E6600 or E6420 for video editing computer?

craftech

Senior member
Nov 26, 2000
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I have an Intel D975XBX2 motherboard I am planning to use for a video editing computer build. I have been waiting for the Intel price drops.

For around the same money I could get either an E6420 or an E6600. I think either of them will probably run stable at 3.0 without undue strain from what I gather. Which of the two do you think will be the better value?

Thanks a lot.

John
 
Aug 23, 2000
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Is this rig for fun or for work? If for fun get the 6420 and OC it, if it's for work and mission critical stuff, get the e6600 and leave it at stock.
 

Pabster

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
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E6600. With the recent price drop they are retail below $240. The extra cache is golden for video applications.
 

dirky2000

Junior Member
Oct 26, 2006
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Originally posted by: Pabster
E6600. With the recent price drop they are retail below $240. The extra cache is golden for video applications.

They have the same cache.
 

dirky2000

Junior Member
Oct 26, 2006
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Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Is this rig for fun or for work? If for fun get the 6420 and OC it, if it's for work and mission critical stuff, get the e6600 and leave it at stock.

What is the consensus about overclocking the 6600 and the 6420? They look to be identical other than the multiplier.
 

rklaver

Member
May 17, 2006
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What software are you using? I can run Avid's Software Composer on my e6600 and it runs solid. I was able to do real-time DVC-PRO50 HD with real-time dissolves so I can't complain. I haven't attempted it on my e6400 yet. but I think it would run fine as well. I know you have already invested in some hardware, but I can tell you a quad core Mac Pro screams like crazy. I try and try and I can't seem to beat that thing down.
 

craftech

Senior member
Nov 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: rklaver
What software are you using? I can run Avid's Software Composer on my e6600 and it runs solid. I was able to do real-time DVC-PRO50 HD with real-time dissolves so I can't complain. I haven't attempted it on my e6400 yet. but I think it would run fine as well. I know you have already invested in some hardware, but I can tell you a quad core Mac Pro screams like crazy. I try and try and I can't seem to beat that thing down.

Sony Vegas. I probably shoud not overclock any processor for video editing. The E6600 is $235 shipped right now. I probably should get one while I can don't you think?

John

 

harpoon84

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2006
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As long as the CPU is totally stable I don't see how it matters whether it's at 2.4GHz or 3GHz? I think it's common knowledge that Intel bins the C2Ds very conservatively. If anything, find the max stable overclock, back off 100MHz and you should be good to go.
 

craftech

Senior member
Nov 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: harpoon84
As long as the CPU is totally stable I don't see how it matters whether it's at 2.4GHz or 3GHz? I think it's common knowledge that Intel bins the C2Ds very conservatively. If anything, find the max stable overclock, back off 100MHz and you should be good to go.


But what do you think about grabbing an e6600 at the price I mentioned above?

John
 

harpoon84

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2006
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Originally posted by: craftech
Originally posted by: harpoon84
As long as the CPU is totally stable I don't see how it matters whether it's at 2.4GHz or 3GHz? I think it's common knowledge that Intel bins the C2Ds very conservatively. If anything, find the max stable overclock, back off 100MHz and you should be good to go.


But what do you think about grabbing an e6600 at the price I mentioned above?

John

Nothing wrong with grabbing an E6600 at that price, especially if you are reluctant to overclock it. It's only $40 more than the E6420 anyway.
 

yuppiejr

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2002
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I think if you are running at stock speeds the e6600 is a clear winner - which is why I scrapped my plans to wait for a 6420 and jumped on the ZZF deal today to beat the rush. The performance of a e6600 at stock speeds for $235 shipped is a no brainer and it's a proven overclocker if you decide to swing that way on your work machine.

The 6420 and 6600 are the same core design and stepping so it's possible the 6x20 series will end up being "binned down" versions of the 6600/6700 that won't overclock well - we won't know until enough are out there and tested by enthusiasts. I can't imagine retailers are going to drop the price of the 6420 fully until the stock of 6400 chips is cleared out of inventory and demand from early adopters settles down so it may be a month or more before the price difference between the e6600 and e6420 is significant enough to make it clearly advantageous to buy the slower chip.
 

craftech

Senior member
Nov 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: yuppiejr
I think if you are running at stock speeds the e6600 is a clear winner - which is why I scrapped my plans to wait for a 6420 and jumped on the ZZF deal today to beat the rush. The performance of a e6600 at stock speeds for $235 shipped is a no brainer and it's a proven overclocker if you decide to swing that way on your work machine.

The 6420 and 6600 are the same core design and stepping so it's possible the 6x20 series will end up being "binned down" versions of the 6600/6700 that won't overclock well - we won't know until enough are out there and tested by enthusiasts. I can't imagine retailers are going to drop the price of the 6420 fully until the stock of 6400 chips is cleared out of inventory and demand from early adopters settles down so it may be a month or more before the price difference between the e6600 and e6420 is significant enough to make it clearly advantageous to buy the slower chip.


Thanks,

I just ordered one from ZZF. Thanks to everyone for your genuine desire to help. :)

John
 

yuppiejr

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: Steaksauce
Both chips can hit 3.0GHz and have the same amount of cache so why pay more for the e6600?

Simple answer - not everyone overclocks, plus the inclusion of a $30-$40 game I planned to buy was a nice bit of cash saved.

For those who do overclock, the higher multiplier of the e6600 also means you can run a lower FSB when overclocking and avoid goofy async. FSB/RAM ratios. There is a lot of data and experience out there related to overclocking the e6600 chips, the e6420 is anyone's guess since it just hit the market.

I would speculate that since the e6420 shares the same core and stepping as the 6600/6700 they could end up being 'binned down' versions of the faster chips and thus inferior overclockers depending on Intel yields... Again, we'll need to see data once enough people have these and can post overclocking results. Even though the 6400/6420 share the same clock speed, multiplier and FSB you cannot assume similar overclock results since the 6420 has a much higher transistor count with the added cache.
 

Fallengod

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
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Id go for the E6420 myself. So far what I have seen people doing on them is great. 3.4ghz or so on stock volts etc.... I dunno. Ive seen enough of peoples results to conclude it is a good chip. Id save your money and just get the E6420.

I would be astonished if the E6420 were not able to do the messly 3.0ghz youre looking for. Pretty much every chip can do 3.0ghz so.... :p The extra little cache might come in handy for video editing.(The E6600 doesnt have 4mb right?)

In fact, id even go further and say, find a cheap E6300 off the forums for $130, all of those should easily be able to hit your 3.0ghz mark. Or at the very least 2.8. The only thing that sucks about those is the very low multiplier. However, if you ran stock pc2-6400 memory, you can still hit 2.8ghz at 800mhz without worrying about high end ocing memory.
 

Steaksauce

Senior member
Feb 15, 2005
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Originally posted by: yuppiejr
Originally posted by: Steaksauce
Both chips can hit 3.0GHz and have the same amount of cache so why pay more for the e6600?

Simple answer - not everyone overclocks, plus the inclusion of a $30-$40 game I planned to buy was a nice bit of cash saved.


ORLY? The OP mentioned 3.0GHz, smart azz.
 

1ManArmY

Golden Member
Mar 7, 2003
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Sony Vegas. I probably shoud not overclock any processor for video editing. The E6600 is $235 shipped right now. I probably should get one while I can don't you think?

John



where did you see for that price at? Price drop April 23?
 

hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
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the e6600 is 235, and the e6420 is about 196 online now.

its only $39 plus the e6600 comes with the free game. if you arent o/cing might as well get the 6600
 

1ManArmY

Golden Member
Mar 7, 2003
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picking up a E6600 with Geil DR2 800 (PC2 6400), can you recommend a MOBO? Looking at the GiG 965P-DS3 not sure though.
 

yacoub

Golden Member
May 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: craftech
Both ZipZoomFly and Newegg. ZZF comes with a free game.

John

Same at MWave :)

gosh I feel like an MWave cheerleader today lol

well, whatever vendor steps up and offers the best price will always get my vote