Want a new processor

[billtheant]

I want to get a faster processor for my PC.

If I go to system information, it says my current processor is a:

AMD Athlon XP 2400+
Version: x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0
Speed: 1991MHz

I would like a faster processor so I can run a game that has the minimum requirement of a 2.4 GHz processor (Neverwinter Nights 2 if anyone is interested).

Any suggestions on what I should replace my current processor with?

I am pretty confident that I know how to remove my old processor and plug in a new one, because I did a few weeks work experience with a systems analyst in an office. He put together a PC from scratch, and then I copied him. Both computers work so I should be okay.

[Ajmukon]

next month, both companies are realeasing new products in the CPU market that are significantly better
AMD Barcelona Processors and Intel's Penryn lin-up will be realeased sometime next month (last i heard)

[George Hallam]

next month, both companies are realeasing new products in the CPU market that are significantly better
AMD Barcelona Processors and Intel's Penryn lin-up will be realeased sometime next month (last i heard)

might have a problem i doubt its a AM2 socket and im not sure that wanting a MOBO upgrade :p

what socket is your CPU? a 2400+ should just be able to run a game at 2.4Ghz

edit: now im wondering what the rest of your specs are?

[Fruss Tray Ted]

You have a socket A or 462 mobo. The processors for that are now obsolete, or nearly so. The fastest CPU you can put in or on than mobo is going to be only a minor improvement. Your best bet is to keep it as is and build another, newer system with newer parts.

[billtheant]

My Specs:

System Model: KM400-8235
BIOS Version: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG

OS

Microsoft XP Professional
Version: 5.1.2600
Service Pack: 1.0

RAM: 1 GB

Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2400+
Version: x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0
Speed: 1991 MHz

Hard Drive Capacity: 76.33 GB

Video Card
Model: Inno3D GeForce FX 5700LE
Driver: nv4_mini.sys

Sound Card
Manufacturer: Realtek
Model: Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
Driver:alcxwdm.sys


And the game will run, but it will run as slow as a dead turtle, even with all of the graphic options turned down to minimum. It is just unplayable.

And the suggestion of just building a different system is definitely out of the question. I am a student with a part time job that pays mostly for travelling to and from University, I cannot afford to just build a new computer. I am only just able to pay for a new processor.

[jlreich]

Your system as a whole isn't up to the task of playing modern games. But your video card is the biggest thing holding you down. I would put money into a new video card before trying to find a better CPU for your system, which may be difficult at best.

Your system does support 8x AGP, so that's a plus. If you could move up to at least a 6600 series video card you would be much better off. You are not looking at getting awesome graphics at that point but it will be much better than your current GPU. The more money you can afford to put into the video card the better. I don't normally advise putting too much money into a system like this, but if you can't see building a new system any time in the near future you have to do the best you can with what you have.

Another thing to consider, if you go much higher than a 6600 you have to start worrying about how much your current power supply can handle. It may even be a problem with a 6600, but we would need to know your power supply specs to know for certain.

[Ajmukon]

Service Pack: 1.0


and i would upgrade that OS to SPK 2- it will improve that stability and speed of windows XP...

[saphalline]

I would like a faster processor so I can run a game that has the minimum requirement of a 2.4 GHz processor (Neverwinter Nights 2 if anyone is interested).Ok, two things here:

1) - Your CPU is already good enough. It meets the minimum requirements. The game requires either a P4 2.4 GHz or an AthlonXP 2000+. I'm reading it right off the box as I type this. So your CPU is more than capable of running the game (not blazingly fast, but more than the minimum).

2) - jlreich is correct. Your vid card is holding you back! The game requires (again, right off the box) a 128MB pixel shader 2.0 vid card, Radeon 9700 Pro or GeForce 6600 at the minimum. I'm guessing the game sucks on your system because your vid card is below the minimum.

Now, that being said, the graphics engine for that game absolutely sucks at efficiency!! When I bought it, I had the recommended vid card! Two 6600 GT's in SLI, equivalent to a 6800 GT, and my frame rate still sucked at the minimum settings! :eek: Not only that, but my CPU and RAM were far above the recommended at the time! There's just no excuse for that. I can't imagine how the game runs on your system! :eek: Geez!

If I were you, I wouldn't pin too many hopes on playing that game well anytime soon. Even with an FX-60, 2GB of RAM, and an 8800 GTS 640MB, NWN2 doesn't run all that well for me. There are still slow-downs in certain scenes (in both WinXP and Vista 64-bit) that are simply unacceptable for my hardware, especially when I can run other games at better visual qualities at higher resolutions with higher frame rates!! The graphics engine for that game just sucks. I don't know how it got out the door. It really ruins the gaming experience for me, which has resulted in me never really getting into NWN2. Which is a shame since I've heard it's quite good.