I'm finally excited about Core 2 Duo

[Zap]

Sure, Core 2 Extreme grants the buyer an instant e-peen upgrade and many people spend $1000 on their computer... but wait, on their WHOLE computer and not just a CPU.

Okay, $316 for an E6600... close but... $183 for E6300 - Intel, you're almost there!!!

Anandtech tested with same GHz but 2MB versus 4MB cache and finds out that the average improvement is 3.5% but can peak at 10%. Okay, the e-peen just got dunked in some frigid water. HOWEVER, not only is the performance of the E6300 up there with the Pentium XE 965, it's hanging tough with the mid-to-higher end A64 x2 cores - and that's with a MHz deficit. What's more, the core may have a potential overclock, though the multiplier is quite low. Still, lower MHz, lower power usage while still top notch performance compared to A64 and Netburst architectures.

For even more excitement...

In early next year Intel will also introduce the E4200, which will be a 1.60GHz part with only a 800MHz FSB, a 2MB cache and no VT support. The E4200 will remain a dual core part, as single core Core 2 processors won't debut until late next year.

Logically these E4200 chips will have to be less than $183, and the single Core CPUs even cheaper. Okay, so forward thinking here with dual core... what can we expect the E4200 to cost? $140 perhaps? That's in my price range and the chip is essentially an E6400 without VT (what's that, virtualization? not everyone needs it). Even on non-overclockable motherboards, can we say conductive ink and electrical tape? Speaking of motherboards, we just need under $100 boards that are decently overclockable. No need for dual graphics, onboard WiFi, dual NICs, extra RAID controllers or fancy bundles. Just a basic board that can overclock like crazy for under $100.

$240 for a Core 2 Duo motherboard/CPU combo that's overclockable? I may just check it out.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to my new Sempron CPUs to show up. $74 Tforce board and $36 AM2 Sempron should keep me entertained for a while.

 

[kmmatney]

I think your Sempron will keep you busy for a while. That's a dawm good price - motherboard and cpu for $110. That Sempron should easily hit 2.2 GHz, with the proper memory divider, which gives you the equivalent of a Athlon 64 3300+ (if they made such a thing). My Sempron ran fine at 2.4 GHz until I started playing Oblivion - then I had to lower it to 2.25 GHz - still pretty nice though.

It will be a while before the Core 2 Duo is ready to compete in the Bang for buck department. I figure there will be a lot of good, affordable options out there by Q4 of this year.

 

[Zap]

The best thing about my upcoming Semprons is that they are socket AM2, so they use dual channel. Only difference now is less cache than A64.

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: Zap
The best thing about my upcoming Semprons is that they are socket AM2, so they use dual channel. Only difference now is less cache than A64.

And apparently no Virtualization as well.

 

[Zap]

Okay, and no useless technology as well. Well, useless to me.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: coldpower27

Originally posted by: Zap
The best thing about my upcoming Semprons is that they are socket AM2, so they use dual channel. Only difference now is less cache than A64.

And apparently no Virtualization as well.

I don?t get the virtualization tech on the die, because you can still run virtual PC or virtual server regardless of having a VT capable chips, so whats he point?

The only thing you are limited to within Virtual PC (not sure about server) is the number of cores that it will allow you to see/use (being as it is only 1).

 

[burney]

I can not spend on a processor more then $200..plus I will have to buy a new mobo.I will like to waite and hope AMD launches something good against conroe ( i guess not until next summer ) to get the conroe 64 E6600 around ~ $200

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: RichUK

Originally posted by: coldpower27

Originally posted by: Zap
The best thing about my upcoming Semprons is that they are socket AM2, so they use dual channel. Only difference now is less cache than A64.

And apparently no Virtualization as well.

I don?t get the virtualization tech on the die, because you can still run virtual PC or virtual server regardless of having a VT capable chips, so whats he point?

The only thing you are limited to within Virtual PC (not sure about server) is the number of cores that it will allow you to see/use (being as it is only 1).

It's about Hardware Virtualization support vs Software apparently it's supposed to be quicker.

 

[coldpower27]

As well it looks like were getting a E4300 now instead of the E4200 so better multiplier of x9 pretty sweet.

http://www.hkepc.com/bbs/itnews.php?tid=632107

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: coldpower27
As well it looks like were getting a E4300 now instead of the E4200 so better multiplier of x9 pretty sweet.

If that hits under $200, that would be really sweet. Same multiplier as the coveted E6600 so theoretically can clock as high on a similar board, maybe even better with lower capacitor count. Now for budget overclocking boards...

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: coldpower27
As well it looks like were getting a E4300 now instead of the E4200 so better multiplier of x9 pretty sweet.

If that hits under $200, that would be really sweet. Same multiplier as the coveted E6600 so theoretically can clock as high on a similar board, maybe even better with lower capacitor count. Now for budget overclocking boards...

Stock performance it's still inferior to the E6300 for 183US, so you bet on it 100% it will be less then 200US.

 

[RallyMaster]

I'm not excited about Conroe...and to tell you the truth I probably won't even care for a new computer for perhaps two years down the road.

 

[harpoon84]

You know, the E4200/E4300 could well be the budget o/cer of choice, especially the E4300, the 9X multi is just perfect considering the kind of headroom Conroe has atm, which is generally in between 3.5 - 4GHz on high end air cooling.

Since current boards are crapping out at around the 400FSB mark, basically you are looking at a cap of 3.2GHz for an E4200 and 3.6GHz for an E4300.

*HOWEVER* hopefully by the time the E4200/E4300 is released, the chipsets will have matured and can take 450MHz+ FSBs. Which changes the equation drastically: 450 x 8 = 3.6GHz, and 450 x 9 = 4.05GHz.

 

[Avalon]

An E4300 would rock my world.

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: coldpower27

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: coldpower27
As well it looks like were getting a E4300 now instead of the E4200 so better multiplier of x9 pretty sweet.

If that hits under $200, that would be really sweet. Same multiplier as the coveted E6600 so theoretically can clock as high on a similar board, maybe even better with lower capacitor count. Now for budget overclocking boards...

Stock performance it's still inferior to the E6300 for 183US, so you bet on it 100% it will be less then 200US.

Well, sure that extra 30MHz plus higher 1066MHz FSB versus 800MHz FSB will put the E6300 ahead in STOCK performance, however they have the same amount of cache and the E4300 has a 9X multiplier while the E6300 has a 7X multiplier. Seeing how high these can clock, what are the chances of the lower multiplier holding back the overclock on any given board? I'd say pretty good unless you like your motherboards to cost more than your CPU.

 

[aldamon]

Have you seen this thread Zap?

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106685

The Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 doesn't crap out at 400 with an E6300 or E6400 Mysteriously, it does still crap out at ~400 with an E6600, but not with the 2MB models.

 

[harpoon84]

Originally posted by: aldamon
Have you seen this thread Zap?

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106685

The Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 doesn't crap out at 400 with an E6300 or E6400 Mysteriously, it does still crap out at ~400 with an E6600, but not with the 2MB models.

Until we get more samples, we can't ascertain whether that is an anomaly or if all boards will do 500FSB with the 2MB cache models.

Speaking from a performance POV, I think a 500FSB Allendale (2MB) vs a 400FSB Conroe at the same clockspeed would be quite similar in performance. The Conroe would probably *just* edge it out by a 1 or 2%.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: aldamon
Have you seen this thread Zap?

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106685

The Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 doesn't crap out at 400 with an E6300 or E6400 Mysteriously, it does still crap out at ~400 with an E6600, but not with the 2MB models.

There are a few guys in there getting the same results. It's very cool

 

[harpoon84]

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: aldamon
Have you seen this thread Zap?

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106685

The Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 doesn't crap out at 400 with an E6300 or E6400 Mysteriously, it does still crap out at ~400 with an E6600, but not with the 2MB models.

There are a few guys in there getting the same results. It's very cool

Sounds great, this could sway me towards an E6300 and save me some $$$.

 

[rogue1979]

Originally posted by: Zap
Sure, Core 2 Extreme grants the buyer an instant e-peen upgrade and many people spend $1000 on their computer... but wait, on their WHOLE computer and not just a CPU.

Okay, $316 for an E6600... close but... $183 for E6300 - Intel, you're almost there!!!

Anandtech tested with same GHz but 2MB versus 4MB cache and finds out that the average improvement is 3.5% but can peak at 10%. Okay, the e-peen just got dunked in some frigid water. HOWEVER, not only is the performance of the E6300 up there with the Pentium XE 965, it's hanging tough with the mid-to-higher end A64 x2 cores - and that's with a MHz deficit. What's more, the core may have a potential overclock, though the multiplier is quite low. Still, lower MHz, lower power usage while still top notch performance compared to A64 and Netburst architectures.

For even more excitement...

In early next year Intel will also introduce the E4200, which will be a 1.60GHz part with only a 800MHz FSB, a 2MB cache and no VT support. The E4200 will remain a dual core part, as single core Core 2 processors won't debut until late next year.

Logically these E4200 chips will have to be less than $183, and the single Core CPUs even cheaper. Okay, so forward thinking here with dual core... what can we expect the E4200 to cost? $140 perhaps? That's in my price range and the chip is essentially an E6400 without VT (what's that, virtualization? not everyone needs it). Even on non-overclockable motherboards, can we say conductive ink and electrical tape? Speaking of motherboards, we just need under $100 boards that are decently overclockable. No need for dual graphics, onboard WiFi, dual NICs, extra RAID controllers or fancy bundles. Just a basic board that can overclock like crazy for under $100.

$240 for a Core 2 Duo motherboard/CPU combo that's overclockable? I may just check it out.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to my new Sempron CPUs to show up. $74 Tforce board and $36 AM2 Sempron should keep me entertained for a while.

I am still using my Tforce socket 754 and Sempron 2800+ @ 2.4GHz. It is fine for me now, but I have been keeping an eye on Conroe.

The E4200 will be my ticket as soon as a budget motherboard with core voltage adjustment and a 450MHz fsb is proven and tested. Quite frankly the performance of Conroe is looking so good, 3.3-3.5GHz is plenty fast for me.

 

[Trey22]

Since I don't have a rig at the moment, a E6300 will fit in nicely with the micro ATX system I'm building. It'll supply more than enough horsepower for what I do, plus, I do plan to overclock just for the fun of it.

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: coldpower27

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: coldpower27
As well it looks like were getting a E4300 now instead of the E4200 so better multiplier of x9 pretty sweet.

If that hits under $200, that would be really sweet. Same multiplier as the coveted E6600 so theoretically can clock as high on a similar board, maybe even better with lower capacitor count. Now for budget overclocking boards...

Stock performance it's still inferior to the E6300 for 183US, so you bet on it 100% it will be less then 200US.

Well, sure that extra 30MHz plus higher 1066MHz FSB versus 800MHz FSB will put the E6300 ahead in STOCK performance, however they have the same amount of cache and the E4300 has a 9X multiplier while the E6300 has a 7X multiplier. Seeing how high these can clock, what are the chances of the lower multiplier holding back the overclock on any given board? I'd say pretty good unless you like your motherboards to cost more than your CPU.

I nver said anything about overclock potential, Iwth a x9 Multiplier I would think the E4300 would be the better bet, as long as you wish to wait around for it.

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: harpoon84
Until we get more samples, we can't ascertain whether that is an anomaly or if all boards will do 500FSB with the 2MB cache models.

While you're ascertaining, the rest of the world appears to be busy ordering. The GA-965P-DS3 is OOS at Newegg. I just picked one up at ClubIt for a few bucks less but way slower shipping.

 

[harpoon84]

Originally posted by: aldamon

Originally posted by: harpoon84
Until we get more samples, we can't ascertain whether that is an anomaly or if all boards will do 500FSB with the 2MB cache models.

While you're ascertaining, the rest of the world appears to be busy ordering. The GA-965P-DS3 is OOS at Newegg. I just picked one up at ClubIt for a few bucks less but way slower shipping.

Good for you, and I mean that.

I'm never the type to rush out and buy something on release, TBH I've never been a big fan of Gigabyte mobos and I'm sure other 965 boards from other brands will come out also.