Upgrade processor or motherboard?

[couture8]

Hello, Newbie here...

I have an in-home design studio running Photoshop/Illustrator/Painter. My current setup is an eMachines T6212 with an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ processor (purchased in 2005), 1.99 GHz, 1.50 GB RAM, Radeon X1550 graphics card, running Windows XP Home SP3. I run a clean, tight machine, with daily maintenance and archive 90% of my work to DVD or my external drive to keep things running at optimum speed.

I hesitate to move to XP Pro or Vista due to compatibility issues with proprietary software I sometimes need to run.


As new PC is not feasible, I'm looking for more processing power. Would the new AMD quad-core CPU work on my MOBO, or should I invest in a new MOBO?

Thanks much!

[sweeper2]

i don't think a quad core AMD would work... you could go for a higher dual core amd cpu... i'm running an AMD 3800+ overclocked to 2.4ghz .. which runs great.. and I also have 2 gb ddr400 with a good graphics card... and I seem to do well with applications while running Vista Ultimate...

[sweeper2]

edit.. my bad... those are single cores....

[sweeper2]

another thing... is your motherboard able to run dual core cpu's ... ? i kinda jumped the gun.. thinking you had a dual core already... i doubt you can go for a quad core cpu in a unit that was manf. in 2005 ..

we would need to know if it is a socket 754 / 939 or higher..?

[howste]

Is this your motherboard? The model number should be stenciled on it somewhere.
MSI Computer Corp. - Product

If it is, the page linked shows the supported CPUs.

[sweeper2]

should be able to support an AMD x2 cpu ... .. my motherboard says the same thing on cpu support... I'm running an MSI K8N Neo4 Platnium

[Rootstonian]

I would max your RAM first; it's a fairly cheap fix (well with XP, take it to 3 gig)

A little more expensive is a WD Raptor 10k RPM hard drive.

"Purchased in 2005"; that's an eternity in the computer world! LOL. Your doing some pretty intensive graphics work; I would seriously start saving for a new system. I would be willing to bet you could get a decent Dual Core setup for $500 or $600. $800 to $1000 will get you into the Quad Cores

[couture8]

Glad I bumped into this place

LOL, yes, it may seem ancient, but this is just my 3rd computer since 1993, I tend to max them out fully until I can no longer be productive. Job-wise, I go back further, to the *early days* of the TRS-80 and 5.25 floppies

The concensus seems to be to max out my RAM first.

howste: Yes, that is my MOBO, a Socket 754. I printed out the specs.

Rootstonian: With regards to the HD, I checked those out, but they run small (max 65GB?). I currently run two internals (as is standard eM config) C:145GB and D:4GB. Maybe I could upgrade the 145. My external is a WD 500GB. Of course, that means reloading everything . Nice Labor Day weekend project.

Oh...the reason I can't spring for a new PC yet...need to get a new laptop. Traveling internationally with my Averatec is just too heavy at 4 lbs. Thinking of a ToughBook at 2.5lbs Don't like new MAC performance specs.

Thank you all again for the suggestions!

[Rootstonian]

I've seen 150 Gig Raptors but it may cost more than your 500 Gig external!

Thing is, for large files, they will open and save quickly. Plus, any disk I/O (e.g. pagefile activity) will be quicker.

[sweeper2]

hmm. if your MB is a socket 754 .. it's not the one shown ... that is a socket 939.. which is rated higher then the 754 .. your sorta limited with the 754 socket... your ram would probably be the best bet to upgrade... you might still be able to find a higher socket 754 cpu as well.. but as far as dual core etc... you will need a 939 or AM2 socket MB