N00b OC'er CPU & MB Question

[thegisguy]

HI,

I'm a long time system build (50+ builds) but never ventured into Over Clocking. My p4 2.53ghz system is getting too slow, so I want to upgrade. I'm not much of a gamer, but I occasionally play 3D games. I do alot of video editing of home videos, etc.

My question.

Would I be better off with:

An E2160 (~ $80) & ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 MB (~130) = $210 total

or

An E4500 (~$130) & DFI ICFX3200-T2R/G LGA 775 MB (`$85) = $215 total

I?ve never really been sure how much the Mother board factors into the overall system speed.

Other info:

I'm planning to replace the Stock Fan with a Copper heat pipe/ 120mm fan combo. I'm hoping to reuse my Antec Lanboy case but add a couple extra fans to improve cooling if needed. I have a 450w Ultra x-connect powersupply which I plan to use as well. I'm hoping to keep the total price to around $600.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on the subject.

 

[aigomorla]

OPTION 1

The E2160 according to Lopri can do 100% as long as its a M0 stepping.

Most are M0 steppings if you get them now.

The P5K is a better board then the X3200. Now if you said DFI X38 -TR2 that would be a different ballgame.


Option 1 expecially with overclocking is the best route to go.

 

[thegisguy]

Those two options aren't really set in stone. I'm willing to play with the numbers a little. if I went with the Asus P5K & the E4500, would I notice a big performance difference verses the E2160. Basically for the $50 I get the double the cache. Is that worth the $50.

Forgive me for asking, but what is M0, and how do I know if the E2160 is M0?

Thanks for your help

 

[21stHermit]

Here's what I'd recommend:

Abit IP35-E $67 AR @ NewEgg & E2180 $85 @ Clubit

Because you game, the E4500 with double the cache is a better CPU.

The Abit IP35-E is fairly feature less, no RAID, etc. but about the best OCer around.

 

[thegisguy]

Yeah I looked at the Abit on Newegg, but they sold out before I got off work to buy it.

Sounds like I should be ok with the E21xx huh? I like the idea of the P35 chipset I've heard great things about it.

 

[myocardia]

21stHermit is correct about the L2 cache, it only makes a difference with games. Well, actually, it makes a difference with SuperPi and F@H, along with gaming. For everything else, it makes hardly any difference at all. That doesn't really mean that you shouldn't consider the E4500, though, and here's why. It has a 400 Mhz headstart, with it's 11x multiplier, and it overclocks a bit higher, if you get a good one. Match that with the E21x0's needing an extra ~200 Mhz core clock to match the performance of the E4x00's, and it's not really a bad investment. Here are some gaming benchmarks between the E2160 and the E4500's little brother, the E4300. Note that the E4300 runs at exactly the same speed as the E2160, so the performance difference is all because of the extra cache, and doesn't include the extra 400 Mhz that the E4500 has over the E4300.

Of course, coming from a 2.53 Ghz P4B, any C2D is going to run circles around your current system, so don't feel bad if you decide to save the $50 and get an E2160. Oh, and welcome to anandtech.