Best CPU for Gigabyte GA 965P-DS3 rev 1.0

[Dfere]

Hi,

I am working on a friend's computer now. He has the 965P-DS3 rev 1.0 mentioned above. He has an 8800GT and already has Vista and 4 gigs of RAM (6400). I noticed he doesn't have a lot of cpu options with 1.0. He can go with up to an e6700 dual core, a quad core q6600 or so, or an extreme edition Qx6800. This is for casual use/gaming.

From a money standpoint, he can go to a higher speed with a higher l2 cache and get 4 cores instead of going with the highest dual core....

Can he keep his memory (even if there is some system hit) if going with a quad core?

With the M/B- does the extreme make any sense at all?

Thanks

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: Dfere
Can he keep his memory (even if there is some system hit) if going with a quad core?
Thanks

Yes. Changing processors shouldn't affect the memory at all.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Kind of in the same boat here with the same board, rev 1.3. I believe I've read that some people have had luck getting 45nm chips working with a BIOS update, but I could be mistaken and this might not apply to rev 1.0. And it's unsupported, anyway. Given the options, I would go with a Q6600 for price/performance if he's dead-set on using his current mobo.

 

[zagood]

I'm in the same boat as well. I have Rev. 1.0 and haven't found any examples of people upgrading to 45nm even with BIOS upgrades.

Q6600 unless he wants to put up the money for a new mobo. You can find comparible ones that are 45nm compatible for <$100.

Memory is fine.

The extreme is a complete waste of money for casual use. You can buy an entire system for the cost of the chip.

-z

 

[Rich3077]

Originally posted by: DfereCan he keep his memory (even if there is some system hit) if going with a quad core?

Yes he can keep his memory.. but keep in mind that a quad core will add a little more strain to the north bridge so a bump in voltage may be needed there, as well as good cooling for the CPU and good case airflow.

 

[Fox5]

I have the GA 965P-S3 rev1.0, basically the same motherboard. I believe it supports all 45nm processors, and I just plopped in an e5200. Overclockability, even with the low fsb of the e5200, is limited though. I'm really unable to overclock any higher than my old e6300 (I figured that the higher multiplier of the e5200 would at least allow for an extra ghz of overclocking). Not sure what the issue could be, perhaps the memory or northbridge can't handle the faster cpu speeds? Maybe lower latnecy would help?

 

[Duvie]

I had mine running a QX6700 65nm chip....AFter selling it to a friend who placed a Q6600 on it...it blew a cap....we both oc'd our chips to the 3.4ghz range and stayed witihn the 10% over stock vcore...

maybe we had a bad board...we dont know....if you are not ocing then no problem....

 

[Denithor]

965P-DS3 rev 1 sucks @$$ for overclocking. And if he's getting a quad for gaming, you want it to go as fast as possible (fast dual cores beat slower quads in most games - benchmark).

I had one of those, paired with a first-gen e6400. The chip would do 2.66GHz stable with about 1.4V. Moved up to an IP35-e about a year later (only change in whole system) and the chip would do 3GHz stable at stock volts (1.28V). Ran cooler at the higher speed due to the lower volts.

My suggestion would be to upgrade both the board and the CPU together. You can get a P45-UD3R for like $100 after rebate (awesome OC board from all reports/reviews) or look at newegg for combo deals with the P5Q Pro.

 

[jae]

Talk him into grabbing a C2D + Mobo combo deal off newegg, then try to sell the old Mobo + CPU on craigslist.

 

[Duvie]

The DS3 had solid capacitors and it was good at ocing some of my early E6300's and 6400's to near 500fsb...however I dont know if it has the power for ocing quads for the long term...