Couple of Questions for my Upgrade

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
OK so I got a bonus at work and will be getting a good size tax return back soon so I've decided to drop a bit and upgrade my comp from an opty 170 to an intel setup. A couple key questions:

I can't decide if I should get the e8400 or get a q6600. My budget is pretty much at this price point (below $250 if possible) or i would probably wait for the q9450 - however this is coming out much slower then it was supposed to (I thought it should be here by now) and I also heard it will be priced about $320

So, I'm mostly a gamer and thats really my first priority. Overclock is important too. Not sure if Quad core will be more efficient in the future or not, I know right now Dual and Quad isn't much different performance wise and the e8400 will OC better and should perform a bit better clock for clock but not too sure. Just want to get some opinions

My other question isn't quite CPU related but is OC because I want to get good OC'ing RAM. So, I can't decide if I should go 4x1 GB sticks or do 2x2 GB sticks. I think I want to go with the G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-800 F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ for $95 shipped or the Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800 and get two sets for $150 or so but have $80 in rebates. My decision will lie with whatever OC's better. I know in the past, often times 4 sticks wouldn't OC as well as 2, at least with AMD but I don't know if this is true with Intel right now or not. Please let me know what you guys think and feel free to recommend other similarly priced RAM as well. I have seen the Crucial Ballistix 2x1GB DDR2-800 with a good rebate also but I had bad luck with some DDR stix of Ballistix and don't plan to go back to them. Especially since I've read of a lot of problems with them
 

krnmastersgt

Platinum Member
Jan 10, 2008
2,873
0
0
Purely for gaming the E8400 is all you need, unless you have a use for more than 2 cores. As for ram, running 2x2 is still better for OCing, however unless you really need all that ram you could just get the 2x1 set.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
I do encode video sometimes and stuff so I wouldn't say that I just need gaming, however that is the #1 priority. Plus I hear the new SSE4 instructions on the e8400 improve a lot of video encoding like with mostly new codecs, x264, VC-1, etc so maybe its better for video encoding as well. At least until it utilizes 4 cores better then 2.

Does anyone know when the q9450 will come out? Maybe I'll spend more to get that if its relatively soon.

Also one last question I forgot to ask, does anyone know if the G.Skill I posted above is Micron D9 or if its something that OC's similarly. I really like G.Skill and if 2x2 OC's better then I think I'll get that now. I decided I should do 4 GB RAM to future proof it a bit more so I don't think I'll do just 2x1
 

Tempered81

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2007
6,374
1
81
e8400 2x1gb of pc28500

good cooling

Oc to your heart's content, and enjoy the fastest gaming experience.
 

krnmastersgt

Platinum Member
Jan 10, 2008
2,873
0
0
Quads will encode faster purely because they have more cores, as for the Q9450, really not worth it in my opinion unless all you do is encode, max of 8x for the multiplier makes it seem like people won't get much higher than 3.6ghz out of it, for gaming I'd still go with the E8400.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
Well I just ordered an e8400 from mwave for $225 shipped and the G.Skill RAM from Newegg for $95 shipped. $320 later and all I need is a good MoBo and I'm set. I think I've decided on the abit IP35 Pro
 

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
8,771
58
91
the ip35 Is good. Go for it! I read it has a problem with raptors but it might have been fixed already?
 

krnmastersgt

Platinum Member
Jan 10, 2008
2,873
0
0
Raptors have really lost their edge recently, enough to the point where I'm just using Seagates.
 

Duvie

Elite Member
Feb 5, 2001
16,215
0
71
Originally posted by: jaredpace
e8400 2x1gb of pc28500

good cooling

Oc to your heart's content, and enjoy the fastest gaming experience.



I agree!!!!


 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
Nothing is wrong with the Opty, I'll still be using it in my HTPC but I just got the upgrade bug. Been wanting to go Intel for a while now and Wolfdale just seems like the right one. I'm an OC nerd and something about having a comp @ 4+ Ghz just makes me giddy.

I went ahead with the IP35 Pro and I have two Raptors so hopefully I don't have issues