CPU Upgrade vs. CPU Overclocking

[NickN]

If you want to fly like that you better get a modern quad core system with 3-4 gigs of memory on a x64 operating system because you are going to need it in order to run with that many views at once

[fabiane]

Hello,

I have an AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200 CPU with a clock of 2.2GHz.  I would like to know would it be worth it (only for the sake of higher frame rates in FSX) to upgrade to a Athlon 64 x2 4800 with a clock of 2.4Ghz.  Would it be worth it to keep what I have and spend the time to overclock what I have.  The Athlon 4800 is $118.00 each.  If I upgrade to the 4800 will I have to download a new bios or anything or do I just remove the old CPU and install the new CPU and then BOOT!  I have XP Home and 4 gig of ram and I do have the switch set so that applications will use 2.65 gig and the XP kernal will use what is left.

Regards,

Rod

I've the same CPU running at 2,5GHz now without a problem. Be sure to have a good cooler.

Cheers,
Fabian

[idahosurge]

Fabian,

I really have to wonder what is getting another 300MHz (2.2Ghz to 2.5GHz) out of my CPU going to get me in FSX FPS's.  I will have to think about it.  I know that I can overclock the CPU from the instructions I was able to find on the internet, I just wonder what I am going to get for my time and the cost of a fan to cool the CPU.  Thanks for the input.

Rod

[NickN]

anything will help, a little... but in your case its not so much the GHz as the processor and memory controller design


To give you a frame of reference, clocking up 300MHz on the AMD you run, would be the same as clocking up 50MHz on a core2 processor with better motherboard design. There is little gained by it with that classs of processor and 939 system, but it will help

That is just an estimate but I used it so you understand what I am trying to convey

[idahosurge]

Thanks for the input Nick.

Rod