What really matters in Today's CPU's ???

[Luke2]

hi - i'm thinking about upgrading my current CPU (AMD 3700+ San Diego)
Currently have 2gb mem and X1950XT - I have a feeling that the 3700+ is holding the card back... I chose the Opteron 180 Denmark (Newegg.com - AMD Opteron 180 Denmark 2.4GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - Retail) - please do not recommend me other processors and the AM2 socket b/c I'm on tight budget.

My question is : what really matters in today's processors ? Is it just the operating freq. ?

Would i be able to see major improvements with the opty over the 3700+ ???

tyvm for replies

 

[b1gapl]

What matters today, is that the processors are multi-core, and the architecture of the CPU. It also doesn't necessarily mean, the faster the better...but how much instructions per cycle, the processor can perform. Going from the 3700+ to the Opteron 180, will be a pretty significant boost in performance.

I know you said not to recommend you other processors, but why not go with the Opteron 165, since you're on a tight budget? It's cheaper, and can overclock past the speed of the 180.

 

[Luke2]

that is b/c i'm not planning on OCing it very much at all -...
Thx for your helpful response though