Worth upgrading my CPU?

I have an inspiron 1318 laptop ( http://www.laptopmax.com/Dell/reviews/29/Dell_Inspiron_1318-Blue_reviews.html), running windows 7 professional.

Processor: intel pentium t2390, code name: merom
mother board model: 0c236d
chipset: intel gm965
package: socket p (478)

bios:
brand: dell inc.
version: a02
date: 08/22/2008

Memory: 3 GB

When I work from home I use this to run Magento website on localhost, Apache 2 on windows 7, for debugging purposes. It's so slow when loading the pages, takes at least a minute, even when I set up a local database and connect to it, the slowness is the same.

I'm thinking of upgrading my processor, according to this forum: What CPUs are compatible with Intel GM965 chipset?
, (reply #3) my motherboard is compatible with core 2 extreme X9000 (2.80 GHz, 6M Cache).

Do you think it will fix my local magento site slowness problem? Is it worth to upgrade the cpu? If yes, do you is there a faster cpu that i can get than core 2 extreme X9000 (2.80 GHz, 6M Cache)?

 

I wouldn't recommend installing an Intel Core 2 Extreme processor in a 13" laptop.

It depends on if your CPU is being maxed out on the program. An SSD or Seagate Momentus Hybrid drive would definitely speed things up.

If you do choose to upgrade the processor, I recommend one from the P series. They run cooler than the T or X series.

 

Thank you.

When you say P series, do you mean the ones that have "pentium" on their names?

My cpu doesn't get maxed out when i'm loading my localhost magento sites. So in this case, just a hard drive upgrade is needed?

 

Intel made three basic Core 2 Duo series:

The P Series(P8800, etc) and they have a 25 watt TDP.
The T series(T9400, etc) and they have a 35 watt TDP.
The X series(X9100, etc) and they have a 45 watt TDP.

Really, any of the P or T series would work fine. Here's the list: Intel® Core?2 Duo Mobile Processor (Mobile)

If your CPU isn't being maxed out, then you probably need a faster HDD or get an SSD. Or you might not have enough memory. How many GB's of memory does your laptop have? 3GB's is really the minimum.

 

I have 3GB.
Since my current hard drive is a SATA, any SATA SSD drive will be compatible with my laptop right?

 

Yep, you should post in the SSD section for a recommendation on which SSD to buy. I know that the Intel 310 series is solid.

 

Ok. Thanks so much for your help.

 

Socket P cpu's probably won't work because their rated FSB speed is at 1066Mhz.
You need a mobile cpu that fits into your socket and has an FSB max. rating of 800Mhz.
The x9000 fits the criteria... or you could pick the T9300 or T9500 (if I'm not mistaken) if you want for a lower wattage one.

Honestly, the P and T series cpu's aren't that different.
Their maximum temperatures aren't necessarily related to the Wattage, and people who upgraded from P series cpu's to a T series cpu's in my laptop experienced equal temperatures... sometimes even lower.

 

Would the x9000 execute programming codes such as the php code in my Magento site on localhost faster (to load the pages faster) than my current one?

my current cpu is 1.86 ghz, x9000 is like 2.8 Ghz.

 

Oops I shoulda done some research. When the OP stated an X9100 would work....

I wouldn't go with an Extreme edition X9000. Something like the T9300 for $70.

Passmark CPU Benchmark:

T9300: 1720
T2390: 948

I'd upgrade in this order: SSD/Hybrid drive>CPU>Memory.

 

+1 to that

 

If the CPU isn't being loaded up then the upgrade will return mimimal results. Stay away from over 500 GB drives unless you are sure the bios supports advanced format drives.

As previously mentioned a SSD will give you the best result. The problem with PHP etc is you are reading and writing tons of small flies from both the server side and client side. the IOPS of a typical HDD is crushing you. Now with the extreme IOPS of a SSD that CPU upgrade may start to make sense!

As an example with my original P7805 I would see with the HDD occasional flooding of the CPU when it was booting up with just a C2D 2.26 GHz. Now with the SSD and a CQD running 2.66 GHz the four cores get flooded for the first few seconds when I log in.

So in essence you first have to feed the CPU. Once you can feed it to its capacity then look for a better CPU...................

Edit; also watch your page file usage. If you are killing the RAM and getting heaviliy into that you may need a 64 bit os and more RAM. The systems limitations may hurt you here.....................

 

Thank you, the suggested order of upgrade sounds good. I'll try that.

 

Thanks.
Would it be better to upgrade to Win7 64 bit (i'm currently running 32 bit) first then hard drive to SSD (I only need at least 40GB).

According to my intel t2390 specs: Intel® Pentium® Processor T2390 (1M Cache, 1.86 GHz, 533 MHz FSB)

my inspiron 1318 supports win 7 64 bit right? I only have 3GB of RAM though, and it seems enough based on what i'm doing.

 

With 3GB's of ram you really don't need 64 bit 7. I would get the SSD first.

 

Thanks for confirming.

 

Keep in mind that the SSD would in fact reduce loading times by a lot when reading things off the drive itself (at least compared to an HDD) and of course this translates to much faster loading times in games, opening various software, Windows booting, etc.

If the Magneto you use is Internet based, then loading is more down to your Internet connection than the laptop hardware.
However, if the software is very CPU dependent (and upon mentioning "execution of programming codes" I get the impression it is), a faster CPU will definitely be able to get the job done faster compared to your current one and will be much more effective compared to an SSD.

A T9300 or T9500 will suffice though... no need to go for the X9000 because as an extreme version, it can often be expensive... between T9300 and T9500, pick the cheaper one (or the faster one if the prices are similar).

I think you'd be better off with a 60GB SSD instead. Give Windows more breathing room.

As for x64 OS... no need with 3GB, although if you do happen to decide at some point to upgrade to 4GB, then definitely go with x64 (I think that getting 1x2GB so-dimm DDR2 stick isn't expensive).

 

I know, I noticed that even though the suggested CPU's are outdated, they're still expensive.

Yes, the Magento site and db are on my localhost so Internet connection can be ignored.

So you are saying I should try upgrading the CPU first before switching to SSD? (I monitor cpu performance while loading a localhost magento page, the httpd.exe doesn't use too much cpu)

 

CPU-wise -> look for T9300 or T9500, as the X9000 is running hotter and is expensive and your laptop may not be able to cool it off when it gets up in speed.

3GB or RAM is enough, no need to switch even OS as somebody suggested.

SSD is nice, but watch out as there are many drives out there with various issues. In general look for Intel or Samsung SSDs, though there are other particular ones that work fine too. Check out the SSD section for more info.

P.S.
500GB hard drives are not in general advanced format drives, over 500 are all advanced.

 

Thanks.
What do you think of this T9500: Used Intel T9500 CPU for notebook Core 2 Duo 2.60/6M/800 (SLAYX) | eBay

 

I think it will get twice that price right now. Go for it.

 

Last spring I was contemplating upgrading the CPU on my HP dv7 1023cl, it is a P7350 2.00 ghz. I am a self employed software developer and it was getting a little dated for doing hard core Visual Studio 2010 work on it.

I stumbled on a Newegg shellshocker for an Intel X-25m G2 160gb SSD for $200. What a difference it made (and those are not the speediest of SSDs out there). The difference was so much better that I did not upgrade my CPU. Of course the advantage to an SSD upgrade on an older machine is you can move it to a new one, unlike a cpu.

My learned lesson from this is don't discount what an SSD upgrade on an older laptop will do, even for tasks that are generally more cpu intensive.

To the op - even if you upgrade the CPU, definitely go to an SSD.

 

Great I'll do the ssd first, thanks.

 

I suggest an Intel 310 SSD, which costs around $165 on eBay.

 

Is this one not good enough: Intel X25-M 80 GB,Internal (SSDSA2MH080G2R5) (SSD) Solid State Drive (890552689408) | eBay

?

This one is better ? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-SSDSA...C_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item415f057707

 

Either of those will be an improvement over your stock hard drive. I recommend the newer 310 series though.

INTEL 320 Series SSDSA2CW080G310 80 GB 2.5" SATA MLC Internal Solid State Drive | eBay

Ships to Canada:

Brand New! Intel 320 Series 2.5" 120GB SATA II Internal SSD - SSDSA2CW120G3K5 (735858217873) | eBay

 

Thanks, sounds good. I found a cheaper deal: Newegg.ca - Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CW080G310 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - Internal SSD