[Mildog]

I've been wanting to upgrade for a bit now on my current system from a AMD 64 3200+ to the 4000+. I was just being frugal and watching for the prices to come down to about $300 on the 4000+. Well, since the dual cores have hit the market, the price on the 4000+ hasn't come down all that much, but I was thinking of caving in and buying one.

Now, here comes the question: Since I am willing to spend the amount to buy the 4000+, should I just go ahead and plop one of the new dual cores in instead? I was looking at getting:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103547

I'm not sure if the dual core is compatible with the Asus A8V Deluxe that I currently have. I asked the tech guy here on base and he said that any 939 dual core should be compatible with my board, I just might have to flash my bios. I don't trust him all that much as in the past he has not had the most "right" answer. So, I leave the question to you guys.

Is the dual core compatible and the better way to go?

[EricDraven]

I just orderd the none delux version of that mobo and the 4000+, first I want to ask have you had any issues at all with the mobo? because after I purchased it I found many a review saying it was great and terrible and second it should work just fine with that board though one of the complaints I found in many of the reviews was that the duel core processors were a bit unstable with the board on the other hand there were about just as many reviews saying it worked flawless.

[Mildog]

I've not had any issues with the board and my 3200+ to date. I would suggest reading the manual on how to flash your BIOS before u take apart the old comp and getting the most updated BIOS to flash it with when u install the CPU.

[Drayu]

what is the mobo you currently have? make sure it is the same socket.

[EricDraven]

yea its a 939 so it should hold any x2 just fine.

[Mildog]

Just to do some homework and checking up on the new dual-cores before I buy, I found this guide on the AMD forums on how to install the 4400+ (wich I've decided I want to buy).

http://forums.amd.com/index.php?showtopic=64936

After reading thro this, I'm starting to wonder if all these steps are really nessecary. I know I'm gonna have to flash BIOS, but reformatting? I've never done a reformat, and don't really want to go through the entire trouble of one. I really thought this was gonna be a simple flash and drop.

Has there been anyone here actually done an upgrade from their current system of an AMD 64 to the X2? What steps did you use? How long did it take you?

I'm just tying to measure if the upgrade is worth the trouble or if I re-format, should I just buy a newer mobo that I know supports the X2 better.

Here is my current system if anyone is wondering:
ASUS A8V Deluxe (bought in Dec 04' so I belive it's revison 1)
AMD 64 3200+
2GB (512x4) Corsair XMS 400 Mhz RAM
160GB Samsung IDE HDD
Samsung DVD + ROM
Pioneer DVD + RW
ATI Readeon X800XL (256MB)
Audigy 2 XL Gamer Ltd. Edition
OCZ Powerstream 470W

[Horsepower]

you're still going to have to reformat if you buy a new board. unless you're doing stuff that is really cpu intensive, buying a dual core does not really do much for a mostly gaming machine.

[Mildog]

Hmmmm, so mabey getting the single core 4000+ might be the way to go? I'm just worried about cooling with the single core. From what I've heard and seen on forums, the AMD has done wonders with the dual core and keeping them cooler.

[Horsepower]

well it's up to you. just know that games at this point do not take advantage of multi-cpu machines. now if you doing video editing, working with graphics...that's a different story.

[Mildog]

I'm starting to find myself not just playing WoW. I'll be playing WoW, running Vent or TS2, some form of a media player, sometimes MSN Messenger, and then when I see something that I want to record in-game, I'll kick on Fraps. I've started to find that I like messing with Movie Editor and Fraps.