Upgrades for a 3800X2 system

wsurfa · 17 Oct 2007 at 16:21

Any suggestions for upgrading a 3800X2 system. I dont really want to change socket as that'll mean new MB, Memory, and CPU, but upgrading the CPU is only worthwhile for decent performance hit.

Currently OC'd the 3800 about 10-15%, but dont want to try much more as it runs quite hot already, plus the case has 5 drives in it, so isnt exactly cool to start with.

MB is DFI lanparty NF4, main drive raptor 74, crappy GFX but I dont play games on the PC, 1 GB DDR400 OC Value Ram.

PC mainly used for Photoshop and video editing plus usual office type apps.

Any suggestions appreciated

Delvis · 17 Oct 2007 at 16:28

Upgrading the RAM to 2 x 1GB sticks could be a good start

Especially for the photoshop and video editing side of thing's.

panthro · 17 Oct 2007 at 16:35

Get some decent 2x1Gb sticks in there, and consider upgrading the CPU to a later S939 X2 like the 4400 (was that the highest 939 they did?) or an S939 FX chip.

wsurfa · 17 Oct 2007 at 16:37

Thanks guys - now to try and find a later s939!!

2GB memory is a bit of a bugger with Premiere Elements - you can't capture video with 2GB for some daft reason, so I might have to capture via another means if i change that

Delvis · 17 Oct 2007 at 16:43

They did aSocket 939 4800+. And of course the FX range...But I can't tell yo what the highest is.

Weird about the memory issue/problem? =/ Quite surprised by that.

Chris19 · 17 Oct 2007 at 16:44

I would say go for 2GB its the only worthwhile upgrade just now. Save your money and move to a C2D would be the best choice you can get the mobo,cpu and ram pretty cheap now.

But the 3800 should last a while yet if you get 2GB of ram. Im on a 3800 also and can play most new games out at high (apart from crysis) thats with 2GB and 8800 being the only differnce. Get yourself a Freezer64 Pro and clock your chip to 2.6Ghz.

wsurfa · 17 Oct 2007 at 16:54

Chris19 - thanks already have the freezer64, my 3800 might not be much of a clocker -

The games bit doesn't bother me as I dont play them much on PC. I might trawl the MM for C2D bits and see what's around, but really can't be arsed to swap it all around just yet.

Delvis- Adobe irritation - it took a long time to work that out on the C2D system I built for my parents for their video editing. Apparently a known elements undocumented feature!

YoungBlood · 17 Oct 2007 at 17:43

As others have stated if you don't game I would leave it as is and just try to get a 2x1gb kit, but try to get a second hand one as new prices for DDR1 makes me cry and in the long run it's dead money.

Saying that if the PC does what you need it to do I would just leave it, whilst there is still life left in S939 (im on it myself) I would try to avoid buying things you would be unable to reuse in a fresh build down the line.