ASUS A8V Deluxe - CPU upgrade

[gs47]

I have the ASUS A8V Deluxe MB and was looking in to maybe upgrading the CPU. This is more of a learning experience than a necessity to improve the PC.
I have the Socket 939 version and it was designed for AMD Athlon 64FX or AMD Athlon 64 processor.
Chipset is VIA K8T800 Pro Northbridge and VIA VT8237 Southbridge.

I currently have an Athlon AMD 64 Socket 939 3700+ (San Diego).

Can I update this to a dual core - Athlon 64 / x2 Dual Core or something similar? Not worth the trouble if I can't see a significant change, especially multi-taking. I'd like to max out an upgrade or just skip it if I can't change it much.

I have not found very recent or reliable info on this so any informed advice would be great. Again, not imperative to update, I plan to do a new build some time soon but this is still a fine PC with many other upgrades.

@Chewy - you've had a couple of these boards/processors as I faintly recall or experience with them anyway???

Thanks everyone for any suggestions...

[Chewy]

Yep, I have that board and realized I missed the boat when the last cheap dual cores disappeared.

The X2 socket 939's only have a few 3800's left at double their 60$ price when they bottomed out

http://www.starmicro.net/detail.aspx?ID=1046

[PurpleDemon]

Hi Chewy,

Are they worth the upgrade at the new prices? Would there be a very noticeble speed difference?

I guess the prices could be worse like THIS one.

I missed the boat when the last cheap dual cores disappeared

BTW That was a speedboat. I missed it too.

[gs47]

worth it?

The more I research and read, the more that I realize that the upgrade window came and went with the utmost speed.

I have nothing to draw on for comparison here really so I'll ask you Chewy;
Would there be a noted improvement in performance with the upgrade you posted the link to?

I would be going from the single core 3700+ to this x2 3800.

Also; as you know, this board has an AGP 8x/4x slot and 5 PCI slots - that's all.

I found a candidate to replace my video card. I looked at it earlier today, just went back to it at Newegg and it is now out of stock. May not be restocked the way parts are going.

This one would be a nice upgrade from my nVidiaGeForce 5200FX which I think is only 128MB. This one is 512MB. I'm not aware of anything better due to the AGP slot (or PCI) and no PCIe or alternatives....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133176

I'd like to get a new monitor now too, prompting the new video card search. Gotta go for this now or apparently parts will be gone. I want to get this one nicely upgraded and keep for a backup PC, then build another one new.

If that $125 processor would would make a big difference then it would be worth it to me.
Advice?

[gs47]

@burrell84601
Holy Cow! $1,000 and don't even think about getting them to "throw in" the heatsink and fan.

[Chewy]

Go for the video card and pass on the cpu

Save money for the new build

[gs47]

@Chewy
Thank you very much. Your advice makes sense and I appreciate it.
It's just not wise or a good dollar value to buy older technology at inflated prices. Another good reason to get started on the new one.

[doctorhardware]

If you get an AMD X2 motherboard, it is compatible with the new AMD X3 CPU's. So that is always another good way for an upgrade path, with out having to buy a new motherboard.

[gs47]

If you get an AMD X2 motherboard, it is compatible with the new AMD X3 CPU's. So that is always another good way for an upgrade path, with out having to buy a new motherboard.

I must be getting very old and tired because I don't understand that.

This says to get an AMD motherboard, then I won't need to get another motherboard?? What?
I either need some more sleep or a clarification.
Thanks for your help...

[doctorhardware]

The X2 motherboards support the new X3 CPU's that are coming out.

[Chewy]

I would be happy with this baby

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103286&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL032409&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL032409-_-ProcessorsDesktops-_-LC5C-_-19103286

with the 10$ off promo code that's 110$ to the door

[gs47]

I couldn't help myself, started looking at this again and scouring online sites.

Chewy, your link here is for an AMD Phenom 9850 Socket AM2+
I've never replaced/upgraded/changed CPU before so I'm not up on compatibility yet. I thought that socket 939 was all that would work in my old mobo??

Now a couple days ago I find that I can actually get dual core socket 939 that is compatible. Found out a little late though. Learning lots very quickly.

Chewy, are you suggesting that this AM2 is compatible with my 939? Or what else is? Can't quite give up on this yet.

I also found an AMD Athlon 64 x2 4400 for an extra $50 over the 3800 ($179 used plus $6 shipping) or something. The 4600 and 4800 are crazy expensive (also used)

[gs47]

I see, if you had the board then this link would be a nice upgrade, read it a little quick.

The Athlon 64 4200 x2 Manchester can be had for $100-120 and the 4400 x2 Toledo for $120-180.
I said no to buying old technology at inflated prices, but these prices around $100 or a little more don't seem so inflated. I can't see getting the x2 3800 though, gotta be a little more of an upgrade than that to be worthwhile.

[doctorhardware]

No the AM2 is not compatible with 939 it has more pins. But the new AM3 will be compatible with the AM2 motherboard.

[Chewy]

The link for the 110$ quad core was just to show how it was better to just build a new rig

ddr2 ram is a steal also

I could almost buy a new mobo with the money saved on cpu and ram upgrade for my old asus