Would you buy a new Cpu for an old MB?

[Twister]

No specific reason just to get more power....I have an Asus m2N socket am2 with an Amd 4200 the MB is at least 4 years old. The other day I was browsing and came across a site that says that my MB can take a Phenom quad core...the chip is about $100. What I'm worried is : I don't know how much life is left on the board. Besides the HD, I know boards are the other item in a computer that go pretty fast....what do you think?

Thanks for the replies...

 

[Cobster]

It's a shot in the dark, 50/50 I'd say, maybe 55/45 for the mobo to die, just never know.

 

[MattRoxx]

I'd say no. The CPU might be compatible with an older motherboard but it will probably not be able to take advantage of the CPU's speed; there will be a bottleneck somewhere along the path.
Usually increasing/upgrading RAM gives the best (and easiest) bang for the buck, and these days memory is pretty cheap.

 

[trod]

^what he said. RAM is dirt cheap...cheaper than a half hour MPA visit !

 

[mightymouse007]

I prob will say depends on your budget. If you feel 100 bucks will keep you good for the next few years, then go for it. If not, spending a bit more for another MB isn't so bad. You could get a really good mobo for an extra 100. If you going to use it on an old MB, I prob wouldn't try overclocking it.

 

[mightymouse007]

^what he said. RAM is dirt cheap...cheaper than a half hour MPA visit !

Tell me about it. I bought 2 sticks 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM of RAM for a grand total of 20 bucks

 

[shakenbake]

Probably, the best alternative, and I have done this with an M2A-VM board that I have, is to get a faster dual core and also add memory. I did 2.5 to 3.0 GHz upgrade with 4 GB mor ememory, and the system performs noticably better in every resepct.

If you do not have the software or operating system to take advantage of a quad core processor, it will not do you much good.

Asus/AMD motherboards can be overclocked. Alternatively, overclock the processor you have, within limits, and with better cooling for the processor you have or a replacement processor. I would think that more memory helps only if you are running a system that can use it, or if you are so low in RAM that you are using virtual RAM on you hard drive. What is your operating system? A 64-bit, versus 32-bit, will run faster, for example.

As far as the life of a motherboard, who can tell? I have boards that are several years old and alive and kicking. I had to have a brand new full-sized ATX board replaced twice (under warrantee, luckily) within a few minutes of installation. Fortunately, all the rest of that computer was perfect and ran with another motherboard without issues.

 

[mightymouse007]

the only time a mobo that has ever died on me is through ESD. Just use a Antistatic wrist strap and make sure you are grounded if you're assembling it.

 

[b4u]

I don't see a downside....Asus build excellent reliable motherboards and the AMD phenom is a very good processor........add more memory and enjoy a few more years from your comp. I've never had an asus board die on me

 

[trod]

Tell me about it. I bought 2 sticks 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM of RAM for a grand total of 20 bucks

Damn...I bought 6 GB for ~$150 couple of years ago :embarassed:

It always amuses me as to how some people think even today's RAM prices are expensive...I feel the urge to slap them with a RAM stick.

 

[Cassini]

A socket AM2 machine will not take the modern Phenom II quad cores.

You need an AM2+ machine at a minimum.

Also, watch out for the power supply. The old Asus AM2 4200 processors were much more power efficient than the modern quad cores.

 

[splooge]

I'd go for it. That's a pretty stable MB and that cpu fits seamlessly, my concern is the power demands and heat created by that chip. But, a new CPU such as the one described and adding in a SSD and you'll have a faster system than most things brand new with a HDD.

 

[mightymouse007]

A socket AM2 machine will not take the modern Phenom II quad cores.

You need an AM2+ machine at a minimum.

Also, watch out for the power supply. The old Asus AM2 4200 processors were much more power efficient than the modern quad cores.

For the most part I think its ok, unless you really have a shit power supply at 150 W or something. I would only be more concern if there was a discrete video card in there for the most part. Most PSU are at least 400, and 250-350 if you buy computers at retail.

 

[Joe-Dart54]

isn't modern Phenom II quad cores are socket AM3 chips? how ru going to install those? just jam it into motherboard lol?

 

[Cassini]

isn't modern Phenom II quad cores are socket AM3 chips? how ru going to install those? just jam it into motherboard lol?

Yes. The Phenom II chips currently on sale are AM3 chips.

The AM2/AM2+ chips are tough to get hold of.

Had this problem with a motherboard I purchased.

 

[Cobster]

Tell me about it. I bought 2 sticks 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM of RAM for a grand total of 20 bucks

Ya, DDR3 RAM is crazy cheap because it's plentyful and current.
Try some DDR2 and a LOT of DDR, it's cheap if it's current, if it's dated 2+ years, not so "cheap".

 

[thewheelman]

First I would download "CPUID", a free program that will identify exactly what hardware you have and it's specs.
It will tell you your CPU, bus speed, ram type and speed, etc., so then you can make the right decision.