E5200 Wolfdale good upgrade from e6400?

[Brother Ali]

I am looking for lower tempatures. I use the computer for dual purpose, htpc and everyday computing.

I have GA-P35-DS3R:

http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Pr...ew.aspx?ProductID=2543

4gb Crucial PC2-6400 Ballistix

One question I had, I am not very familur when it comes to these things (yes n00b in some aspects). Will this processor work in that mobo? I see some of the higher end cpus are fsb1366, would that just default to 1066?

I was running at 400x8 on my cpu with the memory locked in at 400. I remember reading that it is good to have both the cpu and memory in sync.

How does the FSB work in relation to the memory? Is it important that they are in sync? If so what would I need to do for the new cpu to work?

Reason I am asking is I was thinking of listing my e6400 for $70 on craigslist (good chance it will sell) and then buying the e5200 for $70

CPU was running too hot on 3.2gig (htpc case). Was hopping the 45nm would run cooler.

 

[Denithor]

CPU compatibility table says Yes with BIOS F13C.

Update the BIOS before you pull your old cpu out.

The newer chips are Socket 1366 not FSB1366. Your chip is Socket 775.

Memory runs at 2xFSBxmultiplier. So if you use a 1:1 multiplier and set the FSB to 400 your memory will operate at 800MHz. And your e6400 will run at 8x400 = 3.2GHz. Keep in mind the e5200 has a multiplier of 12.5 so you won't need to go nearly as high on FSB (will run 3.75GHz with 300FSB or 4GHz with 320FSB).

E5200 should easily hit 3.6GHz, may get to 4GHz if you have good cooling. Otherwise set it to 3.2GHz like your current e6400 and it will run cooler.

 

[Brother Ali]

Originally posted by: Denithor
CPU compatibility table says Yes with BIOS F13C.

Update the BIOS before you pull your old cpu out.

The newer chips are Socket 1366 not FSB1366. Your chip is Socket 775.

Memory runs at 2xFSBxmultiplier. So if you use a 1:1 multiplier and set the FSB to 400 your memory will operate at 800MHz. And your e6400 will run at 8x400 = 3.2GHz. Keep in mind the e5200 has a multiplier of 12.5 so you won't need to go nearly as high on FSB (will run 3.75GHz with 300FSB or 4GHz with 320FSB).

E5200 should easily hit 3.6GHz, may get to 4GHz if you have good cooling. Otherwise set it to 3.2GHz like your current e6400 and it will run cooler.

Thank you, very helpful reply

Ok so I would adjust the multiplier for the memory accordingly. Will it make a difference that it is not a 1:1 multiplier like my old setup? Say I run it at 266 fsb, what should I use for my memory?

 

[Jabbernyx]

No worries, it definitely will beat the pants off an E6400 (might be tied in games if it were compared to an E6420). Just be sure to update your BIOS _before_ you swap CPUs, just in case.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Brother Ali
Reason I am asking is I was thinking of listing my e6400 for $70 on craigslist (good chance it will sell) and then buying the e5200 for $70

CPU was running too hot on 3.2gig (htpc case). Was hopping the 45nm would run cooler.

If you can basically get the CPU for free and it will work with your board, do it. It will definately run cooler and will probably overclock a bit higher. Otherwise it isn't a huge upgrade because it has the same amount of cache and is only clocked a bit higher by default. Your E6400 was a higher end chip so your question is almost like asking if a new 2009 Civic is better than your old 2006 Accord.

 

[zagood]

My e6400 died so I replaced it with the e5200. Clock for clock it's faster but not by a ton. It's much cooler though.

-z

 

[faxon]

yea i was talking to a family member about an upgrade for his CPU with my e5200 instead of his e6400 and i could get a new chip, but we didnt see much of a performance benefit from it at stock speeds, and he doesnt overclock. on top of that, we were worried about how well the cpu would work in his board, which is from a few months after conroe launch. for what you are doing though, i would honestly recommend just getting the e5200 anyway and underclocking it. i have a friend who just built an HTPC and he is using an e5200 underclocked to 1.2GHz since he doesnt need anything faster, and the cpu runs at ambient room temperature pretty much due to how low he managed to get the voltage to go.