Good Processor Models?

[Columbia42]

I'm shopping for a new processor and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on which one is the best. The thing is, I don't want to replace my motherboard which has an Intel LGA 775 processor socket so I'm limited to processors that are compatible with this. I looked at the Core 2 Quad Extreme QX6850 which I found for just under $300 on Amazon.com and it looks good except that it doesn't support hyper threading. Is this a deciding factor in processors or is it's performance impact minimal? Also, what is the relationship between processors and Orbiter?

 

[Hielor]

I'm shopping for a new processor and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on which one is the best. The thing is, I don't want to replace my motherboard which has an Intel LGA 775 processor socket so I'm limited to processors that are compatible with this. I looked at the Core 2 Quad Extreme QX6850 which I found for just under $300 on Amazon.com and it looks good except that it doesn't support hyper threading. Is this a deciding factor in processors or is it's performance impact minimal? Also, what is the relationship between processors and Orbiter?

You're *severely* limiting yourself by sticking with that motherboard at this point.

What's your current processor? Why do you need to upgrade your CPU (what are you actually trying to accomplish?)

Given how much things like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073&cm_re=i5-_-19-115-073-_-Product (and its bigger brothers) blow any LGA 775 CPU out of the water, you'd probably be a whole lot better off saving up some more money in order to upgrade everything...

 

[RisingFury]

Core 2 Quad still sells for 300? What a ripoff!

 

[n72.75]

I have a Q8200 that I might be putting on ebay in the next few weeks. Just PM me if you're interested, and I'll give you the link when it's up.

 

[Columbia42]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. If that's the case than I'll definitely consider upgrading my motherboard. Does anyone have any recommendations for what kind to get?
BTW, I currently have a Pentium D 2.8 ghz dual core CPU.

 

[Keatah]

Please be aware that upgrading your motherboard means you need a new processor, ram, and possibly graphics card. In some situations that may also dictate a new power supply as well.

 

[Columbia42]

Well I'm already getting a new processor and ram and as long as I get a PCIE motherboard I won't have to get a new graphics card. As for the power supply I think those are pretty generic. I'd need a motherboard with the following specs: at least one PCIE 2.0 or higher x16 card slot, at least one PCI card slot, at least four ram slots, at least two SATA ports, and several connectors for CD/Floppy drives. It would also be nice not to have to get a new fan/heat sink assembly because I have a really good one of those but that may be unavoidable.

 

[Fabri91]

*snip*

It would also be nice not to have to get a new fan/heat sink assembly because I have a really good one of those but that may be unavoidable.

Not necessarily, it might be that only a new mounting kit for the different socket is needed.

 

[Columbia42]

Not necessarily, it might be that only a new mounting kit for the different socket is needed.

I don't know, my assembly came with the motherboard and is designed specifically for this kind of board. That definitely wouldn't stop me from getting a new board, though. I was thinking of getting an Intel processor but if I'm getting a new motherboard that opens up other options. Would an AMD processor be better? Or some other brand that I don't know about?

 

[sunshine135]

I have an Asus P6T motherboard and an Intel i7-940 Processor that is wicked fast. I have a single GTX460 graphics card, and spent a little more for a Corsair HX850W power supply for the chasis so I can add a second video card if I choose to do so. All in all, a nice rig, but if you are going for a new mobo, maybe you should consider a new PC. I recommend CyberPower. They have some really good deal on occasion.

 

[Columbia42]

I just upgraded my power supply, graphics card, sound card, hard drive, and some other stuff. Although in the long run I'm sure I'll get a new PC (Alienware's looking pretty good, though also really expensive) I'm not really thinking that large scale right now. Maybe just some new RAM then, for the time being. All the other stuff can wait.

 

[Hielor]

If you're planning on upgrading your CPU/mobo at some point in the near future, a RAM upgrade now would be a waste of money, since you'll need to buy new RAM for the new mobo anyway.

 

[sunshine135]

I just upgraded my power supply, graphics card, sound card, hard drive, and some other stuff. Although in the long run I'm sure I'll get a new PC (Alienware's looking pretty good, though also really expensive) I'm not really thinking that large scale right now. Maybe just some new RAM then, for the time being. All the other stuff can wait.

Well, with a Pentium D, you will probably get a bigger bang for your buck with a RAM upgrade. With the newer processors like I have, 6 GB is plenty, and you don't get much more bang if you add. Truth be known, my slowest item now is my 1TB HD. I am waiting awhile for a larger, less expensive SSD to be developed. We shall see.

 

[Turbinator]

This is all you will ever need:
(Relevant as of April 5th, 2011)

 

[Arrowstar]

This is all you will ever need:
(Relevant as of April 5th, 2011)

Holy moly, Batman! That's great! :tiphat:

 

[Columbia42]

Wow, that's just... wow. Thanks, Turbinator.

 

[Turbinator]

This one goes in to more detail on each one of the builds, like the reasoning behind the choices.

 

[Eccentrus]

Well, if you are really insane, you can go at double Intle Xeon 6 Graphic Cards, 12 RAM Slots, and spend nearly 10.000$ in the process, with about 12 monitors as well, but then again, not everyone have the money to buy a car in the form of a box and monitors.

 

[Ripley]

...And about Orbiter performance, isn't it better to stick to a 32bit OS?
I've read quite a few posts reporting big performance issues with super-duper hardware and 64bit Windows (only Orbiter-related).

 

[Hielor]

...And about Orbiter performance, isn't it better to stick to a 32bit OS?
I've read quite a few posts reporting big performance issues with super-duper hardware and 64bit Windows (only Orbiter-related).

It has nothing to do with 64-bit Windows and everythign to do with the performance issues encountered on Vista/Win7. It's just that most new installs of Vista/Win7 are 64-bit, so it seems like there might be a correlation, but there isn't.