New Processor/Mobo

[williams22]

Hey, I am currently running a P4 1.8 ghz processor. I would like to upgrade this but I know very little about the processors and motherboards out there. I am not familiar with AMD at all so XP 2600 means nothing to me. Can someone please explain the AMD processors (like how they compare to P4s). If I upgrade my processor I will probably need a mobo upgrade correct? If so does anyone have any good prices for this? I think I would like to get atleast 2.5 ghz.

[Buzioid]

What type of motherboard do you have? Is your computer manufactured by a company or did you do it?

[williams22]

I am not sure what motherboard I have. I bought this system from Dell. I would assume i need a mobo upgrade to upgrade the processor. also, it would help to have more than the 2 ram slots that this one has. my ram is maxed out right now which I was hoping to increase. What are the top processors (Pentium and AMD) out there right now?

[Buzioid]

well, tops are gonna cost you about $450 for athlon xp 3200 and $420 for P4 3.06ghz 800mhz bus. what model is your computer?

[williams22]

Are those prices for the processor and the motherboard? Or is that just for the processor? How does the speed of the AMD compare to the 3.06 ghz? I am not familiar with AMD at all. Also, which do you prefer? Is there a difference?

[Buzioid]

These are just for the CPU, the athlon runs at 2.2GHZ and the 3200+ means that it should compare to a 3.2ghz cpu. check this out: http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/200...charts-23.html

It really depends on what yo are going to be doing, there are charts on that site with different tests, that is just the one for gaming.

I prefer the AMD Athlons.

[williams22]

Im confused, if the AMD 3200+ runs at 2.2 ghz, how can it be equal to a 3.2ghz Pentium 4? Sorry, im new to this so my questions may sound dumb.

[Omardeth]

since you have a dell you are not really able to "upgrade" that pc per say . so you are talking about a whole new system . and it all depends on you money limit , if you can build it yourself or if you buy an "off the shelf" pc . but as for the system you have now you really can't "upgrade" it i am sorry to say .

as for intel or amd . well they both have there backers . but you can't go wrong with either . Amd systems are alittle cheaper . especialy if you go to the middle of the curve .

[Omardeth]

its the way they work . amd cpu is able to do the same amount of "work" at a lower clock speed than the way the intel cpu "works". trying to put it in easy terms without confusing you . its like getting 300 hp out of a v6 engine from ford or getting a chevy v8 and getting 300hp . they both put out the same hp but they rev diffenent the v6 has to spin faster to get the same hp as the chevy . think of amd as the chevy and intel as the ford . thats not how it is really but it explains it easier .

[williams22]

Why can't I upgrade my dell? I don't care about the warranty, I have already waved that by doing a few upgrades.