Some computer questions

[RedRalph]

Looks like I need a new PC. Few questions

I've added some decent hardware to the one I have and intend on just buying the least possible now and adding that hardware in. So I have a GFX card, sound card, 4gb RAM, and all the peripherals.

I don't know much about processors though, is this one any good: What do I need to know? Is this one any good: Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor E5800 3.2GHz?

Also, what specs about my RAM modules do I need to know to find out if they will be compatible? Is the DDR number relevant?

Is there any issue with transferring my copy of Win7 to a new PC? It's a retail edition.

 

[Rashiminos]

CFC, we got that.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/forumdisplay.php?f=73

 

[warpus]

Also, what specs about my RAM modules do I need to know to find out if they will be compatible? Is the DDR number relevant?

Yes, DDR2 ram will not work on a motherboard that only supports DDR3 ram. You need to find out exactly what sort of ram you have.

edit: Ram is cheap these days though, so even if you end up picking a new motherboard that doesn't support your old ram... ddr3 is faster than 2, and cheaper. I saw 8gb for $80 or something silly like that a couple days ago

 

[RedRalph]

Hmm... disappointing Warpus, i thought they would both word on the same motherboard. Are some models compatible with both DDR2 and 3, or are they all mutually incompatible? Basically the ones I'm looking at say they come with DDR3 memory, but only a gb of it, so I had planned ot put in the 4gb RAM I already have in. it doesn't specifically say that it only takes DDR3, so is there any chance it might take both?

 

[warpus]

Hmm... disappointing Warpus, i thought they would both word on the same motherboard. Are some models compatible with both DDR2 and 3, or are they all mutually incompatible? Basically the ones I'm looking at say they come with DDR3 memory, but only a gb of it, so I had planned ot put in the 4gb RAM I already have in. it doesn't specifically say that it only takes DDR3, so is there any chance it might take both?

There are motherboards that support both, so that's not a problem, but you'll just get more of a bang for your buck if you go with one that supports just one kind (at least in theory). Plus I'm not sure how common they are - maybe not as big of a selection..

You would also have to make sure that you can have both types of sticks in there.. I have no idea about that.. I do know though that ram will generally run at the speed of the lowest stick you have in there.

 

[RedRalph]

I would be using only DDR2, (2x2gb), so that wouldn't be a big issue... there would only be one type in at a time. That should be Ok then? I had thought maybe the socket for DDR3 was different, or that a motherboard that allowed DDR3 couldn't under any circumstances use DDR2.

Also, any opinions on that processor? Is it atall decent?

 

[warpus]

The sockets are different. 4gb of ddr2 ram should be alright.. i am running on an older motherboard myself, just upgraded to 6gb of ram from 2gb.. even the 2gb wasn't so bad

as for cpus i am not as well informed about atm.. responded to the ram part cause i had to do some research recently myself (video card fried, was thinking of upgrading mobo, etc.)

 

[RedRalph]

The sockets are different. 4gb of ddr2 ram should be alright.. i am running on an older motherboard myself, just upgraded to 6gb of ram from 2gb.. even the 2gb wasn't so bad

as for cpus i am not as well informed about atm.. responded to the ram part cause i had to do some research recently myself (video card fried, was thinking of upgrading mobo, etc.)

Warpus, sorry if I'm bugging the hell out of you, but how will 4gb of DDR2 RAM be OK if the sockets are different? Surely I won't be able to install it on the motherboard?

 

[warpus]

Warpus, sorry if I'm bugging the hell out of you, but how will 4gb of DDR2 RAM be OK if the sockets are different? Surely I won't be able to install it on the motherboard?

I mean, if you end up getting one that supports ddr2 (or both 2 and 3), then 4gb will be enough for almost anything.. except holographic polish pornography

 

[Dumanios]

So when's one of our friendly mods coming to move this thread to Comp Talk?

 

[RedRalph]

I mean, if you end up getting one that supports ddr2 (or both 2 and 3), then 4gb will be enough for almost anything.. except holographic polish pornography

Damnit

So when's one of our friendly mods coming to move this thread to Comp Talk?

Soon enough no doubt, but feel free not to read it until then

 

[warpus]

You should post the exact specs of everything you want to keep. How old is your motherboard? Maybe you could just upgrade your cpu and get more ram and that's it

 

[Chukchi Husky]

I think quad core processors are now standard for mid range computers, and even then I think they might be being replaced.

 

[RedRalph]

You should post the exact specs of everything you want to keep. How old is your motherboard? Maybe you could just upgrade your cpu and get more ram and that's it

That's the thing, my motherboard is this obscure on from 2006 that cannot handle more than 2.75 GB RAM, which I only found out after I bought 4 GB. There is no workaround either. I have an Nvidia GeForce 240, so I'll use that in the new one, it's going to be better than anything that's preinstalled or integrated.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Moderator Action: Moved to Computer Talk.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Is there any issue with transferring my copy of Win7 to a new PC? It's a retail edition.

Most of the other questions I think been answered. But Ill do this one. Im pretty sure its fine as long as the old ones uninstalled first.

4 GB is pretty good unless you do intense graphics editing or something like that. The only thing I get hung up on is late-game Civ 4 using a mod that creates maps about twice as big as the "giant" ones.

 

[Fëanor]

While there many motherboards that support both DDR2 and DDR3 i'm not aware of any that allow for both to be used at the same time.

The E5800 is not a bad CPU but it lacks Hyper-threading, so you wont be able to do a lot of processor heavy stuff without considerable slowdowns, also its socket 775 which is pretty end of life (in fact even his sucessor, socket 1156, has been superseded by the new socket 1155).

So you plan to do a lot of processor heavy stuff get at least a Athlon II X3 (triple core, same price as the E5800), the best low budget gaming processor right now is the i3-2100 (€107) but none of those motherboard support DDR2.

 

[mdwh]

www.cpubenchmark.net has benchmarks of a large number of CPUs - see http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Pentium+Dual-Core+E5800+@+3.20GHz .

http://www.crucial.com/ is a good place to check for memory/motherboard compatibility.

I think quad core processors are now standard for mid range computers, and even then I think they might be being replaced.

Depends how fast though - a dual core that has faster individual cores may still be better for many purposes. Quad cores seem to be more common in AMD last time I was looking.

 

[RedRalph]

Thanks for the tips folks, much appreciated.

 

[tokala]

That's the thing, my motherboard is this obscure on from 2006 that cannot handle more than 2.75 GB RAM ...

Problem is, if you want to keep your old 32 bit windows most likely the new mainboard would still only be able to use ~3GB of your 4GB.
What's your current CPU model? The most sensible upgrade might be to switch to a 64 bit windows.