How does this E5200 Mobo/ram/CPU build sound?

[LW07]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820134582
4 gigs of Kingston ram

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128357
Gigabyte mobo- $52

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186134
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 pro

And of course, the E5200.

Total: $216

How good of an upgrade would that be over my current system if I happen to get unlucky and it doesn't OC so good?

 

[angry hampster]

Rather pointless if you're not going to overclock IMO. Also, I'd advice against a G31 board.

 

[LW07]

Alright, replacing the G31 with this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128380

Total: $250

but around this price point I kinda start doubting the intel route and want to go with an AMD X3 710, seeing as I can get it, and this mobo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128376

and the 4 gigs of ram for around the same price if I throw out the cooler.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
Also, I'd advice against a G31 board.

What's wrong with the G31 board? The only "problem" AFAIK is that it won't take more than 4GB RAM, which isn't a biggie for 32-bit Windows XP.

As for the Gigabyte board, I have two of them (don't remember which models, Gigabyte makes at least three different ones) and they're decent boards with full overclocking/underclocking settings, all solid caps, gigabit ethernet, true x16 PCIe slot for graphics (unlike the Gigabyte G4X boards at x4).

 

[Markfw]

I would go with the P43, but wither is OK. At 3.2 OC, you will notice a lot of different over that 4800. 3.2 is pretty easy to get.

 

[edplayer]

I would stick with the G31 board unless you want more than 4 SATA ports

4GB of ram is good for most people. That memory you picked is too expensive. Check the hot deals forum or slickdeals/fatwallet. I just picked up some Corsair ram for $20 AR. Crucial ram is on sale at Fry's a lot for $20AR and less (as low as $10 AR and was $16 AR this week, 4GB).

You can probably get a better HSF for for that much but I don't know too much about those...

 

[LW07]

And should i stick with the E5200 or go for an E7400/E8400(or Phenom II X3 710)? Or maybe even save up and get a Q9550?

I'm just kinda Wishy-washy ATM, sometimes I like the E5200 OCing idea, other times i like the Phenom II X3 idea, and even other times I get a "future proofing" bug and want to get a Q9550.


My objective here is to get as much guarenteed performance as possible(just in case i have bad luck OCing), while spending the least amount of money, and still getting good longevity(IE being able to play games as long as i can before needing a new CPU with more cores).

 

[edplayer]

I'd say get the E5200. If you really want to go quad, get the Q9400 ($180 at Microcenter)

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Originally posted by: LW07
and even other times I get a "future proofing" bug and want to get a Q9550.


My objective here is to get as much guarenteed performance as possible(just in case i have bad luck OCing), while spending the least amount of money, and still getting good longevity(IE being able to play games as long as i can before needing a new CPU with more cores).

I completely understand. i went with the quad to future proof. I upgraded my s939 3500+ to an X2 4200+ at 2.4ghz, and it lasted me quite a while. I expect this quad to do the same. Even without the overclock it is faster then the Q6600. With the overclock to 2750 it is directly comparable to a Q6750E at stock speeds. Passmark, Cinebench and NuclearMC all shows this to be accurate. The processor just rips through games. I can get a constant 275-350fps in DOD:S with models on high and all graphic details on low at 720x480. That shows how powerful even these lowly quads really are.

Thankfully ATI has been releasing some high-end video cards on the cheap and I've got a killer gaming rig for under a grand.

 

[13Gigatons]

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227267

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128380

HSF: http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-AC7PRO

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116072

*prices, free shipping and rebates subject to change

 

[richpmd]

I've overclocked a e5200 to 4.24 (only stable enough for benchmarks) and solid as a rock at 4. I may have been lucky with my chip but it certainly seen to overclock very well. Quads generally don't overclock as well but if you're not shooting for the bleeding edge that may not be an issue.

Re: motherboards: do you really want integrated graphics? If so don't get G3100 graphics which are very obsolete. The NVidia 9300/9400 is far superior, can decode Blu ray, and handle HD. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128363 is probably your best bet here (read reviews; the second one down uses an e5200). The P45 chipset is excellent with current bios updates P43 fine also and great for overclocking (probably avoid the G45 with integrated 4500 graphics which are better than 3100 but inferior to NVidia 9300/9400).
Check out http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128356 (a G31 board), http://www.newegg.com/Product/...07172615&name=GIGABYTE (the Gigabyte P45 MBs)

Re: graphics: are you using your GTX 260 or getting a new card? the 216 cores are a great deal or you could get a cheaper card for your current system (see http://bensbargains.net/category/35 for some current great deals and this Newegg Shell Shocker which will run out soon http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814102812)

Re: memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...me=4GB%20(2%20x%202GB) sort by "Best Rating" many better cheaper choices here. 2x 2GB sticks overclock slightly easier than 4x 1GB sticks but no big deal either way.

13Gigatons has the right ideas.

Good luck!!

 

[zagood]

check ewiz.com for e5200 prices. They've been having some great deals on them lately (both retail and oem), and don't forget live.com cashback.

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: edplayer
I'd say get the E5200. If you really want to go quad, get the Q9400 ($180 at Microcenter)

I would but its instore only and i don't live anywhere near a microcenter

and yeah i'll be using my GTX 260 in the new build.

Originally posted by: Scholzpdx
I completely understand. i went with the quad to future proof. I upgraded my s939 3500+ to an X2 4200+ at 2.4ghz, and it lasted me quite a while. I expect this quad to do the same. Even without the overclock it is faster then the Q6600. With the overclock to 2750 it is directly comparable to a Q6750E at stock speeds. Passmark, Cinebench and NuclearMC all shows this to be accurate. The processor just rips through games. I can get a constant 275-350fps in DOD:S with models on high and all graphic details on low at 720x480. That shows how powerful even these lowly quads really are.

How did your Q8200 compare to the X2 4200+ at stock speed(the Q8200's stock speed i mean)? I heard that the Q8200 isn't a good OCer.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: richpmd
I've overclocked a e5200 to 4.24 (only stable enough for benchmarks) and solid as a rock at 4. I may have been lucky with my chip but it certainly seen to overclock very well. Quads generally don't overclock as well but if you're not shooting for the bleeding edge that may not be an issue.

Is it 24hr prime95 stable at 4Ghz? What is your vcore? I didn't dare go above 1.4v on mine, and it would boot windows XP at 4 no problem, but just wasn't prime stable. I settled on 3.75.

 

[daveybrat]

OP, the Gigabyte G31 motherboard for $52 you listed is the exact same one i just paired up with an E5200. For a budget motherboard, it's stable as a rock and has a ton of overclocking options in the bios. A great board for the money.

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: daveybrat
OP, the Gigabyte G31 motherboard for $52 you listed is the exact same one i just paired up with an E5200. For a budget motherboard, it's stable as a rock and has a ton of overclocking options in the bios. A great board for the money.

How does your E5200 at stock compare to your X2 5600+?

 

[daveybrat]

Originally posted by: LW07

Originally posted by: daveybrat
OP, the Gigabyte G31 motherboard for $52 you listed is the exact same one i just paired up with an E5200. For a budget motherboard, it's stable as a rock and has a ton of overclocking options in the bios. A great board for the money.

How does your E5200 at stock compare to your X2 5600+?

I would say almost the same. I can't tell a big difference at all between the two of them. The E5200 seems to be slightly faster in dvd encoding but other than that, no noticable difference. Although the E5200 runs very cool, mine idles in the 20's with stock heatsink.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: daveybrat
OP, the Gigabyte G31 motherboard for $52 you listed is the exact same one i just paired up with an E5200. For a budget motherboard, it's stable as a rock and has a ton of overclocking options in the bios. A great board for the money.

How high have you overclocked it, what vcore options does it have, what FSB:RAM ratios does it have?

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: daveybrat

Originally posted by: LW07

Originally posted by: daveybrat
OP, the Gigabyte G31 motherboard for $52 you listed is the exact same one i just paired up with an E5200. For a budget motherboard, it's stable as a rock and has a ton of overclocking options in the bios. A great board for the money.

How does your E5200 at stock compare to your X2 5600+?

I would say almost the same. I can't tell a big difference at all between the two of them. The E5200 seems to be slightly faster in dvd encoding but other than that, no noticable difference. Although the E5200 runs very cool, mine idles in the 20's with stock heatsink.

Would it be any faster than my X2 4800+ at stock speeds?

 

[edplayer]

Originally posted by: LW07

Would it be any faster than my X2 4800+ at stock speeds?

Yes but not by a whole lot

if you are worried about overclocking the E5200, it should do 3.2GHz easily on the stock HSF. 3.6~3.8GHz sounds about average with a good/great HSF and 1.35V or higher. 4GHz + with a great HSF and 1.4V and up (don't count on that, that would be a somewhat exceptional E5200)

 

[LW07]

I'm mainly looking for a CPU that will be a substantial upgrade over my X2 4800+, even at stock(just in case i have bad luck OCing), and last me a while at games(I'm an RPG/RTS/Flight Simulator gamer) before becoming insufficient, and all for as cheap as possible.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Originally posted by: LW07

Originally posted by: edplayer
I'd say get the E5200. If you really want to go quad, get the Q9400 ($180 at Microcenter)

I would but its instore only and i don't live anywhere near a microcenter

and yeah i'll be using my GTX 260 in the new build.

Originally posted by: Scholzpdx
I completely understand. i went with the quad to future proof. I upgraded my s939 3500+ to an X2 4200+ at 2.4ghz, and it lasted me quite a while. I expect this quad to do the same. Even without the overclock it is faster then the Q6600. With the overclock to 2750 it is directly comparable to a Q6750E at stock speeds. Passmark, Cinebench and NuclearMC all shows this to be accurate. The processor just rips through games. I can get a constant 275-350fps in DOD:S with models on high and all graphic details on low at 720x480. That shows how powerful even these lowly quads really are.

How did your Q8200 compare to the X2 4200+ at stock speed(the Q8200's stock speed i mean)? I heard that the Q8200 isn't a good OCer.

At stock speeds it was quite a bit faster. My 3dmark06 score jumped from 71200 to almost 11K on the same Radeon 3850. My CPU is definitely not the bottleneck at 1680x1050.

Also, the Q8200 overclocks pretty good. It'll take a bit more pushing on the FSB but a solid 20% overclock on this quad is attainable. dont be fooled by its lower clock speed, these Core2Quads are powerful. It blows my s939 system out of the water. I encoded a movie (112 minutes) in only 7-9 minutes with SUPER. In Grid i get 65-110fps. That should tell you enough right there.

Also, if you want it to last a while, getting almost any decent quad will be sufficient for the next few years. Some games already almost require a Quad (GTA4, Saints Row, Grid) so picking it above a dual is a much better idea.

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: Scholzpdx

Originally posted by: LW07

Originally posted by: edplayer
I'd say get the E5200. If you really want to go quad, get the Q9400 ($180 at Microcenter)

I would but its instore only and i don't live anywhere near a microcenter

and yeah i'll be using my GTX 260 in the new build.

Originally posted by: Scholzpdx
I completely understand. i went with the quad to future proof. I upgraded my s939 3500+ to an X2 4200+ at 2.4ghz, and it lasted me quite a while. I expect this quad to do the same. Even without the overclock it is faster then the Q6600. With the overclock to 2750 it is directly comparable to a Q6750E at stock speeds. Passmark, Cinebench and NuclearMC all shows this to be accurate. The processor just rips through games. I can get a constant 275-350fps in DOD:S with models on high and all graphic details on low at 720x480. That shows how powerful even these lowly quads really are.

How did your Q8200 compare to the X2 4200+ at stock speed(the Q8200's stock speed i mean)? I heard that the Q8200 isn't a good OCer.

At stock speeds it was quite a bit faster. My 3dmark06 score jumped from 71200 to almost 11K on the same Radeon 3850. My CPU is definitely not the bottleneck at 1680x1050.

Also, the Q8200 overclocks pretty good. It'll take a bit more pushing on the FSB but a solid 20% overclock on this quad is attainable. dont be fooled by its lower clock speed, these Core2Quads are powerful. It blows my s939 system out of the water. I encoded a movie (112 minutes) in only 7-9 minutes with SUPER. In Grid i get 65-110fps. That should tell you enough right there.

Also, if you want it to last a while, getting almost any decent quad will be sufficient for the next few years. Some games already almost require a Quad (GTA4, Saints Row, Grid) so picking it above a dual is a much better idea.

So even if i don't OC I won't have buyer's remorse over getting the Q8200?

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Most likely not. I cant guarantee anything, but i'm way more then happy with my current performance. It almost feels as good when i upgraded m s939 from m 3500+ to the x2 4200 and my x1650pro to my 8800GTS 320mb. You'll bee pleasantly surprised with the performance in quad-core apps. Its definitely fast enough in dual and single threaded programs so there is no hiccups.

I have the money for a Q9550, but i think it'll be a waste. I am completely happy with my purchase.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: LW07
So even if i don't OC I won't have buyer's remorse over getting the Q8200?

The Q8000 series has the least amount of cache for an Intel quad core. If you go quad, at least spring for a Q9400 or so (around $190 at Micro Center).