Newish processor and possibly RAM

[Razgovory]

Well, I was toying with the idea of getting a new PC, but the economic situation hasn't been that good lately for the Raz household.  So I was thinking of maybe getting a new processor instead (and likely some RAM).  I don't know if it would be worth it, or even if I could.

Here's what I have:

Asus P5LD2 motherboard
2 Gigs of RAM
Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.40 Ghz 3.41ghz  (at least according to the system screen)

So is there anything I can do with this?

[DontSayBanana]

According to ASUS, your P5LD2 is pretty close to peak performance already.  With an LGA 775, it'd only take up to a Core2 Quad, and ASUS claims the P5LD2 needed a physical board revision to support any of the Core2 chips.  Most likely, the board revision came because they switched to Core2 Duos as a standard processor, so your mobo's most likely to be from before the board revision.

[Razgovory]

This was what I feared.  I wonder if I still have the box for it.  Maybe it'll have more details.  I bought the damn thing back in 2007 or so.

[Barrister]

Rather than your processor (which sounds like it'd need a whole new motherboard) you might get more bang for your buck by upgrading:

1. video card
2. monitor (I my 27")
3. RAM

[DontSayBanana]

Rather than your processor (which sounds like it'd need a whole new motherboard) you might get more bang for your buck by upgrading:

1. video card
2. monitor (I my 27")
3. RAM

Actually, take RAM off that list.  It's a 32-bit processor, so memory addressing issues means 2GBs is the most he's going to be able to use.  As for video card, it's limited by being a PCI x16, so the highest you're going to be able to go without swapping motherboards is the Diamond BV500 (it's the only GDDR3 card for PCI x16 offered at Newegg, at least).

You'll see the biggest difference if you switch to a dedicated video card.  Basically, up to 1/8th of your RAM can be eaten up by the shared video (I'm assuming a GMA 950, up to 224MB).  Not only would you free up that RAM, but because of the heavier-duty GPU in the video card, 224MB on the video card would run a lot faster, smoother, and just generally do more than the computer trying to use 224MB of your regular RAM to make pretty pictures.

[Razgovory]

I upgraded the video card and monitor a few years back.  Nvidia Geforce 9600 I think.  I don't think upgrading either of those things or the RAM would make much of a difference.  The processor seems to be what's holding the old girl back.  When I check the system requirements for newer games it's the processor that fails the tests.  I suppose I could buy a new motherboard plus processor but I really don't know how to install those.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Actually, take RAM off that list.  It's a 32-bit processor, so memory addressing issues means 2GBs is the most he's going to be able to use.

That's not a 32-bit processor.  Raz probably has a 32-bit version of Windows, though (which is the true limiting factor, not the native word length of the processor).

That said, I think you'll need to do a full rebuild Raz.  Your processor is 4 generations behind current.  As DSB pointed out, your board probably can't go to the Core 2 line (the next generation), but even if it could your options for Core 2 chips at this point is very limited.

[DontSayBanana]

Honestly, a full rebuild doesn't have to be insanely expensive.  I'm doing one from scratch right now, and it's looking like it's going to be around $250-300: I'm going to drop an Athlon II X3 Rana onto a Biostar N68S3+ along with 8GB of RAM.

[Razgovory]

Actually, take RAM off that list.  It's a 32-bit processor, so memory addressing issues means 2GBs is the most he's going to be able to use.

That's not a 32-bit processor.  Raz probably has a 32-bit version of Windows, though (which is the true limiting factor, not the native word length of the processor).

That said, I think you'll need to do a full rebuild Raz.  Your processor is 4 generations behind current.  As DSB pointed out, your board probably can't go to the Core 2 line (the next generation), but even if it could your options for Core 2 chips at this point is very limited.

You hit the hammer on the head.  It is indeed a 32-bit version of Windows.  The processor is to old, and the MoBo can't fit much in the way of another processor.

I have very little cash on hand lately.  My little bro has been out of work for a few months so I've been helping him.  I'm going to have to wait till build up a reserve before I can do much.

[DontSayBanana]

Oh, something you're going to want to keep in mind.  I know upgrading the CPU isn't really a possibility, but it's one of the pieces that windows looks at and thinks "different machine."  So a new CPU pretty much automatically means Windows would have to be reinstalled.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

You hit the hammer on the head.  It is indeed a 32-bit version of Windows.  The processor is to old, and the MoBo can't fit much in the way of another processor.

I have very little cash on hand lately.  My little bro has been out of work for a few months so I've been helping him.  I'm going to have to wait till build up a reserve before I can do much.

I don't know what your requirements are, but Newegg frequently has low-end component kits in their Shell Shocker daily deals.  You can sign up for their emails to keep track of them.  The volume is reasonable (one Shell Shocker email per day plus 2-3 sales per week).  If you don't want to do that, keep an eye on what they have for both pre-built systems and regular component packages.

[Razgovory]

I'll keep an eye out.  I will need to scrap together some cash though.  So I'll be unlikely to do anything until this summer.  I've never assembled a PC all by myself.  I could probably do it, especially with the internet.  Fuck, they have videos of children assembling computer parts.  It's either deliberately insulting me, or some kind of really weird child pornography.

[DontSayBanana]

I'll keep an eye out.  I will need to scrap together some cash though.  So I'll be unlikely to do anything until this summer.  I've never assembled a PC all by myself.  I could probably do it, especially with the internet.  Fuck, they have videos of children assembling computer parts.  It's either deliberately insulting me, or some kind of really weird child pornography.

Almost everything's keyed slots (only fits one way), and/or locking levers.  The trick with putting new components is a system is wiggle, don't force.