squiffy said:
thanks for that link to the creative site, looks like still have problems with several chipsets, including mine.

Willbo, save your money. Why upgrade for a slight speed increase? :confused: Bragging rights/desire to have "the best" is just a waste, take it from someone who did that with PC's years ago.

very true. i do have a good system at the moment, allbeit a loud one....so i will probably just stick to my original idea of an upgrade of swapping my centurion 5 case for an eclipse62 with akasa amber fans and an x-fi card......instead of forking out for pretty much a whole new rig.....
i know what you mean about the bragging rights, i have worked with pc's and game players for ages...and was good to be able to brag that you've got the best or getting the best....pcs are an expensive hobby when you behave like that....which by the sounds of it you know
 
I wouldn't even buy a X-Fi, unless you can borrow one for a week or so from a mate. Perhaps someone who's having problems with his board in the MM can loan it out allowing you to test it, and either buy it or send it back.
 
so i'm pretty much made my mind up after all the advice tonight to stick with my amd rig for now...until something comes out that makes such a performance leap it makes conroes look slow....

with an eclipse case and the akasa amber fans front and back to keep the system cool and quiet.....what cpu fan would be recommended to cool it down to try overclocking it....

I have an AMD X2 4400, 2gb Geil Value DDR400, Asus A8n SLI Premium mobo if its any help..

Obviously if not going to upgrade components, id like to try and do the cheaper alternative of overclocking to get as much from my rig as i can with out water cooling
 
I have an Eclipse with Ambers... :D and my lovely working Audigy 2 ZS ;)

I have voltage convertor cables on my ambers and its lovely and quiet, compared to what i've had in the past. ie. Old Athlon system in Antec case with a total of 8 x 80mm fans with no fan control..... :eek: and a Jet 7 on the cpu.. :eek:

I had an x1800xt but that drive me nuts with the cooler and the crappy drivers. 7900GS fan maxed sounds no different to 30% speed, and keeps everything to a slight hum.
 
X-Fi's have a problem with NF4 boards? News to me and my X-Fi which is sat in a DFI NF4 Ultra D :/

The only complaints ive ever heard of are drivers taking too many resources. I know of a few people with X-Fis and no problems. One such friend has the same mobo as the OP.

If you do get an X-Fi, go for either an Xtreme Music or Platinum. [Platinum gets you a front IO panel if you want]. The others are over-priced. Especially the X-Fi Fatt1. Just paying for the name tbh.

SiriusB
 
surely all new hardware can get stick for problems when they first come out?
given time and driver updates...all will probably settle down.


so i think i'm going to stick with the machine i've got but like i said....i will try to overclock it abit...what can i push it too? i will be gettin a cooler case and fans (eclipse 62 and akasa amber fans) what cpu cooler would be good for overclocking? preferably not water cooled though
 
my sound blaster fatal1ty fps edition works fine with my nforce 4 board.

msi k8n neo-4, my sound blaster has never done anything wrong, worked 100%
 
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