Looking to upgrade E6400, please help

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sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
I haven't upgraded my system in a while and lately I've been getting annoyed at things that are CPU dependent and taking a long time. Things like parity checking with PARS or converting or rendering video. My current setup is listed below and I'll be honest, I haven't kept up with the industry so sorry if I have some silly questions.

I would really like to avoid building an entirely new PC. What I'd like to do is replace the CPU and motherboard and of course any other components I am forced to upgrade due to form factor, plug, power requirement, etc changes.

My current setup:

Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA775/ P965/ DDR2-800/ A&L/ ATX/ RoHS Motherboard MB-965PDS3

CPU/Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

Graphics
SAPPHIRE 100283-2L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail

Memory
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996587

I was thinking of getting:

CPU
Intel Core i5-2500K

Motherboard
ASROck P67 Extreme4 or
MSI P67A-G43

Memory
G.Skill Ripjaws Series 4GB DDR3

As you can tell, I just went to Tom's Hardware and looked at some of their $1000 enthusiast builds. I don't have any brand loyalties but I will say I definitely want an Intel chip (not AMD) and I tend to like ASUS. But any board you recommend is fine.

As for memory, does it make sense to stick with 4GB or should I get 8? Also, can I use my current memory or do I have to upgrade to DDR3? I don't know the difference.

Needs
I don't do much gaming. It's mostly word processing, image organization and touch-up (Lightroom), some DVD ripping and video conversion, etc. When I do game, it's things like Portal 2 and Left 4 Dead. I have a 20-21? inch monitor with a native resolution of 1920x1080. As long as I can play games in that resolution with a decent framerate, I am OK. Or it can even be a smaller resolution as long as it looks decent. [I am correct in understanding that games look best in native res, though, right?]. I would like to keep my graphics card and I am not interested in dual GPU's. I don't do bitmining or anything like that.

Wants
It'd be nice if the system supported USB3.0. I don't know how much that's asking. I know it's a pretty new spec but if I am going to make the move, it'd be nice to have it supported. I also think it'd be nice if the motherboard had headers so I could connect from USB ports on my case.

Overlocking - I forgot to mention. I am not a huge overclocker but I will take the guarnteed no brainer OC each time. In other words, if a particular CPU is known for easily overclocking to a certain speed without fancy cooling or tweaking, I'll do it. I am currently running my E6400 at 3Ghz. Stock is 2.13Ghz. It would be nice if the i5-2500K had some breathing room for tweaking.

Compatibility Questions
I don't know how to ask this, but have there been any changes since the Core 2 Duo days in terms of interfaces, plugs, power, etc that would require me to change components in my current setup? For example, can I still use my Lian-Li ATX case? What about my current power supply? I don't want to get my new parts then find out that the motherboard requires some weird 7 pin plug I don't have.

Your help is greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited:
richierich1212

richierich1212

Platinum Member
Jul 5, 2002
2,741
360
126
What PSU do you have? The i5-2500K will be quite the upgrade. Also, what HDD do you have? You may want to upgrade that to a Samsung F3 1TB. It's fast and cost effective for ~$50 on sale.
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Hi,

Great questions. I don't remember the make/model of my PSU and I am currently at work so I cannot easily look. I do know it's modular and has plugs for my PCI-E GPU, SATA hard drives, etc. Is there something I should know? Like my PSU might not be able to handle the load of the i5?

I am not worried about storage. I just upgraded my Intel X25-V 40GB SSD to a Intel 320 Series 120GB SSD. I also have 3 other SATA drives in there.

Memory - I can do 8GB no problem. Are timings that important or can I just stick to the G.Skills but get the 2 x 4GB kit instead?
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
I was just reading one of Tom's build guides and they indicated some things that concern me.

1. Is it true that the industry changed the front power LED plug header to a different pin setup? Does that mean I need to buy a new case?

2. Are USB3.0 plugs physically different than USB2.0? Will my front plug ports on my case not work with the USB3.0 motherboard headers?
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Thanks VirtualLarry. Looks like I may need a new case? WTF, I am going to end up replacing nearly my entire system save for the HD's and GPU. Kind of annoying :(

Ok what about this new power port on the new motherboards? It's an 8-pin CPU power port. I think my current motherboard uses a 4-pin. Does this mean I need a new PSU or do you think the existing one might have an 8-pin cable in there? I am at work so I can't check. I did buy my PSU at roughly the same time as my E6400 if that helps with dating it.
 
S

sangyup81

Golden Member
Feb 22, 2005
1,082
1
81
sygyzy said:
Are timings that important or can I just stick to the G.Skills but get the 2 x 4GB kit instead?
Click to expand...

Timings help but not enough to justify the extra money. We're talking 1% or 2% typical gains. You're better off putting that money in a better CPU or GPU.
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
It went from just CPU and motherboard to that plus memory, case, and power supply. :(
 
edplayer

edplayer

Platinum Member
Sep 13, 2002
2,186
0
0
Can you live without USB 3 ports in the front? That would save you from buying a new case (they would be on the back).


sygyzy said:
Memory - I can do 8GB no problem. Are timings that important or can I just stick to the G.Skills but get the 2 x 4GB kit instead?
Click to expand...


Timings hardly matter with DDR3. I've seen 8GB of G.Skill get down to $65 and less (without rebates) on newegg. Can probably get it for $60 or less if you watch slickdeals.
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
I can live without USB3 ports in front but would that mean I won't have any USB ports in front or I just won't have USB3? I have two front ports on my current setup and they are USB2.0. Would I be able to somehow connect them to the new motherboard? Does it have USB2.0 headers?

I will go for the 8GB of DDR3 since your data indicates it's quite affordable.
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Wait, the ASRock comes with a 3.5" bay accessory that has 2 USB3.0 ports. Problem solved. I have such a bay available on my Lian Li case. I have two actually but I think a floppy is in one of them. That would work right?
 
R

Roy2001

Senior member
Jun 21, 2001
535
0
76
My setup/recommendation:

i5-2500k, Asrock Pro3-M, 2x4GB RAM, 160GB RAM.

I highly recommend 2500k+Z68+SSD for RAW/video editing.
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,309
1,878
126
sygyzy said:
It went from just CPU and motherboard to that plus memory, case, and power supply. :(
Click to expand...

This is always the dilemma, and I can't fault some of the other posters. (One person suggested getting "DDR3" -- which most certainly means a CPU and mobo upgrade).

I was just checking at the Gigabyte web-site for your board -- the "CPU compatibility" list. The Yorkfield and Wolfdale cores are "supported" with a BIOS update specification, but Gigabyte labels them as "non official support." Temper that with my experience over a 610i (nvidia) mobo which didn't even include the E6700 (Wolfdale) release of early 2010. It worked. It worked fine. But the list showed unqualified support for the E8x00 Wolfies.

So if you were to spend money on -- say -- an E8600, it's "likely to work." It's a guaranteed over-clocker. You wouldn't have to replace the mobo and RAM. You could double the memory, if you could find a pair of Mushkins that matched the spec of those you have, even if a different "model." By that time you might have spent $300.

Suppose you chose to replace all the "guts" with a Sandy Bridge setup with CPU, mobo and RAM. I saw a NewEgg "combo deal" the other day for the whole enchilada, including a HAF-922 case for about $700 -- 8GB of RAM, a terabyte SATA-III disk, etc. Z68 chipset on a Gigabyte board.

Often, the best strategy is to postpone and save. I can't advise which of the other options makes more sense. But the price spread between the LGA775 update and the "combo deal" makes it seem almost worth moving up to Sandy Bridge.
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Oh yeah, no problem. I am totally ok with doing a whole upgrade. I know it's a lot of money but I sort of expected this. i realize how outdated the Core2Duo "architecture" is, for lack of a better word. It's just sort of annoying that they come up with all these new standards and you keep having to upgrade multiple items.

I've committed to Sandy Bridge. Except now I am reading about the Sandy Bridge chipset failures that affect P67 and both the boards on my list, recommended by Tom's Hardware are P67. WTF? Why would they recommend faulty boards? I read it affects the 3GB SATA channels which happen to be what all my devices are. So confused.
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,309
1,878
126
sygyzy said:
Oh yeah, no problem. I am totally ok with doing a whole upgrade. I know it's a lot of money but I sort of expected this. i realize how outdated the Core2Duo "architecture" is, for lack of a better word. It's just sort of annoying that they come up with all these new standards and you keep having to upgrade multiple items.

I've committed to Sandy Bridge. Except now I am reading about the Sandy Bridge chipset failures that affect P67 and both the boards on my list, recommended by Tom's Hardware are P67. WTF? Why would they recommend faulty boards? I read it affects the 3GB SATA channels which happen to be what all my devices are. So confused.
Click to expand...

Well, I personally felt that the Z68 chipset was a big gamble for me, if only because it doesn't have a BIOS revision-history. On the other hand, it's supposed to be a hybrid P67-H67.

EMBRACE the CERTAINTY of RISK -- which itself means UN-certainty.

There's another thread here recently for speculating on the future of C2D and LGA 775. For that -- I've already said it elsewhere -- I didn't NEED to build this Sandy Bridge, but I'd been looking toward this for a couple years.

YET . . . . . I've got this E8600 C2D-Wolfdale OC'd to 4.1Ghz, with 8GB of RAM. It's my "special toy," even for gradually becoming obsolete. I could've cruised for another few years on that one. That's why I'm saying -- you have options that include adding some hardware to the existing system or replacing the processor, etc.
 
WhoBeDaPlaya

WhoBeDaPlaya

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2000
7,414
402
126
OP, what revision is your 965P-DS3? If it's a 1.0 (like mine was), your upgrade options are extremely limited (Q6600 G0 if you can find one cheap).
 
B

betasub

Platinum Member
Mar 22, 2006
2,677
0
0
sygyzy said:
WTF, I am going to end up replacing nearly my entire system save for the HD's and GPU. Kind of annoying
Click to expand...

Sorry, the hardware industry has moved on, & mostly for the better. They have partly failed, however, because they'd like you to replace everything!
 
edplayer

edplayer

Platinum Member
Sep 13, 2002
2,186
0
0
sygyzy said:
I will go for the 8GB of DDR3 since your data indicates it's quite affordable.
Click to expand...



$55 right now if you are OK with DDR3 1333 (no rebate).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231311



sygyzy said:
I've committed to Sandy Bridge. Except now I am reading about the Sandy Bridge chipset failures that affect P67 and both the boards on my list, recommended by Tom's Hardware are P67. WTF? Why would they recommend faulty boards? I read it affects the 3GB SATA channels which happen to be what all my devices are. So confused.
Click to expand...


All those motherboards are off the market. Anything you buy these days should say revision "B3". Those don't have the problem.
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
I don't know, am I ok with it? I want to OC my 2500K but not by some extreme amount. Just the standard safe amount most review sites are doing. I think 45x multiplier? (Sorry, I have been out of the 'scene' for a while and they keep changing how they overclock). Will 1333 allow me to hit this?
 
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