Cpu Advice

sfxhewitt · 28-03-2007, 12:25 AM

Hi All,

could somone tell me what the best processor i could get for around £60-£80 i have seen some dual core ones around for £60

here.....Intel CPU Pentium 4 D 915 Dual Core 2x2.8GHz 800FSB LGA775 2x2MB cache Retail inc fan (3yr Manufacturer Warranty) - BX80553915 - www.microdirect.co.uk

is it any good is it faster than my one i got now

any help would be great thanks.

Big B · 28-03-2007, 01:29 PM

Well, that would depend on what you're doing right now. Gaming relies more on the video card rather than the CPU, so while a CPU upgrade won't hurt, it won't give you the boost you're looking for. For office apps and web browsing/e-mail, that's not particularly CPU intensive, and unless you run lots of these at once, the dual-core won't benefit you.

However, if you're into rendering or do lots of video editing, you may have software that takes advantage of a second CPU or second core, in which case this would be beneficial.

Again, it depends on what you do. Anything that relies on pure clock speed will take a performance hit as the clock speed is slower. The general area this gets into is mainly audio production and some mp3 rippers.

Dwarfer · 28-03-2007, 01:50 PM

hi big b, following up on your reply...

in taskman provided the cpu is below 100% when in a game, then your cpu isnt acting as a bottlekneck for performance?.... is this correct cause my cpu reaches a max of about 70 - 80% when IN a game (say, farcry or quake4, COD2 etc) does it mean i dont need to upgrade, or is it cause HT doesnt work correctly with games and the physical cpu is maxed out

i only have HT and the left log (in task manager > performance > CPU) displays around 50% usage whereas the right log only shows 35%ish im assuming this is cause HT doesnt work for games and maybe i can benefit by getting a new cpu

Big B · 28-03-2007, 01:56 PM

Some games, although not many, can take advantage of dual CPU's or a dual-core processor. Otherwise, the OS will load the game between the CPU's or cores. I'd rather have a Sempron 3000+ and a GeForce 7900GT than an Athlon64 5200+ and a GeForce 7300 for gaming. If the video card is a bottleneck, you won't make a gain with a faster CPU.

Willz · 29-03-2007, 11:54 AM

Well, for GPU's like the 8800 series, the CPU deffenitly is a bottleneck, and a good C2D or an overclocked E6300 would be needed, infact, people with 8800 series graphics cards have reported double FPS increase when upgrading from a similar CPU to mine, or a dual core AMD to a C2D.

28-03-2007, 12:25 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
sfxhewitt Geek Trainee Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 18 Status: Offline	Cpu Advice Hi All, could somone tell me what the best processor i could get for around £60-£80 i have seen some dual core ones around for £60 here.....Intel CPU Pentium 4 D 915 Dual Core 2x2.8GHz 800FSB LGA775 2x2MB cache Retail inc fan (3yr Manufacturer Warranty) - BX80553915 - www.microdirect.co.uk is it any good is it faster than my one i got now any help would be great thanks.

28-03-2007, 01:29 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,673 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	Well, that would depend on what you're doing right now. Gaming relies more on the video card rather than the CPU, so while a CPU upgrade won't hurt, it won't give you the boost you're looking for. For office apps and web browsing/e-mail, that's not particularly CPU intensive, and unless you run lots of these at once, the dual-core won't benefit you. However, if you're into rendering or do lots of video editing, you may have software that takes advantage of a second CPU or second core, in which case this would be beneficial. Again, it depends on what you do. Anything that relies on pure clock speed will take a performance hit as the clock speed is slower. The general area this gets into is mainly audio production and some mp3 rippers. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team

28-03-2007, 01:50 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
Dwarfer RiP Emily xxx Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 745 Times Helpful: 35 My Mood: Meh Status: Offline My Computer	hi big b, following up on your reply... in taskman provided the cpu is below 100% when in a game, then your cpu isnt acting as a bottlekneck for performance?.... is this correct cause my cpu reaches a max of about 70 - 80% when IN a game (say, farcry or quake4, COD2 etc) does it mean i dont need to upgrade, or is it cause HT doesnt work correctly with games and the physical cpu is maxed out i only have HT and the left log (in task manager > performance > CPU) displays around 50% usage whereas the right log only shows 35%ish im assuming this is cause HT doesnt work for games and maybe i can benefit by getting a new cpu __________________ Animals stripped ALIVE and left to die to make fur for you! SPREAD THE WORD TO STOP THIS HAPPENING I BEG YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL INNOCENT ANIMALS PLEASE LOW YOUR CHICKEN AND BEEF INTAKE TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING. - THERE IS NO SLAUGHTER ACT FOR CHICKENS AND MANY HOUSES ADOPT TO COMPLETE INHUMAINE WAYS OF CATTLE SLAUGHTER FOR PROFITS Kentucky Fried Cruelty, chicken slaughter truth

28-03-2007, 01:56 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,673 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	Some games, although not many, can take advantage of dual CPU's or a dual-core processor. Otherwise, the OS will load the game between the CPU's or cores. I'd rather have a Sempron 3000+ and a GeForce 7900GT than an Athlon64 5200+ and a GeForce 7300 for gaming. If the video card is a bottleneck, you won't make a gain with a faster CPU. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team

29-03-2007, 11:54 AM	#5 (permalink) Top
Willz MiCrO$oFt $uK$ :D Join Date: Jun 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,234 Times Helpful: 150 My Mood: Lurking Status: Offline My Computer	Well, for GPU's like the 8800 series, the CPU deffenitly is a bottleneck, and a good C2D or an overclocked E6300 would be needed, infact, people with 8800 series graphics cards have reported double FPS increase when upgrading from a similar CPU to mine, or a dual core AMD to a C2D. __________________

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