Which CPU

[robaylesbury]

I am mulling a CPU upgrade from my socket 939 3500 (which still handles everything fine, i.e Oblivion, Fear etc.

Thing is, I keep seeing the AMD4000, the X2 4200 and the X24600.

I don't really want to change my motherboard or memory, and my 1900XT is fantastic. So, as I use my PC primarily for gaming, surfing, and gaming (Did I mention gaming?)

Which CPU offers me the best solution?

Apologies for the noob question. Hope you can offer some guidance.

 

[A2Z]

what is your 3500 clocked to?

for best gaming performance, you're looking at the highest clocking chip

//EDIT just seen your sig....can it not go any higher then that? you could get an opteron 144/146 on the cheap, should be able to go to at least 2.8

 

[robaylesbury]

Thanks for that. I have been a conservative on the OC. Probably could nudge it a bit higher.

I want to be sure that I'm not being sucked towards dual core because of the hype. If I can game single core for the next 6-8 months then I'll stay put.

By the same token, I don't want Crysis and UT2007 to run like a slide show, and if they are truly dual core optimised I may have to consider things.

 

[MrSeanKon]

It depends on you budget mate.
If I were you I will buy dual core 4200+ or 4600+ (it has higher multiplier --> thus more options).

 

[locutus12]

Dual core will be comming into its own this year with the advent of new games that can use the technology. you can either go try to find an opteron 165 and overclock the hell out of it or you can buy an X2 4600 for £140 from here which is probably the best price in england for a 939 X2 4600.


personally i just got myself an opteron 170 for £109.88 from the USA including postage even managed to get £13 for the heatsink.

 

[~>Dg<~]

if only gaming wouldnt waste money for now stick with what u got get say a 6600 when price drops probably like 120 in 3 months or so dont think games will use x2 for at least a year in general.

 

[El Jimben]

if only gaming wouldnt waste money for now stick with what u got get say a 6600 when price drops probably like 120 in 3 months or so dont think games will use x2 for at least a year in general.

I disagree, if you want to keep your mobo and RAM, I'd go dual core now. OCUK didn't even have any x2 939 chips any until Gibbo sourced some recently and bearing in mind that AMD have stopped making them, they're only going to get harder to find and more expensive. If you can make a few quid selling your 3500+, then it'll cost you even less