AMD Dual Core CPU Review

As I noted in my getting started blog, one of my tasks was to upgrade my production machine (AKA gaming and mr.coma activity machine) to my first dual core CPU. Fortunately, my socket 939 system afforded me an upgrade path to dual core for pretty darn cheap. The system in question was my old HTPC and consisted of a Socket 939 3500+, a gig of ram, a 7800GT video card, a no name 120 mm PSU, and Zalman coolers.

Surfing over to New Egg, I found a Athlon 4400+ for around a 140 dollars, combined with a DVD Writer I had myself a pretty decent upgrade for 170 dollars. After a couple of days of use, I have to say this is the most substantial upgrade in terms of performance in my computing history. In the past, no matter what I was doing, if I launched into a CPU intensive task, I was always waiting.. and waiting… and well you get the idea. Now, you can install programs, unzip files and still continue on with your work. I feel like I should be writing this article about a year ago, but as we all know Media Center upgrade cycles are a lot slower then your standard PC :). 

What would be suitable benchmarks for Media Center useage and a CPU? What are some of your more common tasks and what would you like benchmarked? 

So far, I have found running a gig of ram suitable for Vista Media
Center and other activities. Perhaps gaming would tell a different
story. I really don't have anything too modern installed right now so I
can't tell.

It certainly is a stretch to call this a review but its my blog and I will write in it if I want to ;). Next up, dual core Intel HTPC :).