1 Rookie
•
16 Posts
0
64
Aurora R4, compatible AVX2 processor?
Looking for advice on upgrading my processor, I need one that is AVX2 compatible, my current one is only AVX, not AVX2. (Need this to play the new PC release of Until Dawn.)
Current: i7-3820 @ 3.60Hz
Proposed: i7-4960 OR i7-4790K (second one is from game recommended min specs), I believe the first one is compatible with my PC but not sure if the second one is? Are either of these AVX2 capable? Are there options that are a bit better but still compatible with my PC? Would like to get the best option available, which is a bit of a challenge as my PC is older. The game recommends i5-8600, no idea if this is compatible with my PC, but I'd like to stick in the i7 category or even go up to i9 if that would be even better.
Other specs:
Graphics: GeForce GTX 1080 (I am probably upgrading to GeForce RTX 2060, this is the recommended card for the game and from a past post it is compatible with my PC)
RAM: 32GB DDR3
Windows 10 Home
1TB HDD (used for photos/docs/videos/music)
2TB SSD (new from last upgrade, migrated all my games here)
Vanadiel
6 Professor
6 Professor
•
6.5K Posts
1
October 9th, 2024 18:25
Honestly a newer PC might be more advisable than an upgrade. By the time you are done upgrading you can get a whole new one for the same price.
Besides the board, you need new RAM and more than likely a new PSU, and then you need to make sure it fit's in your case. You will also need a new Windows license, and an Nvme boot drive would be preferred.
In the end it's close to a new PC...
Autobot770
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
16 Posts
0
October 9th, 2024 13:51
Also, not sure if this matters for this, but my PC is not TMP 2.0 compatible. Hence why I only have Windows 10.
Chino de Oro
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
6.7K Posts
0
October 9th, 2024 14:21
Unfortunately, your system can only support Ivy Bridge processors https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000145510/alienware-aurora-r4-system-specifications
New Advanced Vector Extension, or AVX2 were first supported in Haswell processors, released in 2013.
Autobot770
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
16 Posts
0
October 9th, 2024 14:26
@Chino de Oro Ok, so to confirm, my PC cannot support any processors that are AVX2 capable?
Chino de Oro
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
6.7K Posts
0
October 9th, 2024 14:27
Correct. Referencing information from here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Vector_Extensions
(edited)
Autobot770
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
16 Posts
0
October 9th, 2024 14:30
@Chino de Oro Well that is disappointing :( Thank you for your answer!
Autobot770
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
16 Posts
0
October 9th, 2024 15:01
@Chino de Oro What if I upgraded to a different motherboard? Is the motherboard what determines if the PC is compatible with an AVX2 capable processor?
Chino de Oro
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
6.7K Posts
1
October 9th, 2024 15:21
Yup, a motherboard CPU socket can determine which supporting processors. You can look up the processor information on Intel website and it should say AVX2 under Instruction Set Extensions. For example, an X99 motherboard will support Haswell Xeon E5-1660 v3.
Autobot770
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
16 Posts
0
October 9th, 2024 17:59
@Chino de Oro I've been told that I would need to get a Micro ATX Form Factor motherboard, and then I could upgrade to the i7-14700K processor, but there might also be concerns about the power supply if I were to do this? However, it looks like the i7-14700K only supports DDR4 and DDR5 ram, I have the older DDR3 ram. So I am kind of going in compatibility circles (and I only have a very tiny understanding of any of this in the first place). Is there a website that shows that i7 processors are compatible with DDR3?
Considering all the above, is there really a way to bring this PC to the point of being AVX2 compatible, or will I be running in endless circles of compatibility issues?
Autobot770
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
16 Posts
0
October 9th, 2024 19:51
@Vanadiel Nabbed an Aurora R16 on sale and with openbox discount from Best Buy this afternoon! I would rather have been able to upgrade the R4, but at this point it's over 10 years old, I knew this time would come. Still going to keep it, no reason to get rid of it.
Vanadiel
6 Professor
6 Professor
•
6.5K Posts
1
October 9th, 2024 20:28
If you grabbed an R16 you will want to read this and ensure you are running the latest BIOS version as soon as possible.
Since you cannot flash the BIOS without turning it on first, I suggest to get as prepared as possible before turning it on, so you can quickly flash it should it not come with the latest version of the BIOS.
And if it was openbox it hopefully came with some kind of return window incase the damage has already happened...
Don't want to get you worried, but unfortunately this is an industry wide issue and it's a very serious issue...
Autobot770
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
16 Posts
0
October 10th, 2024 12:39
@Vanadiel Thank you for the warning. Forgive my ignorance, what does it mean to "flash" the BIOS?
I also purchased a Best Buy membership, so I have a two month return window. I hope it works out and I don't have to return it, but if not then I have plenty of time.
Vanadiel
6 Professor
6 Professor
•
6.5K Posts
1
October 10th, 2024 14:32
@Autobot770 It's a term used to describe updating the system BIOS, as it involves re-flashing the BIOS chip with updated code.
It's fairly simple to do: Dell Bios Updates
Autobot770
1 Rookie
1 Rookie
•
16 Posts
0
October 10th, 2024 14:52
@Vanadiel Wow, this is all very new to me! Thank you for your help. How can I keep up with future BIOS updates; will my computer notify me like it does with Windows updates? Or is there a way to subscribe for notifications of updates that apply to my PC?
Vanadiel
6 Professor
6 Professor
•
6.5K Posts
0
October 10th, 2024 16:29
@Autobot770 Dell has software to notify you of updates.