Potential sidegrade e8400 @ 3.6 to x3 720

[soccerballtux]

update: Running it on a Gigabyte GA790X-UD4P. Unlocked the 4th core, stressing right now!!!
Will overclock later, gotta go. Currently have 39 minutes left on OCCT.

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What do you guys think? I'd pick up this board to go with it.

How is the stock cooler that comes with these Ph2's? In reading around I'm seeing people having great temps but not being able to go any further with overclocking?

I'm thinking this would be at worst a sidegrade, at best I'd get a Ph2 x4 940 out of it.

 

[deputc26]

Obviously not cost effective ($200 for minimal performance improvement) but a cool experiment nonetheless! I'm all for it simply due to the fact that I want AMD to survive, if they go belly up the consumer will have a problem (a problem called Intel pricing for stockholders, I understand it, but it would still suck)

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: deputc26
Obviously not cost effective ($200 for minimal performance improvement) but a cool experiment nonetheless! I'm all for it simply due to the fact that I want AMD to survive, if they go belly up the consumer will have a problem (a problem called Intel pricing for stockholders, I understand it, but it would still suck)

Oh, forgot to mention I'd ebay the e8400 and Ip35-E. Between this and my recently ebay'd e2180; I'd be right at about $190.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

If you have the money and it's just for sh!ts and giggles, then why not? I get good temps on my stock cooled X3 720, but haven't pushed it more than 3.2GHz.

You could also luck out and get a quad out fo the chip.

 

[soccerballtux]

Would I be limited in NB OC'ing because of my RAM?

Excited. I'm starting to feel tingly all over.

 

[OCGuy]

If this is just to mess around with a new chip, why not?


If it is for some perceived possible performance gain.........no way.

 

[richierich1212]

sounds like fun, it's always fun to mess with new components

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: OCguy
If this is just to mess around with a new chip, why not?


If it is for some perceived possible performance gain.........no way.

Not going to have a performance gain? Planning on OC'ing...perhaps unlocking 4th core...too late now, already have sent counteroffers on ebay...

 

[richierich1212]

Well since you had your E8400 @ 3.6 you may get **some** performance gain depending on how high you can overclock your 720/NB and core unlock.

 

[LoneNinja]

Unless you manage to overclock past 3.6Ghz you'll see a slight performance decrease in most applications, C2D is still slightly faster clock for clock. However you'll see a gain in multitasking and multithreaded aps that can use your 3rd core.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: LoneNinja
Unless you manage to overclock past 3.6Ghz you'll see a slight performance decrease in most applications, C2D is still slightly faster clock for clock. However you'll see a gain in multitasking and multithreaded aps that can use your 3rd core.

^Was thinking this. Especially if I can get the 4th core going.

All in all I'm happy with the sidegrade, I might lose some potential but I gain the potential to use crossfire and to move to a quad AM3 down the road if this one doesn't unlock and go to 3.5ghz. Crossfire potential and a newer board are worth the $ to me.

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux

Originally posted by: OCguy
If this is just to mess around with a new chip, why not?


If it is for some perceived possible performance gain.........no way.

Not going to have a performance gain?

No. It should be a downgrade.

 

[Gikaseixas]

it's def. a sidegrade, you'll loose in some areas but gain in others. If you feel like messing with a AM3 setup why not? You can always upgrade it to a Quad later on.

Try overclock it to at least 3.7 or 3.8 and you should be good to go.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: Gikaseixas
it's def. a sidegrade, you'll loose in some areas but gain in others. If you feel like messing with a AM3 setup why not? You can always upgrade it to a Quad later on.

Try overclock it to at least 3.7 or 3.8 and you should be good to go.

This. And if you're going to shoot for >3.2GHz I would suggest an aftermarket cooler to keep things from getting too toasty.

 

[lopri]

Do you have an X3 already? I agree with others that it is not an upgrade unless you're lucky to get that 4th core unlocked. That's too much of a gamble to replace a full-blown Wolfdale, IMO. I'd do that only if I could hand-pick a known batch code. (But you never know, I guess)

I have an X2 and an X4, and X2 heatsink is a crap. X4 heatsink is decent and its performance is similar to old Opteron heatsink. (the one with 4 heat pipes) I have no idea whether X3 comes with X2 heatsink or X4 heatsink.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If you need a decent stock 4-pipe AMD heatsink, search for "AVC AMD heatsink" on ebay, there's a guy there that sells them, buy them from his e-bay store instead of his auctions, because the shipping is cheaper.

I just bought five of them recently. All in new condition. They work absolutely fabulous for overclocking AMD dual-core chips, keeps things nice and cool. Never tried an AMD quad with them yet, but should still be decent.

 

[soccerballtux]

Whoa, I forgot to mention my e8400 is a C0. Had it at 3.9@1.39v loaded but seemed to be acting funny. Went back to 3.6Ghz@1.36v.

BTW, I already have a Thermalright Ultra-120 I'll be using to cool this.

The way I see it--
-New AM3 supporting board
-2-8x PCI-E2.0 slots (Crossfire support)
-Might unlock 4th core
-I already have good cooling. If no 4th core, I have a solid chance of getting 3.6Ghz; once I OC the NB, performance will be right where I was before.

 

[Rhoxed]

i would say go for it, my 720BE unlocked perfectly with that board

even in a foxconn a-79a-s with the chip not unlocked i could reach 3.85 on air 3 cores 1.52V

now on the UD4P i can reach 3.925 @ 4 Core with the same 1.52V

0904 DPCW

my stepping that unlocked

will post any SS if needed

 

[dguy6789]

I say go for it. I love the extra cores. Personally, I'd take any triple core Phenom II over any dual core Intel processor on the market right now. A new toy to play with and it just might unlock to all four cores.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
If no 4th core, I have a solid chance of getting 3.6Ghz; once I OC the NB, performance will be right where I was before.

You're forgetting - these AMD chips do not give the same work/clock cycle of the Intel chips.

X3 720 @ 3.6GHz =/= e8400 @ 3.6GHz

In heavily multithreaded applications where the third (or even fourth) core come into play the 720 will skunk the e8400. But in single or lightly multithreaded (ie optimized for one or two cores) applications the e8400 will actually be faster at the same clockspeed.

EDIT: Sorry if this came across as trashing your choice, not intended in an offensive manner. Just pointing out that at best you're doing a sidegrade (unless you do a lot of video encoding or play games that take advantage of >2 cores). Either way - enjoy your build!

 

[Spoelie]

@denithor, true at stock, but clocking the NB higher improves IPC. The higher you can push the NB, the smaller the IPC difference becomes.

If you can get it up to 2.7/2.8ghz from a standard 2ghz, the differences in IPC with the wolfdale would be minimal in most situations.

 

[soccerballtux]

Bump for unlocking 4th core! (see first post)

Batch 0905FPMW

 

[richierich1212]

So any opinions yet, soccer?

 

[Rhoxed]

ahh, i knew you would enjoy this combo


very glad the board unlocked for you too

give us some updates vs your intel if you still have it

 

[soccerballtux]

Nah it's parted out.

This is most definitely faster. Loving the Cool & Quiet-- you can control it completely with programs like PhenomMSRTweaker, I've got it at 2.2Ghz and 1.04vcore for idle-- Fan at 25% and it's silent. 3.6Ghz/2.6Ghz L3 cache for full speed.

Cinebench10 went from ~7500 or 8000 IIRC on the e8400@3.9 to ~14700 with this thing.

Even at 2.2Ghz (where it sits 99% of the time, even with multitasking since it's a quad core) firefox still feels snappier.

Only problem with this board is it supplies 1.95v to the RAM, won't go down to 1.8.
Might sell my 4GB of 1.8v ram to a coworker and go get another set of the 2v stuff I have.