The Athlon 64 3400+ is no longer competitive.
The Athlon 64 3400+ is no longer competitive.
Hi everyone, nice to connect.
I've figured out that my 5-year-old rig is finally reaching its limit.
It's a Packard Bell Imedia 1517 (athlon 64, 3400+ cpu, 200gb hdd).
After buying it, I upgraded it with:
ATI HD4670 GPU, 550W PSU, 3 GB RAM, Audigy 2 soundcard.
The issue is that the single-core Athlon 64 3400+ can't handle modern games well.
I need at least two processors, but I'm pretty sure the MOBO won't work with dual.
So I'm wondering if it's possible to get a new motherboard and dual CPU (maybe a new case is needed) and fit it into my current setup?
My goal is to play BFBC2.
Thanks!
You're looking for a dual-core CPU. But after upgrading, you might only be able to reuse the graphics and audio cards. The graphics card could soon require an upgrade. If you install a new motherboard, the sound card might become unnecessary. You may want to consider switching to AM3 slots for Phenom II processors, as they use DDR3 and memory can't be reused. It depends on your PSU's connectors—check if it supports them. Unless you switch to another microATX motherboard, you might need a new case. Your current case is designed only for microATX boards.
It's socket 939, allowing dual-core processors, though acquiring one will be quite costly. It might be better to construct a new setup.
Thanks for the responses. I'm a student who doesn't have much money, so I'm being careful with my resources! Can I reuse my hard drive and operating system? Sorry for not being tech-savvy – but if I keep the hard drive, should my installed programs still work? I really want to reuse everything possible. Details about my specs:
Drives
193.59 GB usable hard drive space
27.17 GB free space on the drive
FC6190W CMB728N SCSI CD-ROM drive
HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H55N [CD-ROM drive]
ZEH VSLMV8P6B4XM SCSI CD-ROM drive
3.5" format removable media [floppy drive]
ST3200826A [hard drive] (200.05 GB) -- drive 0, serial 5ND1HJ2H, revision 3.03, SMART status: Healthy
Memory Modules c,d
3056 MB usable installed memory
Slots
'DIMM0' – 512 MB
'DIMM1' – 512 MB
'DIMM2' – 1024 MB
'DIMM3' – 1024 MB
My PSU specs: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?moduleno=256543
Sadly, linking the hard drive to a new motherboard usually means you'll have to reformat/reinstall the OS and all your programs. If you're hoping to find something on eBay (you haven't tried yet, I'm not confident about it), you might be able to find a used dual-core socket 939 processor (X2-3800/4200) for $50 to $80—but double-check that your motherboard supports a dual-core chip before you start.
Here is the connection to your mobile device
http://support.packardbell.com/uk/item/i...8231120426
You got lucky with this find. No reference to X2 dual-core chips. Looks like you're dealing with a core system swap again. Sorry.
-Wolf sends
I’d consider a micro ATX motherboard, RAM, and CPU, and try to reuse what’s already there. You’ll need to reinstall the operating system afterward. It might be more affordable to use 2 gigabytes of DDR2 memory and an older DDR2 board with an Athlon II X3, then sell the motherboard/CPU as a package on eBay and the old RAM separately. This is just my suggestion since you’re on a tight budget and probably won’t upgrade to a faster CPU anytime soon.
I’d consider a micro ATX motherboard, RAM, and CPU, then reuse the rest. You’ll need to reinstall the operating system first, so back up your data beforehand.
It might be more economical to opt for 2 gigabytes of DDR2 memory and an older DDR2 motherboard with an Athlon II X3. Then you could sell the motherboard/CPU as a package on eBay and the old RAM separately. This suggestion comes from your budget constraints and the likelihood that you won’t upgrade to a faster CPU soon (especially after the AM3 era).
Thanks.
Could I use my current 3GB RAM in a new micro ATX motherboard?
I’m a bit unsure about this.
Assuming I want a new motherboard with a dual-core CPU, here are some recommendations:
What about the case? I don’t know if my existing one can support a new board.
After that, you could reinstall the hard drive, power supply, graphics card, and sound card.
Here are the specs for the game you plan to run: