Well, everything is pretty much dictated by your current motherboard. Here is the ASUS site specification for your current mobo:http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?modelm…
Note, it can take any AMD Socket AM2+ / AM2 Processors
AMD Phenom processor, so essentially, you could go up to the highest current quad core processor without throwing out your motherboard. This would be the AMD Phenom II X 4 940 Processor.
This is the highest, best and most powerful processor your current board would support. Here it is on Newegg for $189.99:
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor – Retail
Note this processor is a 3.0 Mhz processor quad core which should be a fairly good sized jump for you in terms of performance.
If you want to go any higher than this, you would have to swap the motherboard out for an AM3 socket motherboard. I don’t really see a big improvement with the AMD Phenom II X4 955 Processor which runs at 3.2 Ghz, but lacks L3 cache – so its a faster running processor but has less memory built into the processor, not much to gain there.
I think you should stick with your current mobo and just get that 940 processor for your current mobo, unless you just have to swap out the mobo – right now, your current mobo supports up to 8 Gig of RAM, and so unless you have some fantastic memory requirements, it supports sufficient memory capacity, even for Windows 7 right now.
Note what Asus says about the memory on your board:
Memory 4 x240-pin DIMM, Max. 8 GB, DDR2 1066/800/667/533 ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel memory architecture
*DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ CPU only
**Refer to http://www.asus.com or user manual for Memory QVL (Qualify Vendor List)
***When installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows® 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is recommended.
What I would do, since you will have the AM2+ CPU, you can take advantage of dual channel and I would buy TWO SETS of 2 X 2 Gigs of RAM giving me a total of 8 Gigs of RAM, Paired in dual channel. This would both max out your mobo on processor and memory capabilities, taking advantage of all the capacity you have without having to shell out another $150 – $200 for a new mobo. I would also step up to DDR2 1066 on both paired sets so that you really get the 1066 Mhz speed.
If you do anything else, you will have to swap out the motherboard.
That is my recommendation to you.
your processor does not need upgrading yet. The 9800 gt is very good but you should have a minimum of 450 watt power supply for it. It requires 1 pci express 6 pin connector from the power supply to function properly. the 12 volt current rating of the power supply should be 26 amps.
January, 18th 2010 at 12:20 am
Well, everything is pretty much dictated by your current motherboard. Here is the ASUS site specification for your current mobo:http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?modelm…
Note, it can take any AMD Socket AM2+ / AM2 Processors
AMD Phenom processor, so essentially, you could go up to the highest current quad core processor without throwing out your motherboard. This would be the AMD Phenom II X 4 940 Processor.
This is the highest, best and most powerful processor your current board would support. Here it is on Newegg for $189.99:
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor – Retail
Note this processor is a 3.0 Mhz processor quad core which should be a fairly good sized jump for you in terms of performance.
If you want to go any higher than this, you would have to swap the motherboard out for an AM3 socket motherboard. I don’t really see a big improvement with the AMD Phenom II X4 955 Processor which runs at 3.2 Ghz, but lacks L3 cache – so its a faster running processor but has less memory built into the processor, not much to gain there.
I think you should stick with your current mobo and just get that 940 processor for your current mobo, unless you just have to swap out the mobo – right now, your current mobo supports up to 8 Gig of RAM, and so unless you have some fantastic memory requirements, it supports sufficient memory capacity, even for Windows 7 right now.
Note what Asus says about the memory on your board:
Memory 4 x240-pin DIMM, Max. 8 GB, DDR2 1066/800/667/533 ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel memory architecture
*DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ CPU only
**Refer to http://www.asus.com or user manual for Memory QVL (Qualify Vendor List)
***When installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows® 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is recommended.
What I would do, since you will have the AM2+ CPU, you can take advantage of dual channel and I would buy TWO SETS of 2 X 2 Gigs of RAM giving me a total of 8 Gigs of RAM, Paired in dual channel. This would both max out your mobo on processor and memory capabilities, taking advantage of all the capacity you have without having to shell out another $150 – $200 for a new mobo. I would also step up to DDR2 1066 on both paired sets so that you really get the 1066 Mhz speed.
If you do anything else, you will have to swap out the motherboard.
That is my recommendation to you.
January, 18th 2010 at 3:54 am
your processor does not need upgrading yet. The 9800 gt is very good but you should have a minimum of 450 watt power supply for it. It requires 1 pci express 6 pin connector from the power supply to function properly. the 12 volt current rating of the power supply should be 26 amps.
January, 18th 2010 at 8:11 am
definitely the gpu… integrated sucks
or the proc
January, 18th 2010 at 2:29 pm
Add one dedicated video card should improve the whole system’s performance to new level.