This motherboard has served me well for quite some time. I recently upgraded my video card and got a 22" Samsung widescreen flatpanel monitor. Obviously I'm interested in some sweet games for my machine, but my CPU is poor for many of the newer games. I know I can upgrade it, but I don't know to what extent, and if it will be compatible with my motherboard. I'm also wondering if it will even be worth it since the computer market changes so quickly. Might it be better to get a new mobo and everything if I'm gonna go ahead and upgrade my CPU? Or if not, what would be the best choice (solid, reasonable for todays new game releases, at the best cost) in a CPU compatible with the NF7?
I was thinking this $75 'AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Brisbane 2.3GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor' from newegg, but I don't know how to find out if it is compatible or not what with bus speeds and all of that business.
Currently running Windows XP SP2 on an Abit NF7 with AMD Athlon XP 2700+ 2.16GHz, 1.5GB RAM, AGP NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GS @256MB. WD 120GB and WD 160GB (SATA). DirectX 9.0 - SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616E
K so what about now, same question pretty much, but now i'm lookin at this $200 CPU from tigerdirect "Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Processor BX80570E8400 - 3.0GHz, 6MB Cache, 1333MHz FSB, Wolfdale, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket 775, Processor with Fan". No idea if this would run on my mobo, or if I should. Any opinions?
Currently running Windows XP SP2 on an Abit NF7 with AMD Athlon XP 2700+ 2.16GHz, 1.5GB RAM, AGP NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GS @256MB. WD 120GB and WD 160GB (SATA). DirectX 9.0 - SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616E
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29. April 2008 @ 02:24
The NF7 is an ancient motherboard, so it won't be compatible with either CPU. You will have to get a new motherboard to get a new CPU, as Socket A doesn't support dual cores or quad cores.
Agreed. At the current price the Q6600 is probably the CPU of choice for anything above a budget build. Given the number of components he's changing though, that may be out of his price range.
