RAM vs CPU

InCreator · Fri 20/10/2006 22:13:45

firefox.
varies greatly from 60 to 130 mb, depending on tabs and page i'm viewing.
Currently: 63mb, only this forum is open

LimpingFish · Fri 20/10/2006 22:41:44

I'd kill Norton. I've always found that anti-virus software, though not overly system intensive, can cause sluggish CPU response.

Also, the Celeron is a budget CPU. From Wikipedia...

"A Celeron is any of a large number of different budget x86 microprocessors produced by Intel and marketed as a budget/value CPU line. The Celeron family complements Intel's higher-performance (and more expensive) Pentium CPU family. Introduced in April 1998, the first Celeron was based on the Pentium II core. Later versions were based on the Pentium III, Pentium 4, and Pentium M. These processors are suitable for most applications, but their performance is somewhat limited when it comes to running intense applications, such as cutting edge games or graphical modeling programs, especially when compared to that of their high-end counterparts."

So a 2.4ghz Celeron wouldn't be the equal to a 2.4ghz Pentium.

I don't think it's a simple as RAM vs CPU. I have 1GB of ram, and a 256mb graphics card, but because my CPU is a Pentium 4 1.8ghz, newer games need to be run with lower graphics/physics/resolution settings.

A PC with a Pentium 4 3ghz, but only, say, 256mb ram and a 32mb graphics card would have similar problems.

Finding the balance is the key.

Candle · Fri 20/10/2006 23:09:29

6 hours

monkey0506 · Sat 21/10/2006 06:58:45

I've just been looking at CPUs to see what's out there. And I discovered something I didn't really know before. It seems that our motherboard uses socket 478 for the CPU, and this has been outdated. Like I said before, I don't really know too much about hardware (I'd like to learn, but I can't really even pretend to know what I'm talking about here), so I have a new question. Is it even possible to upgrade the CPU at this point without buying a new motherboard?

Either way...I'd like to know...is this a good motherboard? If it is, perhaps I could convince my stepdad it's time to upgrade, though I have more questions now. Fry's website shows this motherboard only has 1 IDE connector. This means that only one PATA HDD right? I'm ask because right now we have 2, so we would then also have to buy a new SATA HDD, or just run off the one HDD (which sucks for me, because most of my files (except a few programs installed on the main HDD) are on the secondary HDD). In the end it looks like upgrading the CPU at this point would entail completely rebuilding the entire computer.

Nostradamus · Sat 21/10/2006 08:41:47

Celeron just isn't made for high graphics game. It has low cache memory. It's made for offices, for people who only need office and internet, not for gamers. Now adding RAM would lower the CPU usage but it will not really help you running games. So yes you will also need a new CPU. And no, a modern CPU wouldn't work on a socket 478 motherboard.
As for the motherboard you posted, it's a good one. It's compatible with the Core2 techonology, which is the latest, has Intel chipset and all the slots you need. As for SATA hard drvies thay're much better and faster so you should use such ones anyway. However one IDE connector is good for connection two hard drivers\cd\dvd drivers. You could still hook up a DVD burner and an IDE hard drive plus SATA hard drives. Though I would recommend to dump the IDE hard drive and use SATA, it's faster. Notice that theboard however does not how an AGP slot but PCI Express slots, so you'll have to buy a new graphics card, which you already agree you need anyway.
So it comes to you need a new motherboard, 512 more of RAM, a new CPU, a new SATA hard drive and a new graphics card. Basically it's buying a new computer.

InCreator · Sat 21/10/2006 11:00:14

I don't see much point in minor upgrades, atleast when you're dedicated 3D gamer.
Mostly because a single shortage in one thing could nullify power of others (i.e lot's of CPU power won't help if you have weak video, etc). And computer technology makes jumps in every month.

It's simpler to buy a totally new system and sell old one.

monkey0506 · Sat 21/10/2006 17:30:56

This Frankensteinian computer of ours actually contains components from two old computers...which...actually at this point has been reduced to a CD-RW drive from one, a CD-ROM from another, and a "30 GB" (28 GB $:-\$ )...the rest has died and been replaced...but the rest of the parts were bought specifically for the purpose of building this computer.

Personally I think the new SATA hard drives sound great, it just once again boils down to not my computer and not my money. Our current graphics card isn't an AGP card anyway (I assume because it's one of the older Radeon models?), but I would like to get a PCI-E one. So...I just have to convince the man we need 1 (count 'em, one) new motherboard, 1 new SATA HDD, 1 GB of RAM (just because I've already convinced him to get this...eventually...he thinks the CPU should go first), and 1 new Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. Sounds like fun...hehe...

In the process I could probably actually convince him to let me wipe out the master HDD (C), move all my files from the slave (D) over to C, setting it to be the slave, and set up the new...the nice new 300 GB SATA HDD as the master drive. Oohhh...doubling the HDD space I have available, doubling the RAM, new graphics card, new processor......sounds wonderful. If only.

EagerMind · Sat 21/10/2006 19:24:09

It sounds like you're going down the path of complete upgrade. But it would be possible to just upgrade your CPU to a Pentium 4, which were also designed to fit in Socket 478. Yes, Socket 478 is outdated, and yes Pentium 4 is no longer in production, but I think it would give your system a nice boost. Snce it is old technology, just browsing on Newegg, there aren't many options available.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend going this route, but I just wanted to be sure you're aware of this option.

monkey0506 · Sat 21/10/2006 19:38:31

Just so as we're clear, I don't want my stepdad to be aware of this option.

But thanks! Really.

Candle · Sat 21/10/2006 20:55:56

Nice deal :

EagerMind · Sun 22/10/2006 18:32:37

Quote from: monkey_05_06 on Sat 21/10/2006 19:38:31Just so as we're clear, I don't want my stepdad to be aware of this option.

Uh ... what option?

Have you looked at any AMD processors? I started going with AMD back when Intel was the big evil empire. I think they're a better value, and nowadays I think they're probably better processors too.

monkey0506 · Sun 22/10/2006 21:15:20

I tried discussing this with my stepdad...and...he really can't deal with the fact that I know more about computers than he does. He tried to explain to me that I didn't know what I was talking about about "the new" (aka SATA) HDDs...then when I tried telling him that he was wrong he just exploded and said, "Forget it! Forget about upgrading the CPU!!! I don't think it needs it anyway. I just think it needs more RAM!!"

....flippity flippity flippity flop. $:-\$ And he put me in a bad mood too...he's good at that.

Babar · Mon 23/10/2006 02:50:14

Quote from: LimpingFish on Fri 20/10/2006 22:41:44
I'd kill Norton. I've always found that anti-virus software, though not overly system intensive, can cause sluggish CPU response.

Sorry for going off on a tangent here, but how exactly does one go about killing Norton? I tried it once, but then found out that some dangerous Norton-ness was lurking behind the scenes not allowing new Norton-ness to be installed, but not allowing the old one to be removed either.

* Babar sees SVCHOSTs everywhere!

monkey0506 · Mon 23/10/2006 03:06:11

Time for the SVCHOST competition! I've got seven!

SSH · Mon 23/10/2006 15:59:10

Quote from: EagerMind on Sun 22/10/2006 18:32:37
Have you looked at any AMD processors? I started going with AMD back when Intel was the big evil empire. I think they're a better value, and nowadays I think they're probably better processors too.

AMD CPUs are great value at the moment because they are way behind the Core2 Duo on performance and have nothing better in the pipeline, so they can only win on pricing... but the Core2 wins out on "better processor" in almost every situation, plus a 4-core one is coming soon.

Haddas · Mon 23/10/2006 16:30:56

I've never had firefox take up more than 30mb. Skype is a resource-hog though.

EagerMind · Tue 24/10/2006 02:38:48

Quote from: SSH on Mon 23/10/2006 15:59:10AMD CPUs are great value at the moment because they are way behind the Core2 Duo on performance and have nothing better in the pipeline, so they can only win on pricing... but the Core2 wins out on "better processor" in almost every situation, plus a 4-core one is coming soon.

That could be. I don't really keep on top of stuff like this unless I'm looking to upgrade. At the time, it seemed like the Athlon 64's were relatively new, and Intel didn't have anything in their pipeline to counter with. Typical escalation process, I suppose. Although, with processers as powerful as they are today, there might not be any reason to pay more for a Core2 Duo. I guess it depends on what you're after.

monkey, you got me beat. Only 4 svchosts here!

2ma2 · Wed 25/10/2006 15:05:07

If you do alot of image editing, and I don't mean sprites but memory hogs like a 300dpi letter sized image, you should always foucs on more RAM rather than CPU.

Candle · Fri 27/10/2006 04:09:39

I have this and I want to kill the computer :
2.00 gigahertz Intel Celeron
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
128 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Stay away fro the Intel Celeron. they are junk.

monkey0506 · Fri 27/10/2006 05:47:57

You know...everybody has one of these retrospective hate stories...but I honestly remember not liking the Celeron from the time it came out. I don't distinctly remember what I didn't like about it...just that I never did. In fact once I was looking at computers with my sister (in Best Buy

) and the salesman at first seemed to agree...then changed his mind and decided that Celeron was the faster processor and was better for games and things. :o