Looking for CPU recommendation

[dosage0]

I'm looking to upgrade my CPU/MB and was wondering what combo would give me the best value? I am not really looking for the most bleeding edge technology, and I dont need the cheapest. My old system is an a64 3000+ OC'd to 2.5 ghz (If I remember correctly) on a DFI Lanparty with an ati 1850gt and a Raptor HD. I know a thing or two about OCing so I will probably be overclocking whatever chip I buy.

I recently downloaded bioshock and started playing it and didnt feel any significant frame rate crunched areas on my current system.

The computer will be used for light gaming, surfin the internet, and watchin movies (I still love my BenQ drive).

I'd imagine it would be a wiser choice for me to pick a dual core option over a quad core, but I will leave that decision to someone smarter than me who replies.

Thanks in advance

 

[dosage0]

Just reading and answering my own questions... I've narrowed it down to a Q9450, a Q6600, or an E8400. I doubt I'd see much of an improvement with a quad because of the applications being used, but since I havent played with either system I wouldn't know for sure. Any opinions? Motherboards to go with the chip?

 

[AshPhoenix]

I recommend the E8400 and the GigaByte GA-P35-DS3L board.

 

[undeclared]

Originally posted by: AshPhoenix
I recommend the E8400 and the GigaByte GA-P35-DS3L board.

Agreed, that's perfect.

 

[heyheybooboo]

From the Intel side go with the E2200 Allendale 2.2GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W $85
with the ABIT IP35-E Motherboard = $152 AR

or from the 'other side'

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz Brisbane 65W $78
egg 'combo' with OCZ Gold 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 = $136 AR

Probably with a GIGABYTE GA-MA770-S3 AMD 770 $85
HT 3.0, PCIe 2.0 x16, Realtek ALC888, 2 x IEEE 1394a


No real advantage going with a quad unless your software supports parallel threads over four cores (primarily video transcoding). Either cpu above should reach a 'comfortable' 3GHz+ with low temps and volts ...

Did you mean a Radeon X1950GT ???

 

[DarkElfa]

I'll tell you what man, I got my Asus P5KC for 149$, a Q6600 for 199$ and a Tuniq Tower for 39$. I managed a rock stable OC of 3.0 by only upping the FSB to 333 and I would say that the price/performance for this is quite possible the best I've ever seen in the market.

I originally ordered the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L MB with a Q9650 and 3 minutes after I booted it, the MB burned out and fried the CPU. Fried it, a 1000+$ CPU. Out of all the PC's I've built, I've had 3 Gigabyte MB and of those PC's, only 3 MB ever had issues and all 3 were Gigabyte. I find the main problem with them is that if you get them and they work without issue, they'll probably outlive you, but when they fail, it's usually spectacular.

Stay with Asus. I wish I could be more objective, but I can only speak from personal experience.

 

[Bones82]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
From the Intel side go with the E2200 Allendale 2.2GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W $85
with the ABIT IP35-E Motherboard = $152 AR

or from the 'other side'

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz Brisbane 65W $78
egg 'combo' with OCZ Gold 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 = $136 AR

Probably with a GIGABYTE GA-MA770-S3 AMD 770 $85
HT 3.0, PCIe 2.0 x16, Realtek ALC888, 2 x IEEE 1394a


No real advantage going with a quad unless your software supports parallel threads over four cores (primarily video transcoding). Either cpu above should reach a 'comfortable' 3GHz+ with low temps and volts ...

Did you mean a Radeon X1950GT ???

I have never had an issue with Gigabyte. MSI is a different story. If you want a budget computer that can be overclocked VERY easily. You could try a E21XX. My computer is smoking fast now that I have OC'd.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
From the Intel side go with the E2200 Allendale 2.2GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W $85
with the ABIT IP35-E Motherboard = $152 AR

or from the 'other side'

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz Brisbane 65W $78
egg 'combo' with OCZ Gold 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 = $136 AR

Probably with a GIGABYTE GA-MA770-S3 AMD 770 $85
HT 3.0, PCIe 2.0 x16, Realtek ALC888, 2 x IEEE 1394a


No real advantage going with a quad unless your software supports parallel threads over four cores (primarily video transcoding). Either cpu above should reach a 'comfortable' 3GHz+ with low temps and volts ...

Did you mean a Radeon X1950GT ???

Typo on the IP35-E again, 2nd post.... $65 AR, not 152

Do I have to slap your hand ??

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Markfw900

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
From the Intel side go with the E2200 Allendale 2.2GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W $85
with the ABIT IP35-E Motherboard = $152 AR

or from the 'other side'

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz Brisbane 65W $78
egg 'combo' with OCZ Gold 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 = $136 AR

Probably with a GIGABYTE GA-MA770-S3 AMD 770 $85
HT 3.0, PCIe 2.0 x16, Realtek ALC888, 2 x IEEE 1394a


No real advantage going with a quad unless your software supports parallel threads over four cores (primarily video transcoding). Either cpu above should reach a 'comfortable' 3GHz+ with low temps and volts ...

Did you mean a Radeon X1950GT ???

Typo on the IP35-E again, 2nd post.... $65 AR, not 152

Do I have to slap your hand ??

Only if you catch it in the cookie jar ...

e2200 + IP35 = $152 AR

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Typo on the IP35-E again, 2nd post.... $65 AR, not 152

Do I have to slap your hand ??

Only if you catch it in the cookie jar ...

e2200 + IP35 = $152 AR

Yeah, took me a minute to see that also...

Recommend the e2180 for $75 from ClubIT (comes with free copy of Lost Planet also) and the IP35-E and Corsair 2x1GB DDR2-800 from newegg. Should set you back about $175 after rebates and will be smokin fast compared to what you've got now.

If you weren't into overclocking the AMD system HHBB recommended would be a better option because it's a little faster at stock than the Intel version.

 

[v8envy]

+1 on Denithor's post. Too bad clubit is out of retail boxed E2160s. They had them for $67 shipped. That, the $65 P35-E and call it a day. Oh yes, and some cheapie A-data 667 mhz ram. You can't beat that kind of bang/buck -- you can go even cheaper with an AMD 3600x2, but the OCd performance won't compare even if you spring for expensive ram and $100ish board.

UPDATE: newegg has retail E2160s for $69 shipped! $135 for a known great, stable OC platform. Unless you have a Fry's nearby don't think.

 

[dosage0]

Sorry I meant a 1800gt. So is the e8400 not much better than the e2200? Its an updated core and an updated manufacturing process. 152 is damn cheap though and it would stomp all over my system that I have now. I'd need new ram though... still just match the FSB and go? The price is still way below what I was expecting, so is there anything that has this same price/performance in a vid card? Mine seems fine for what I play, but I can always turn up the eye candy.

Thanks for the help

 

[dosage0]

Just FYI.. that abit board link is sold out / auto notify atm.

 

[nOOky]

I must concur with the E2160/2180 cpu and the Abit I35-E motherboard combo. I just built a spare gamer using that mobo and an E2160 yesterday, with 2 x 1gigs of that cheap Corsair XMS memory you can find anywhere for $30 or so after rebate. Add a $150 9600GT and you've got a darn fine system for pretty much what you stated you needed it for. I decided to spring for an Arctic Cooling cpu cooler also, but supposedly the stock cooler will do the job for a decent overclock.

 

[MustangSVT]

I also recently upgraded from a64 2.6ghz to C2d e2160 @ 3.1ghz with Abit IP35-e.

very simple and stable o/c. amazing performance gain with dual core .

Only problem I have with ip35-e is that it only has 1 ide port. and 4 sata. I guess I should get sata but trying to use dvd burner and a hdd is a hassle since you have to connect both devices on one cable which just barely barely reaches.

If you can get same performance out of e2160 , why get any higher dualcore when you will just pay more? e2160

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: dosage0
Sorry I meant a 1800gt. So is the e8400 not much better than the e2200? Its an updated core and an updated manufacturing process. 152 is damn cheap though and it would stomp all over my system that I have now. I'd need new ram though... still just match the FSB and go? The price is still way below what I was expecting, so is there anything that has this same price/performance in a vid card? Mine seems fine for what I play, but I can always turn up the eye candy.

Thanks for the help

The E8400 is considerably better at stocks speeds, but you said you're comfortable with overclocking. The E2xxx series chips can all be overclocked to compete with a stock E8400. Definitely enough power for everything you want to do.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

For what you want to do (Not CPU intensive) I would almost say go with a Phenom... Except that you overclock, which throws AMD out the 10th-story window.

 

[dosage0]

That abit board from newegg is still out... any other no major frills motherboards that are good O/C'ers?

 

[tutelary]

gigabyte P35-DS3L

 

[dosage0]

Ok I bought the gigabyte and the e2200. I'm messing around overclocking and I can get it stable at 2860 on stock voltages. Couple questions though. I'm using core temp monitor and the highest I push while running prime95 is around 50 degrees. If I run HWMonitor though, it says im pushing near 70! I'm guessing that Coretemp is much closer because at idle im sitting at 32 while HWMonitor still says im up at 50.

Anyone else with the gigabyte... what the hell is auto voltage and do you use it? Everytime I change to a voltage I pick, it screams in red that its not optimised. I just left it on auto and it seems to bump voltage if I take the chip to higher speeds.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Auto just means that your board feeds it tons of voltage so it knows it's stable. Don't give in! Set your VCore the lowest you can go with a 24 hour prime test.

The reason for the different temps is that the programs think your CPU has different TJunctions. I'd go with CoreTemp.

 

[superstition]

Anyone else with the gigabyte... what the hell is auto voltage and do you use it? Everytime I change to a voltage I pick, it screams in red that its not optimised. I just left it on auto and it seems to bump voltage if I take the chip to higher speeds.

Turn all the auto stuff off, except auto memory timing (until your CPU overclock is finished). Set everything to "standard". The auto voltages bios setting causes high voltages. You can probably do better manually.

 

[superstition]

I like the beta Speedfan.

 

[dosage0]

well I can get the chip to post at about 3.1 and run at 3.0 but its not stable unless I throw a ton of volts at it. I'm just going to leave it at 2.86 and keep the temps reasonable. To get it 100% stable even at 2.86 I had to throw 1.375 in the bios. CPUID says the chip voltage is 1.328 so I guess with the droop or loss or whatever, its still right around where it should be. The thing flies though compared to my old setup. Final count:

e2200 at 2.86 260x11 1.375 volts.

Thanks for all the help

 

[dosage0]

Oh just one other thing.. really strange error I've come across. My control key does not work? I'm sure its not the keyboard because both of them "gave" out at the same time. When I try and hit cntrl-f1 I just get the f1 help menu and it doesnt work in windows either. I have no clue as to why and have never come across a problem like it.