Would I benefit from a cpu upgrade?

[360bhp]

Looking to go for a temp upgrade before a new build in a few months.

Currently have an old S754 Sempron 1.6ghz cpu - 2gb ddr - Gecube HD3850 grfx card but think the CPU is limiting it alot.

Thinking of upgrading to a 2.4ghz athlon cpu, with 512kb l2 cache. Mainly use photoshop on the pc, few games like pro evo, battlefield 2.

Here is a screenshot of cpu usage during 'general' use.


Do you think this needs an upgrade, and I will benefit with faster loading times with general use?


Also.. is a new cpu just a case of getting old cpu out, putting new one in, applying grease, fit fan. and thats it?

[staffsMike]

Yeah you can swap the CPU you like that no problem. I assume thats a single core 2.4GHz. You will get an improvement, whether it's worth it or not is another story, but probably considering its a 50% boost. When are you planning a major upgrade, i7?

[nick1]

Are you sure you can still buy socket 754 Athlons?

[Mithrandir]

Are you sure you can still buy socket 754 Athlons?

2nd hand market such as ebay

[2Cold Scorpio]

I dunno...I think it'd be better to save your cash and do a major mobo/CPU upgrade in a few months when the i7 (formerly called "Nahalem") chips come out, but thats just me. I've never been real big on small or temporary upgrades; I'd rather do big ones and not have to worry about it for a while.

[looney]

My previous rig has the same CPU as yours, the sempron 2800 (see thing on the left), i built a whole new machine (see sig), and the processor has made a huge improvement, before the smepron i had an athlon 2600 i think it was, 2.2ghz version and it was better then the sempron, but i wouldnt upgrade to that, get a dual core, it will help with photoshopinga dn all that and much beter performance too, i would recommend upgrading the motherboard and processor, to soamething like a e2180 and p35 board, would make a massive improvement!

[Katar]

I'm still using a S754 Athlon 64 3000+ and I wouldn't advise you to upgrade. The CPU will be better then your current one but not enough to justify spending money on it. Get a new motherboard and dual core chip.

Waiting for i7 would be good only if you have a very high budget, otherwise there isn't much point in waiting.

[shaithis]

You can get relatively cheap S775 boards and CPUs and ridiculously cheap DDR2 RAM at the moment.

It will obviously cost more then just upgrading the CPU but will be a much better return on your money, both in the short- and long-run.

Might be a few good second hand deals as well. Lots of the older E6xxx and E4xxx CPUs are being sold dirt cheap at the moment, plus a number of 975/965/P35 boards.

DDR2 RAM is so cheap is hardly worth buying second hand.

[Jakg]

The older hardware such as the 754 kit often has a very over-inflated price due to being so rare.

IMO - Don't bother, or try OC'ing.

[360bhp]

Ok got a 3200+ 754 cpu with 512kb L2 for quite cheap.

Should be here in a few days.

Now just wandering, is the retail sempron heatsink ok to use with the athlon cpu, or should I get a new one?