CPU Upgrade T7250 Vs T9300 vs TP9500

Hi

I run ableton live using a lot of VST instruments and i find my current CPU (2ghz dual core) even with 4Gb ram just cant handle my projects anymore.

I am looking to upgrade the CPU, i just wonder would i see a huge performance difference going from 2 to 2.5 ghz?

I believe the socket for my current motherboard is Socket 478 / 479 (Mobile). I am also quite worried about finding BIOS updates, as I have no idea were to go if i did buy the upgrade.

Thanks if anyone can help/advise

 

You need to provide more complete and detailed information about your system for people to respond accurately/at all.

Are you running Win7x64? Could more RAM make a difference to your projects?

Is this a clean install of your O/S? The less processes your computer is juggling the smoother it can handle what you want it to do.

Also, do you have the latest driver for all your devices installed?

While a 25% increase in clock speed may make your system handle your projects easier - it may also be a fact that your projects are complex enough that even a 50% increase in clock speed is not enough.

Try searching for specific use of your software and the level of complexity your projects currently require to give you an idea of the amount of power you need in your O/S, CPU and RAM subsystems.

Another thing you may want to try for 'free extra power' is installing a lightweight (resource-wise) A/V product like MSE - or, simply uninstalling/disabling it while you're off-line (from the internet) and creating/editting your projects. Maybe rather drastic - but if all you need is 10% more performance to allow your projects to run smooth then it is certainly an option (if you don't need to be online at the same time).

Good luck.

 

Have you checked your CPU and memory usage?

If you are running out of memory and CPU usage is low, a CPU upgrade won't help much.

 

Hi

I am running Vista 32 Home. The services are edited using black vipers recommendations. I have the bare bones running in the background and have a 500Gb HD which has 4 partitions. 1st one if for page file, 2nd for vista, 3rd for programs and 4th for data.

I have 4Gb DDR2 Dual Channel RAM.

My BIOS is Phoenix Tech R0131J9 (cannot find updates for it).

My motherboard chipset is Intel GM965.

 

You need a 45 chipset to run any of the P series processors, I believe, so you wouldn't be able to run those CPUs on your motherboard. Go to Intel ARK to check out the compatible CPUs for your chipset.

 

You can use a T9500... it really is the best.. T9300 is ok but if u get a T9500 cheaper , get that.. it will be way better because of newer architecture, more speed and L2 cache. As for RAM , keep it the same.. 4GB is enough... just get windows 7 64 bit.. it makes my computer run way faster.

 

There isn't any difference between the T9500 and T9300 except clock speed...

 

Welcome, fellow ableton user
You might want to install 64-bit. You dont have access to all 4gb of your ram.

Ableton can really stress your system in some very different ways. I don't use a lot of VST, but I can tell you the grain pitch modes especially "complex" will take up a hell of a lot of CPU usage.
On the other hand, if you are doing low latency stuff, or a lot of finely cut WAV work, getting a new CPU will not help you at all.

Ableton live has 2 different load indicators present at all times. One is for your hard drive, I've put a red rectangle around it, it lights up when your hard drive speed is the limiting factor.
The other is your CPU in the green rectangle and its simple CPU usage.


You should really make sure its your CPU before you buy another one that may or may not improve performance.

On a side note, make sure you have "multicore support" enabled in CPU settings (its on by default). And if its your hard drive making you lag, keep in mind you can load clips to RAM.

Oh, and always use throttlestop! http://go.notebookreview.com/?id=52...hrottlestop-auto-enable-not-auto-start-2.html
I just tried playing the demo and I realized my CPU was lagging because I didnt have it turned on, it was locked at 1.6ghz.

What laptop do you have? you might as well try overclocking.

 

Hey

I have a sony VGN-NR11Z/T. My battery pack is fried i have to keep it plugged in 24/7 so dunno if i want to overheat it either!

What does throttle stop do?

 

Throttlestop prevents CPU throttling (counter intuitive right?)

Throttling is something most CPUs do to save power. It basically runs at half or even a quarter the normal speed.
For example I have a sp9400 which runs 2.4ghz, but most of the time and right now its at 800mhz. It saves a lot of power.

Problem is a LOT of notebooks or CPUs will do this at random, for no reason. When I was running ableton just now, my CPU was stuck at 1.6ghz or 800mhz until I started throttlestop.

Also, you can use it for a small overclock (200mhz) by turning on dual IDA. IDA is sort of the opposite, and it enables cores to temporarily overclock, this happens normally for one core at a time but it will help to lock both of them 200mhz higher.

 

That is really intresting because I always felt I wasnt getting the benefit of the dual core at all, this perhaps is the reason why then. I may even try the program first of all and then upgrade if it's still sluggish.

May have to get away from ROM based VST's also (nexus, omnisphere)

Thanks everyone

 

Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile P9500 Socket P Mobile Processor 2.53GHz 6MB Cache Dual Core

Cheapest one I could find, Just want to double check i am correct in thinking that this is correct for my moterboard?

 

Read my post after you told me your chipset.

 

That's too expensive according to that half my notebook cost was the processor

 

You can not use that CPU with the PM965 chipset. Look for the T9300 none of the P-series will work.

 

I was doing basically the same upgrade as you a year or 2 ago for my wife's SZ680NWC. It came with a T7250 and I wound up popping in a T9300 for ~$290. Nice quick upgrade.

Basically, you're looking for a Socket P CPU with 800 MT/s (FSB). Check the list of CPUs here.

The fastest your chipset will take is the X9000 but that will cost you $390+ on eBay. The next best options are the T9500 starting at $200 (or if you prefer a US seller, $210). If you want to save a little more, the T9300, which isn't really all the much slower, starts at $160.

I also suspect the X7800 @ $165 and X7900 @ $159 will work also.

T9300 2.5GHz 6MB 35W
T9500 2.6GHz 6MB 35W
X7800 2.6GHz 4MB 44W
X7900 2.8GHz 4MB 44W
X9000 2.8GHz 6MB 44W

 

I tried a P8400 from my old Z into a VGN-NR310E which is exactly like your laptop (US version of it). Same exact BIOS Phoenix Tech R0131J9 and the GM965 chip and it did not POST. It doesn't work! GM965 cannot handle 1066 FSB CPUs as sgogeta4 said. I'm surprised you got 4Gb of RAM working because that was another issue. Your laptop is limited to chipset, which is rather old. I wouldn't pay for anything more than a T7800 and that better be cheap.

 

Not really. The GM and PM965 chipsets are capable of handling the last 45nm 800Mhz Penryn processors as mentioned by Purehazard and up to 8GB RAM depending on BIOS support.
Don't be confused with 965PM/GM and GL40 chipsets, they can only handle up to 4GB maximum.

I wouldn't recommend the X7800, X7900 as they're known to run really hot in your current machine, in which the Sony engineers have in mind, mainly designed to run a 35W TDP CPU. The X9000 may work due to its 45nm nature and lower voltage consumption as opposed to the X7xxx processors, but may run warm nonetheless or at least undervolted. The best bet for the OP's model would be the T9300 processor.

May I enquire what are the programs you'll be running on your machine that requires this processor upgrade? You mentioned on your first post that you run VST applications?

 

I seriously doubt you need more than 4gb of ram...not sure what ableton is but i still highly doubt it.

 

how old is the laptop you are reffering to?

 

He mentioned it is a VGN-NR11Z/T so it's almost 3 years old.

 

Hi guys

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry im in weork and cannot check as often as i would like.

I think im going to go with the T9300 processor, and if that doesn't solve it theni may just go with a new desktop/laptop anyway with newer spec.

It is music production software. I dont get 4gb ram as windows 32 doesnt see the 4gb anyway, only 2.99Gb can be seen.

 

than get windows 64 bit... it shouldn't be that hard..

 

Im certainly not paying for another OS just to get an extra 1Gb of ram. On top of that a lot of VST instruments i use are not supported in a 64bit enviroment yet so it would be dumb to do so.

The money would be better invested in a CPU i think.

 

Hello
I am thinking on the same upgrade as you, (sony vaio vgn fz21e) from T7250 to T9300. But watching on ark.intel webpage, beside the Cache lvl and CPU speed differences, i noticed "Lithography" thing wich on t7250 is 65nm and on T9300 is 45nm. What is this? will this "nm" affect in any way the performance or hardware safety?
Thanks

 

Yes, it makes a 32% chance of complete explosion.
Kidding, not true.

Read other CPU upgrade threads in this section. NM does not affect compatibility. Lower is better (cooler, better battery)

 

okay. use Mz Tweak to speed up softwarely.

and maybe 965 won't let T9 series fit in.. watch your BIOS. Use a T7700 would be a safe bet.... But it's up to your choice.

 

No. 965 works with all 800mhz fsb t9 series, almost no BIOS are insufficient for that upgrade. No risk involved anyway.