Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

I don't know about why it rates it at 5.28GHz, I don't really know what that means. But yes, it says you have 2 processors because of HT :p

I went through the same confusion.

Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

thought so. The console in steam games does the same. But it doesn't work twice as fast as a non-HT P4 does it?

Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

no, but having two execution cores on your processor dosen't mean your PC would run at twice the speed.

Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

I believe it's a way of comparing different processors with the same clock speed. An early(ish) P4 (e.g. one with a Northwood C core) clocked at 3GHz is going to be far slower than one of the most recent models clocked at the same speed (e.g. the Cedar Mill P4 HT 631). In the same way, an AMD 6000+ or an Intel E8400 is going to beat either of them silly...but all these processors are clocked at 3GHz.

The numbers don't mean a huge amount (hell, if an old P4 worked at over 5GHz then it would probably be one of the best processors around), but at least it gives you a vague idea.

Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

So, more than the clock speed, age/technology is a thing to keep in mind when fumbling around in the cpu market?

Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

Yeah, pretty much. I upgraded from a 3.4GHz P4 to a 1.8GHz Pentium Dual Core (a cut-down C2D). Just over half the clock speed of the P4 but it's a far quicker processor (and overclocks to hell and back, but that's not the point).

Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

How do you tell if it overclocks well? Computer doesn't crash during boot up or...? Also, is there a way to tell before getting it?

Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

Really just see whether other people have had good results with it. If you Google for reviews and/or overclocking articles on particular processors then you should find something. Most Core 2 Duos do overclock well, as long as you've got a decent motherboard and RAM to go with it.

Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

Right. Thanks a bunch

Re: Looking for a cheap upgrade...
 

Best way is to check the temps., voltages, and run a stability test(Prime95) as long you don't get crush, restart, BSOD and the temps are ok than the overclock is well done