Not very CPU savy

[admiralblub]

Hi, I have a Athlon x2 64 dual core 6000 gateway gt5656 desktop and I have a gt 220 geforce 1 gig video card with 4 gig ram. I am operating with vista 32 bit system. I am not at the computer right now so i cannot remember the actual motherboard, but it is the stock version. I want to upgrade my processor to the maximum instead of buying new cpu. I can play games like coh , cod, and bf3 beta now , but want to increase graphic and smoothness. Could you tell me what would be my best bet for processor and how do i update bios , or where do i get program to do that.

I tried to go it myself and bought an athlon x4 640 3.0ghz processor and installed it correctly but it would not boot up , im assuming it was because bios was not updated so i sent it back. I was afraid i would ruin somthing. Any help appreciated

[ShyguyXPC]

I want to upgrade my processor to the maximum instead of buying new cpu.

They're the same thing... the Processor IS the CPU.

as to upgrading the Processor, you will need to find out if your board can even Support the new CPU's. Check with Gateway and see if your system has a Bios update to support the new CPU's if at all.

And to be honest, a New CPU will not give you the gaming boost your looking at. Your problem is the Graphics Card, NOT the CPU, an Athlon X2 6000+ was a pretty high end Dual core for its day.

The Geforce GT 220 is a Pretty low end graphic card, crap by todays standards actually.

todays GPU's bare minimum for decent gaming, is 2 to 3 times better than the 220 ever was. Hell when the 220 came out it was no better than the Geforce 9500GT it replaced. which the 9500GT itself was no better than the Geforce 8600GT it replaced. basically the 220 was already only slightly better than a card 2 generations older than itself.

its a good low powered card for basic stuff, and some light gaming, but nothing for what your talking about.

2 seconds via Google with your PC's model name: Gateway Support - 1015002R*Gateway GT5656 Desktop Computer

(Very first hit by the way)


Click on the Driver Downloads, and there will be a section for Bios Updates, check the version of the bios update and see if it matches or is higher than what your current Bios version is (should state the Bios version on PC boot up, or if you enter the bios, it should have it listed somewhere).

Your Motherboard is a Geforce 6150SE chipset, some of these were capable of running the newer AMD CPU's, some weren't.

Supposedly the newer AMD CPU's can run on the older Socket AM2 and AM2+ boards (which this board is), but from my understanding they will under perform since the boards Bus Speed (Hyper Transport Bus), won't run as fast as it should on a regular Socket AM3 capable board.

with the cost of a Athlon II X4 CPU, and to get any Decent GOOD performance from Battlefield 3, your going to HAVE to spend a good $100 or more on a Video card, as well as a Power Supply Upgrade (another $40-50 at least for a good PSU).

Your starting to see that building or buying a newer system, might be in your best interest.

at least with that, you've got more upgrade potential, use of DDR3 RAM, and more.

If your current system can support better CPU's, you'll still need to buy a CPU, plus a better Graphics card, and PSU to run all of it. Would be still looking at spending about $200 in total at least with current system.

[stroyal]

A processor IS a CPU

Welcome to TechIMO!
Gateway only shows 1 BIOS, so there probably isn't an update.
Gateway Support - Downloads & Support Documents

07/29/2010
What version do you have now.
It will be listed in the BIOS screen.


I can't find the processor upgrade list, on their sight, but that board is a socket AM2, and the processor you ordered, was AM3.
That's why it didn't work.

How old is this Gateway?
The 4 Gig of RAM is a waste, with a 32 bit operating system, as you will only use about 2.5 to 3 gig with a 1 gig video card.

You should be safe with any Socket AM2 CPU, but no guarantee.
If the Computer is 2010 like the last BIOS, the chances are better.

In general. upgrading a computer with DDR2, is not cost effective, and AM2 processors are increasingly hard to find.
The few NewEgg has are recertified.

I'm not sure they came any faster than what you have now, anyway.


Edit
Too slow again.
Hi Shyguy.

[admiralblub]

Wow you guys are great!..............ok, so the vid card I thought was so awesome really isnt. My comp is prob 4-5 yrs old now. So you think probably a newer CPU with 64 bit and ddr 3 and a better vid card.. ok. What would be a good nvidia vid card to add to it that wont bankrupt me but play these newer games? Thanks again for your responses.

[stroyal]

First, you can't change to DDR3, without, changing the motherboard.
Second, it would be a waste, to change to a 64bit operating system, without building a new computer.(your CPU, is already 64bit)

Your most logical upgrade, would be a video card, but to do that, you will also need a new power supply.

Shyguy is the expert here, but something like this video card.
Newegg.com - XFX HD-677X-ZNLC Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
and this power supply
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Elite Power RS-400-PSAR-J3 400W ATX12V v2.31 Power Supply

or this power supply
Newegg.com - XIGMATEK NRP-PC Series ACXTNRP-PC402 400W ATX12V Ver.2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Shyguy, can expand on this, with Nvidia cards, but that is about what it will cost.

We only recommend quality power supplies, as it is one of, if not the most important part, and cheap power supplies, are simply crap.

You say $200, so you can get a better video card, I just don't want to waste your money, and Shyguy is a better judge, on how far you can go with that CPU, without bottle necking.


Edit
If you can afford it, a new build, is a better bang for your buck.
I can understand, having to upgrade, and old system though, done it myself, and I know better.
You need cash, to save money.

[ShyguyXPC]

A processor IS a CPU

Welcome to TechIMO!
Gateway only shows 1 BIOS, so there probably isn't an update.
Gateway Support - Downloads & Support Documents

07/29/2010
What version do you have now.
It will be listed in the BIOS screen.


I can't find the processor upgrade list, on their sight, but that board is a socket AM2, and the processor you ordered, was AM3.
That's why it didn't work.

How old is this Gateway?
The 4 Gig of RAM is a waste, with a 32 bit operating system, as you will only use about 2.5 to 3 gig with a 1 gig video card.

You should be safe with any Socket AM2 CPU, but no guarantee.
If the Computer is 2010 like the last BIOS, the chances are better.

In general. upgrading a computer with DDR2, is not cost effective, and AM2 processors are increasingly hard to find.
The few NewEgg has are recertified.

I'm not sure they came any faster than what you have now, anyway.


Edit
Too slow again.
Hi Shyguy.

Its funny when some of you guys post after me, for being too slow, and its 30+ minutes after I posted LMAO!!!

but the board they have with that X2 6000+ would be an AM2+ socket board, if I remember the 6000 was an AM2+ CPU.



I was thinking later after I was in town, that with the Bios update listed being from middle of last year, the fact it already has an AM2+ CPU in there, and it being a 6150SE chipset, which I mentioned some being AM3 capable... its a pretty good chance the Bios might support some if not all AM3 CPU's up to at least the Quad cores.

Or could be just up to 95W CPU's as well, as some boards only support the 95W AM3's and not 125W Models.

[ShyguyXPC]

First, you can't change to DDR3, without, changing the motherboard.
Second, it would be a waste, to change to a 64bit operating system, without building a new computer.

Your most logical upgrade, would be a video card, but to do that, you will also need a new power supply.

Shyguy is the expert here, but something like this video card.
Newegg.com - XFX HD-677X-ZNLC Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
and this power supply
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Elite Power RS-400-PSAR-J3 400W ATX12V v2.31 Power Supply

or this power supply
Newegg.com - XIGMATEK NRP-PC Series ACXTNRP-PC402 400W ATX12V Ver.2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Shyguy, can expand on this, with Nvidia cards, but that is about what it will cost.

We only recommend quality power supplies, as it is one of, if not the most important part, and cheap power supplies, are simply crap.

You say $200, so you can get a better video card, I just don't want to waste your money, and Shyguy is a better judge, on how far you can go with that CPU, without bottle necking.

For the price range your about spot on with the GPU for use with their CPU.

6770 on the high end, but I'd recommend at least a Radeon 6750 or Geforce GTS 450.

Thing is, the 6770 usually costs less than the GTS 450 and is a bit better in performance. The only other card in this range I would even consider is the Geforce GTX 550 Ti, as its only a bit more in performance over the 6770. $200 would certainly cover the cost of the 550 and say, that Xigmatek PSU.

But I'd probably try to spend as little as possible with this build, and get a 6770 instead, the $30-40 more in cost for the 550 Ti, wouldn't be worth it, and thats money saved for a new system down the road, then migrate the PSU and GPU to it later as well.

Not sure how well BF3 beta will run, but it should at least play the game on lower to moderate settings, though probably closer to lower settings.

They're recommending at least Dual GTX 580 cards for best performance in BF3 ($400+ per card)

[stroyal]

It just takes some of us a long time to look this stuff up, and then type.


I was going by this, and I thought it was an AM2

Gateway Support - Specifications

The BIOS date didn't make sense though, if it is the only one.

I'm getting a lot of timing out at the moment.

[ShyguyXPC]

3 times your budget, but something basic like this would run circles around your current PC, and have much much better Upgrade potential.

Socket AM3, not the fastest CPU of all the AM3 CPU's but there are faster Dual Core, Triple Core, Quad Core and even Six Core CPU's that are supported on this motherboard.

Newegg.com - BIOSTAR A880G+ AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X2 260 Regor 3.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor ADX260OCGMBOX

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996586

Newegg.com - Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB Port / Extra Silver Face Plate

Newegg.com - MSI N460GTX Hawk GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition ATX Mid Tower Computer Chassis Gaming Case w/ Front Blue LED 120mm Fan & Top 120mm Fan

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model SH-222AL/BSBE LightScribe Support - CD / DVD Burners

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems


$610.90 Not including shipping or factoring in Promo Codes, or Mail In Rebates.

the Video card, is kind of the middle ground for Battlefield 3 also, the GTX 560 (non Ti model), is just a faster clocked revision of the GTX 460, but the 460 is about $20-30 less in price and still a good decent card.


But minus a Keyboard, Mouse, Display and Speakers, this is a complete system, faster and more upgradable than you currently have, more CPU options, plenty of Power on the PSU to run some of the top end cards on the market, as far as I know this board doesn't support the newest AM3+ CPU's, but they aren't worth it anyways, as they don't perform in general, that much better than current AM3 top end models anyways and use more power too... Kind of a FAIL with AMD's latest CPU's.

case can hold most cards on the market, and has plenty of room. Hard drive is twice what your current one is, and I'm sure its a bit faster at least.

64-bit Windows 7, so you can use all your RAM with a 1GB Video card.


But just an example of how cheap you can get a good performing PC versus simply upgrading the current one. with this CPU, this rig would be about borderline between upper budget range, and lower mid range performance.

[ShyguyXPC]

It just takes some of us a long time to look this stuff up, and then type.


I was going by this, and I thought it was an AM2

Gateway Support - Specifications

The BIOS date didn't make sense though, if it is the only one.

I'm getting a lot of timing out at the moment.

Yeah TIMO is loading pages slowly for me right now as well.


yeah, the Geforce 6150 boards were AM2, the 6150 SE's originally came out as AM2, then were AM2+ supporting when those CPU's came out, and I have seen a few here and there with AM3 Support.


Whats even stranger with the Bios update is the Vendor... "Intel"....


The board is an ECS branded board, Chipset is Nvidia, AMD CPU's/Platform... trying to figure out exactly how the Vendor for the Bios is Intel though? The PC manufacturer is Gateway, which is now owned by Acer, but still Intel?

[stroyal]

I didn't notice that, but strange indeed.

[ShyguyXPC]

If you go to the Gateway link in my first reply, then to Software Driver Downloads option, then to Bios Tab, you'll see what I mean.

[stroyal]

That's strange.

Here is another BIOS for that board, unless I'm missing something.11/7/2007 / 61GW112GS
ECS-MCP61PM-AM Motherboard BIOSVersion: 61GW112GS


Maybe that is the original, so 2010 / 61G114GS would be an update.
Gateway Support - Downloads & Support Documents - Desktop / GT Series / GT5656

[stroyal]

That BIOS download has complete instructions, and the program, you need to update it.

If you have a battery backup, use it while updating, as a precaution.
You don't want the computer shutting down during the update.


The update discription, only says
Reason for Update:

- Update AGESA 2.08.11
- Fixed G1 version CPU can't long run reboot test

[admiralblub]

ok ...............information overload................lol! Anyway I think I will go for the low ball for now and get the new video card and power supply. Thanks alot for your time and effort. Oh, do you suggest better memory sticks than the original ddr2 that came with it? what would be compatible?

[stroyal]

No on the memory.

You can only use DDR2, and even if you have the slowest DDR2, and upgraded to the fastest DDR2, you wouldn't notice the difference, unless you where running a benchmark program.

If you are getting a different power supply, from what we recommended, check back, and we can tell you if it is any good.
Or just use our list of good and bad.

Power Supply Info

Edit:
Looks like it came with 667MHz, so going to the max of 800MHz, would do little, and is possibly an overclock situation.
Gateway Support - Components list for 1015002R

[ShyguyXPC]

nah, its stock at 800MHz, higher than that is an OC speed. I had an Athlon 64 X2 at 2.3GHz (was one of AMD's "BE" Low power performance series chips, not Black Edition, on a Geforce 6150 based Mobo, and stock RAM speed was 800MHz, but 667 was supported, all the way down to 533 and 400 if you wanted, 1066 was not officially supported and was an Overclock, OC, Rating)


But your right about the speed difference.

667 and 800, if you maybe only had 1 or 2GB RAM in there, you might notice a tad difference, but 3 and 4GB, your not going to notice anything, as there is plenty of RAM for the system to use with out having to worry about more, and shuffling programs around from System RAM to Windows Virtual Memory on the hard drive.