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Processor Upgrade

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited March 2010 in Graphical and Sound Issues
I currently have an AMD Athlon Dual Core Processor 4050e, but it's not built for serious gaming. My graphics card is fine, 2 GB but the cpu has to go. Question is, what's the absolute best upgrade without having to get a new motherboard thats under $400 USD, if possible under $200 thats Quad and will allow me to play any game at high settings without any problems?
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  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Firael wrote:
    I currently have an AMD Athlon Dual Core Processor 4050e, but it's not built for serious gaming. My graphics card is fine, 2 GB but the cpu has to go. Question is, what's the absolute best upgrade without having to get a new motherboard thats under $400 USD, if possible under $200 thats Quad and will allow me to play any game at high settings without any problems?

    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4082332&CatId=3496

    AMD Phenom x4 9850 if your motherboard will support it is about the top end for an AM2 soceket. What's the video card? Also pop in more mem, it's cheap.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Starlanced wrote:
    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4082332&CatId=3496

    AMD Phenom x4 9850 if your motherboard will support it is about the top end for an AM2 soceket. What's the video card? Also pop in more mem, it's cheap.

    Aren't the phenom IIs supposed to be backwards compatible with AM2 as well? I've got a PII 940 + asus AM3 mobo combination, but I thought they can be paired with AM2 boards too.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Yes they can be but they will definitely requite a BIOS update if it's offered and some also require different power supply using a "dual power-plane" system that only the AM3 socket can provide. Also you will lose mem bandwidth having to run DDR2 compared to DDR3.

    For the most part a AM3 MB and Phenom II x4 can be bought for 230-250 bux, it's better off to go that route at that point.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Figure out what your motherboard is, go to their website, look for bios updates for your board. Read the lastest update notes, they'll generally have listed what cpus now they support. Generally it'll be the newest one they can now support. Now go through that list and compare pricing.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Starlanced wrote:
    For the most part a AM3 MB and Phenom II x4 can be bought for 230-250 bux, it's better off to go that route at that point.

    I agree with this. An AM3 system has a lot of future upgrade potential in it still while any upgrades to an older AM2 system at this point is just prolonging the agony.
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