|
|
|
Advice on slow computer
|
|
|
catchy
Newbie
|
8. June 2006 @ 14:11 |
Link to this message
|
|
Hi,
I recently upgraded my computers mobo and CPU but to be honest i feel it was money wasted as it doesnt seem any faster.
Please can someone give there views on if i should have noticed a differance.
My prev spec was:
Asrock K7SX8 mobo
AMD Duron 1600
512Mb RAM
128mb Geforce 5200FX Graphics
Now i have:
Asus K8N Socket-754 nForce3 ATA - Sound Lan USB2 800FSB SATA Retail Box
AMD Sempron 2800+
512Mb RAM
Same graphics
Total waste of £100 in my opinion. As i have no improvement.
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
Member
|
8. June 2006 @ 17:41 |
Link to this message
|
|
I believe it is faster, but not by a noticable speed at all times, try doing an extensive CPU utilizing task and see if you notice that it runs any faster.
|
|
JaguarGod
Senior Member
|
9. June 2006 @ 11:36 |
Link to this message
|
I don't know how the older series of AMDs compare to the newer ones. For instance, I am pretty sure both are clocked at 1.6GHz or maybe the 2800 is 1.8GHz. AMDs used to not be popular because people only cared about speed. That is why they changed the names. I am pretty sure that the Duron 1600 if renamed appropriately would be at least a Duron 2200+, but maybe even Duron 2600+ because at the time, it was competing with a Celeron 2.5GHz I believe.
The best thing you could have done is just get an extra 512MB of RAM. I run several different PCs and my Duron 700 is just as fast as a P4 2.53GHz in normal applications. I launch stuff like FireFox, Word, Acrobat Pro, CS2, etc... in about 3 seconds. Actually, all office apps launch instantly on the Duron 700 system. The only difference is boot time. The AMD 700 takes about 30 seconds to boot (after Windows starts up) while the P4 takes about 10 seconds.
You may notice a difference when using DVD Shrink, or something like that, but that is about it. For normal applications and browsing the internet, anything over 500MHz with 512MB RAM is overkill (half the RAM for Win2k/ME and lower). You only see benefits in CPU/RAM upgrades in Video Games, Commercial/Graphical Application, CPU intensive Applications that require Rendering/Encoding and such.
|
|
The_OGS
Senior Member
|
9. June 2006 @ 14:40 |
Link to this message
|
|
I think the Duron has ~128KB L2 cache; that Sempron has 256KB, and they both run @ 1.6GHz.
You have basically bought the same thing, but moved from circa 2002 equipment to ~2004.
Newer video standard PCI-Express and newer dual-channel memory (including the faster DDR2 flavour) are available in new motherboards - but not Socket754.
Your new PC should be somewhat faster though, and you can put PC3200 DDR memory in it @ 200MHz (400DDR).
That Asrock K7SX8 mobo is actually pretty modern SocketA mobo, and 'newer' than the Duron 1600 CPU it contains. This explains why you have had no improvements with the Socket754 rig - you already had AGP8x video, DDR memory and 1600MHz CPU.
You could improve your Asus K8N rig tremendously (as Jag noted) by installing 1024MB fast PC3200 memory. Picking up an inexpensive modern vidcard like a Radeon X1600 AGP would then become your second biggest improvement.
Note: there is another possibility - you could increase the FSB on your Sempron from 200MHz to 225MHz, increasing CPU from 1.6GHz to 1.8GHz (which is XP3100+ rating! :^)
This is what I would do, if I took your system in as trade-in or whatever, to 'fix it up'.
I would increase FSB to 225, which will also increase memory to 225MHz (450DDR), and I would put 1GB of PC3500 in there.
PC3500 is rated for 233MHz (466DDR) so, no worries at 225MHz.
Heck, maybe your existing 512MB RAM will run @ 225MHz (450DDR)?
Set very relaxed (or SPD) memory latency timing settings in BIOS, and check it out.
If it works, it's instant XP3100+ for you ;^)
I have your Asus K8N mobo manual here (have used this mobo before) so if there's any little thing I can help you with, just ask.
Regards
ABit AB9 Pro
Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 @ 2.4GHz
2GB OCZ PC2-6400 Platinum XTC R2
ATI Radeon X1900XT 512MB
Enermax Liberty 620W
320GB/16MB WD, 150GB/16MB Raptor
Plextor PX-755SA DVD (SATA)
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 9. June 2006 @ 14:56
|
|
catchy
Newbie
|
10. June 2006 @ 09:05 |
Link to this message
|
|
Hi,
Thanks for all your advice.
Ive now decided to sell my comp, hopefully get £150 for it.
Then i buy a 939 mobo as i believe these are the way forward. I get all new other parts as i am constantly converting videos and my comp doesnt seem to cut out for the job.
Many thanks again.
|
|
JaguarGod
Senior Member
|
10. June 2006 @ 19:57 |
Link to this message
|
|
For converting videos, you may have to go Dual Core or Dual CPU. I know that makes a HUGE difference in applications like Maya and Cinema 4d.
Also, keep in mind that AMD switched over to Socket AM2, so I am not sure what will happen with socket 939. The advantage of 939 is the availability of motherboards and RAM.
|
Member
|
10. June 2006 @ 21:50 |
Link to this message
|
|
Dual core made of a world of difference for compressing videos when I went from AMD AthlonXP 2400+ to the AMD X2 3800+. Times went from 60 mintues to 10 or less now to compress.
|
|
The_OGS
Senior Member
|
11. June 2006 @ 07:04 |
Link to this message
|
|
You could pick up a Conroe Socket775 motherboard, and put an inexpensive D-805 in it 'for now'...
Or just wait and use your rig until later this year.
I would not buy SocketAM2 right now, and I definitely wouldn't touch Socket939 (it's history).
I feel new PCs can have inexpensive motherboard and/or CPU, but must have 2GB fast DDR2 memory, at least PC6400 in dual-channel.
This may cost almost as much as CPU and mobo combined... but it is the future.
AMD dual-core still very expensive! But money well spent. Hopefully Conroe will cost less than XP3800+ x2 CPU - or same $$ but more powerful.
L8R
ABit AB9 Pro
Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 @ 2.4GHz
2GB OCZ PC2-6400 Platinum XTC R2
ATI Radeon X1900XT 512MB
Enermax Liberty 620W
320GB/16MB WD, 150GB/16MB Raptor
Plextor PX-755SA DVD (SATA)
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
The_OGS
Senior Member
|
11. June 2006 @ 07:27 |
Link to this message
|
|
Hi again,
Here's what I mean:
Asus M2N-E, Socket AM2 (nForce 570 Ultra) $125.
AMD Athlon64 3200+, Socket AM2 (Orleans Core) $130. (sale)
OCZ 2Gb PC2-6400 DDR2 Dual Channel (5-5-5-12) $275.
Sounds expensive? That's Canadian retail; times 0.9 = $USD
Divide by two = Pounds Sterling,
Regards
ABit AB9 Pro
Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 @ 2.4GHz
2GB OCZ PC2-6400 Platinum XTC R2
ATI Radeon X1900XT 512MB
Enermax Liberty 620W
320GB/16MB WD, 150GB/16MB Raptor
Plextor PX-755SA DVD (SATA)
|
|
