Should i upgrade laptop or CPU

hey guys - i been throwing this question around amongst my friends and i wanted an opinion from someone who has been in my shoes

I have a Gateway P-6860FX with stock parts(i assume most of us know that are the specifications of this 1 already) and i want to improve performance. i was wondering whether i should save my money for a couple weeks and buy a X7800/X7900 Core 2 extreme processor for $250 or if i should sell my laptop for $1000, then save my money and be laptop less for a couple of weeks untill i get the P7801u from off newegg?

please provide me with sincere advice.. thanks

 

You shuld sell yoyr lappy and wait until the nahelm cpus come out in early 2010 which are more superior than anything now.

 

yeah but then i would be computer-less for a whole year.. i kinda wanted an immediate solution (with a specific timeframe of 1 month)

 

Sorry you may have a hard time trying to sell your laptop for $1000. Personally I would just upgrade the CPU. Hope this helps. God Bless

 

Maybe you could sell it and buy a barebone msi from xoticpc or Rkcomputers.They offer good sys at great prices.Just ask anyone on the msi board.

 

i agree.. but the problem i hear with upgrading the CPU is that the FBS of the memory will still be locked at 667Mhz even after you drop in a 800Mhz CPU in there. and that it causes some type of mismatch

 

Yes thats true but you can buy 677 raom sice theres no real difference b/t800mhz and 677.

 

hmm MSI u say, i guess i have some research to do.. but what type of motherboard could i possibly get from MSI that could be better than the 1 i have now?

 

Pm-45 which is the lastest one.

 

I believe it supports quad cores and has a 9600M GT but the newer 1651(msi)may have the 9800m gs version.Also the vid card is DDR3 But for the best info the other msi owners would help you better.

 

I see them - but the best they got is the 9600 gt at any rate, i am now wondering about what you are talkin about with the nahelm processors and if gateway will actually make a FX with it in there..

on a side note is it possible to plop 800mhz memory onto this computer to match the 800Mhz of the CPU? or is the motherboard locked 2 667mhz?

 

Nahelm doesnt come out for a long time but new Fxs model would probaly come out later this year w/ windows seven and faster cpus and alot of ram.

 

I think you should wait for better fx to come during mid year.The design may also change with later models.

 

makes sense.. i suppose the best possible plan for now would be 2 upgrade the processor and then wait untill next year when the new FX's come out with the nahelm processors.. i wonder if they will still use the single 9800 GTS or if they will boldly go into the GTX or SLI range.

 

Also what do you plan on playing.

 

Just keep your Fx now and wait a while,better gpus than the 9800m gt would be available by then.Maybe 2xx sli cards would be on laptops.

 

not to sound cliche but i wanted a laptop that can keep up with the newest benchmark games (like GTA4) i noticed the other day when i was playing DMC4 on my computer and i maxed out the specifications and got tops 24 FPS.. and it gave ma computer a D rank... as such i wanted 2 upgrade my processing capabilites so when i ready 2 play GTA4 i wont have 2 be playing on minimum specifications.. i hate that

 

I see but Gta runs bad even on top end rigs,that a software problem i think.Some said low fps were given in gta with high end rigs.You would have better luck future proofing a desktop,

 

hmm i guess ur right - but still i gunna go buy a CPU then wait untill the new FX's come about with the nahelm processors.. thanks for the advice

 

Your welcomed any time.

 

I agree with nightmear. I would upgrade the cpu but maybe you don't need the xtreme edition.

 

I'd say upgrade your cpu as well. The 6860 will withstand for at least another year and a half. if you want an immediate replacement, go for the newly released msi gt725 with the ati 4850 in it.

 

i'm surprised no one asked this.. or maybe I just missed it: what do you mean by performance? game performance or multitask performance, because the answer to your question differs based on that.

if gaming is your concern as far as performance, a new CPU, even extreme edition, will only get you somewhere around 2-4 more FPS, and that's assuming you don't change the graphics settings.

if gaming is not your concern, then CPU will do fine

also, by gaming, I mean graphical related software, I just say gaming because most people only really utilize their gpu through games

 

Dont extreme cpus give better gaming performance?

 

that's what i was thinking.. i mean the upgrade from 1.8 to 2.8 to me would at least give a good percentage increase in gaming performance *yeah - we meant gaming performance*
@ idiotpilot - i had no idea the MSI had a 4850.. must investigate. btw love ur rig
@ rock3ralex - the reason for a xtreme processor is not only because it has a higher frequency than any T series processor but also it is overclockable. if i were to get a T series processor i would be limited to its set frequency but with a X7--- i can make it go up 2 at least 3ghz which to me says "win"

 

Extreme cpus give much better performance in muti spported games based on intels site.

 

VYLLE - I also have the 6860FX with 8800M GTS 512MB GPU and upgraded the CPU to a T9300 @ 2.5Mhz. I can also confirm the FSB increases with the 6860FX to 800Mhz with this processor. I feel i will get another year at least out of this laptop.
I play GTA IV and after following a few tweaks from the GTA forums can play the game with medium settings 1440x900 very fluid. I play fallout3, Civ4, and a few other FPS and always play maxed graphics at 1440x900 with no problems.

I would definitely buy a new processor and save the pennies for another year and see whats out then. Thats the plan I'm taking.