Pentium 4 630 not much better than 670

????

I was thinking about upgrading the cpu in my asus z81sp from a pentium 4 3.0 ghz 630 to the 3.8ghz 670 when intel slashes prices on Pentiums next month. I wanted to get the 670 when i bought the computer but I didn't have the money.

I called my reseller today just to find out if I could send it in to them to be upgraded (I don't trust myself to take my computer apart, i'm a klutz). He said that it could be done but that I wouldn't really see any significant performance boost for most of things that I would probably be using it for. I forgot to mention that I'm really into half-life 2 level modding (compiling maps is pretty cpu intensive)

I would've thought that the extra .8ghz would see a noticable performance boost but he told me that i would probably only see a 5% boost in PC marks.

If the 670 wouldn't see any major performance boost in current games and programs can i expect future programs to make better use of the cpu, cause if so then i wouldn't mind getting 670 just to future proof my computer

 

I think you would be much better off with a Pentium D 900 series. For example the Pentium D 950, clocked at 2x3.4Ghz with 4MB L2 Cache and has 64bit support which only costs around £200 here in the UK (the 670 currently costs around £300). With that CPU you will definitely notice an improvement in performance, especially with multi threading applications or x64 apps.
In short, the upgrade from 630 to 670 isn't worth it in my opinion.

 

Does the z81sp support a pentium D???

I'll check it out, but i don't think that it does.

 

Good point. You do need a 975X, 955X, 945P, 945G or E7230 chipset to be able to run a Pentium D. Nevertheless, I still think that a 800Mhz upgrade isn't worth it, unless you can get it for a very cheap price.

 

If you're willing to spend around $180, then the Pentium 4 660 3.6GHz would be a good upgrade from 3.0GHz - it's going to drop from $401 to $183 when the price drops fall into effect. Of course, you'll only notice the difference in performance when you are doing intensive activities.

 

Except for the Intel Core series....i dont think the other ones are worth it (P4, CeleronD PentuimD, P4 EE, PD EE etc)

 

The Core series are mobile solutions. The Pentium Ds are still much more powerful and already have 64bit support.

 

Of course, you'll only notice the difference in performance when you are doing intensive activities.
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Like gaming and modding???

Those are just about the only things that I use my z81 for.