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Upgrade to Dual core from single core on XP32bit, worth it?

UOcUK Poopscoop

UOcUK Poopscoop

UOcUK Poopscoop

Soldato
Joined
7 Dec 2002
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Kent
Will XP32bit SP3 generally run a bit better?

Ie when encoding video will Windows run a bit smoother while the PC is doing the encoding?

Not looking for miracles, just considering a cheap upgrade to a secondhand AMD X2 processor.

Thanks for help and info.
 
Oh hell yes, if your encoding on a single core ...let alone trying to use the machin at the same time then I pitty you.

It will be massively faster, better yet a cheap quad core ...now that will seem like a mircale.

What motherboard and cpu do you have now? ...if it's one of those newish Semprons you are using, many of them can actually be unlocked to a duel core with the right motherboard, food for thought anyway. I'm guessing you are using something rather older though.
 
Depends what ram/cpu/mobo you have now . If its 939 then even the old duals are quite pricey so it might more worth selling it, adding 50c quid on top and getting cheap second hand am2+ or am3 setup.
 
I have an "ancient" Opteron system and am thinking off putting a skt 939 Athlon64 x2 3600. Not expecting miracles, just a PC that will be usable while it is encoding video files.

Will I require an XP reinstall? I will be doing that soon anyway, but would like to put the new cpu in until I get around to the reinstall.

Thanks for help guys.
 
if your just replaceing the cpu, then no you shouldnt have to reinstall windows.....

just put it in and go into bios and check everything is ok with the new cpu....

only if you change the motherboard a nice clean install of windows is required
 
Oh jesus, that old :o ...I'd save up, sell what you can and move into some newer stuff really, if you possibly can. It'd be worth it and can be done surprisingly cheaply.
 
Moeks said:
Oh jesus, that old :o ...I'd save up, sell what you can and move into some newer stuff really, if you possibly can. It'd be worth it and can be done surprisingly cheaply.
Click to expand...

Yep, I will sometime next year. Thing is at the moment, I dont really need a powerful PC these days as I game on the Xbox now...

Just having a more responsive PC will do me fine for a while. I'll be upgrading from 1gig to 2 gig at the same time, both upgrades combined should give the system "legs" to allow me to keep it for a while longer.

I used to be a constant upgrader, but just not into that side of things these days.:(
 
UOcUK Poopscoop said:
Yep, I will sometime next year. Thing is at the moment, I dont really need a powerful PC these days as I game on the Xbox now...

Just having a more responsive PC will do me fine for a while. I'll be upgrading from 1gig to 2 gig at the same time, both upgrades combined should give the system "legs" to allow me to keep it for a while longer.

I used to be a constant upgrader, but just not into that side of things these days.:(
Click to expand...

How much are u going to pay for the CPU tho?

939 X2s hold their value amazingly and most of them still go around 30-40quid area which is laughable for such an old chip. Adding a stick of ram on top of that you're already left with 40-50quid spend and for AM2+/AM3 setup won't cost you much more.

AM2+/AM3 mobo 2nd hand - 20-30 quid
2nd hand athlon x3 / phenom II x2/x3 ( or even new athlon x2 ) = ¬30-45
2-4GB DDR3 = ¬30 - 60
-----------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL COST = 80 - 135 ( depending on CPU and if 4gb mem)
VALUE OF YOUR CURRENT SETUP = - ¬ 30-50

-----------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL COST AFTER RESALE = 30/50 - 85/105

So yeh, best case scenario will cost you THE SAME ( where's the trick ? - price diff in sale somewhere else and using members market ! ) or a tenner more to upgrade to massively faster system and you'll have the option to upgrade later for cheap to full PII X4 / X6 and up to 8GB DDR and maybe maybe even crossfire graphics if you ever decide to upgrade to full fledged gaming or editing PC in the future.
 
I see your point but the deal is done now and I am ok with it.

Got 2gig of RAM for £15, the 3600 X2 for £18.

It'll do me for a while, too many hobbies these days to spend too much time or money on PC's. I recently learnt there is a whole big world out there, so my days spend stuck infront of a PC for *far* too long have come to an end. For now anyway.

Thanks for all the advice and input though!
 
Hi,

Have you seen much of a difference? I'm tempted to upgrade my brothers sff for him from single to dual core. You got a pretty good deal on the x2, they seem to hold their value really well!

Thanks.
 
UOcUK Poopscoop said:
I see your point but the deal is done now and I am ok with it.

Got 2gig of RAM for £15, the 3600 X2 for £18.

It'll do me for a while, too many hobbies these days to spend too much time or money on PC's. I recently learnt there is a whole big world out there, so my days spend stuck infront of a PC for *far* too long have come to an end. For now anyway.

Thanks for all the advice and input though!
Click to expand...

Yeah I'd say it's worthwhile. With more cores, XP works very well with them, and the extra RAM should help speed an XP system up quite nicely.
 
tommytinkle said:
Hi,

Have you seen much of a difference? I'm tempted to upgrade my brothers sff for him from single to dual core. You got a pretty good deal on the x2, they seem to hold their value really well!

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Will let you know when arrived and fitted. Trouble is I am away from this Friday on hols with my kid for the half term.... so cant fit and tinker with it all till the return.

As said, an extra core and extra ram has got to make her a bit more responsive, not after miracles, just a PC that still works while encoding video will do! :D
 
No, standard 939 Athlon X2 fitted. Though it is fitted to my brilliantly reliable little Asrock Dual Sata board Ive had for years now.

For the person that asked, I managed to get around to fitting the extra RAM and new cpu, remarkable difference to general speed of system, and finally, a usable PC while encoding HD video too.

Very pleased with the performance jump for what was a cheap upgrade.
 
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