I have 2x1GB DDR2-533. Should I go AM2 or C2D?

[bluemax]

Thanks to Dell, I have a pair of 533MHz DDR2 1GB modules.
I could either:

A) Sell them and re-buy faster memory, taking a dollar loss (which will NOT please the wife!)
B) USE them in my new system build while the Dell goes to the mother-in-law (it has 1GB of RAM already.)

If I use the RAM, would AM2 or C2D make the most of this unfancy RAM?
(AM2 would be a boon, since the CPU would cost me half as much, as I could keep the 3800+ X2 and put a cheaper CPU into the Dell.)
If C2D E6300 is going to use it MUCH more efficiently, then I'll consider spending the extra $100 to get one (and board, of course.)

 

[DrMrLordX]

Hard to say, really. DDR2-533 will be used more efficiently by a Core 2 system, and Core 2 chips are faster per clock, so you'll get better performance if you pair this RAM with an E6300 than you would with an AM2 X2-3800+. AM2 systems tend to want DDR2-800 before they'll perform as they should (i.e. on par with or better than s939 using DDR400 2-2-2-5). In fact, I wouldn't tell anyone to build an AM2 system with RAM slower than DDR2-800 @ 5-5-5-15 unless they're out to save a buck.

It all really comes down to how much you want the extra performance. DDR2-533 on AM2 will work, but it wouldn't be anything too amazing.

 

[myocardia]

You should buy neither. You are the perfect candidate for an E4300. It's a 1.8 Ghz C2D, with a 200 Mhz FSB, instead of the 266 FSB that all of the other C2D's have, and it has a 9x multiplier, instead of the E6300's 7x multiplier. That means you'd be able to run it at 2.4 Ghz, without overclocking your Dell RAM any at all.

 

[harpoon84]

Originally posted by: myocardia
You should buy neither. You are the perfect candidate for an E4300. It's a 1.8 Ghz C2D, with a 200 Mhz FSB, instead of the 266 FSB that all of the other C2D's have, and it has a 9x multiplier, instead of the E6300's 7x multiplier. That means you'd be able to run it at 2.4 Ghz, without overclocking your Dell RAM any at all.

^^^ What he said.

The E4300 would be an ideal choice considering your current situation.

 

[DrMrLordX]

The E4300 isn't available yet except via pre-order, and at a fairly steady markup. Also, if he isn't overclocking, he'll get better performance out of the E6300 @ stock.

 

[bluemax]

Great advice, guys!

The E4300 would be awesome, even though it does cost more than I'd originally intended to spend...

Performance would be worth it though!

Any idea how long I'd have to wait though? My inlaws have been waiting far too long for their promised computer already. (What can I do? It's all down to money I don't have... until now, since I sold some old stuff, though that $150 generated is barely enough for an E4300 CPU, let alone a board to put it on too! I'm sure I can scrape up another $50, but it's getting too tight and the wifey may not be happy....)

 

[DrMrLordX]

The E4300 launches officially sometimes in early February, though it may be several weeks after that before you can get the chips at anywhere near their MSRP. The E6300 is available now.

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: harpoon84

Originally posted by: myocardia
You should buy neither. You are the perfect candidate for an E4300. It's a 1.8 Ghz C2D, with a 200 Mhz FSB, instead of the 266 FSB that all of the other C2D's have, and it has a 9x multiplier, instead of the E6300's 7x multiplier. That means you'd be able to run it at 2.4 Ghz, without overclocking your Dell RAM any at all.

^^^ What he said.

The E4300 would be an ideal choice considering your current situation.

 

[bluemax]

Well, in the end dollars and cents were the deciding factor, so I went with AM2.

Not the best move for speed, but almost half the cost. I can live with that.

I'll get a C2D combo someday.... but in a year, things could be different all over again.