Quick CPU poll -which would you do?

[stuff311]

Trying to get some people's opinions based on current prices. I'm trying to see which is the more logical choice for performance. Its the E4600 vs E7200. They are currently at $119 and $129. I like to mildy OC, with my mobo set at around 300 for FSB. This makes the choices a 3600mhz/2mb/65nm cpu, and a 2850mhz/3mb/45nm cpu. I have a Zalman 9500 for cooling, so that should be able to handle both of these. So, gentlemen (and ladies if you're there), which would you choose?

 

[daveybrat]

Definitely the E7200. Best bang for the buck cpu out right now. :thumbsup:

 

[Denithor]

e7200 should easily do >3GHz, probably without even a voltage change. Why limit yourself to 300fsb? Just push it up until it's not stable on stock volts then back it down a little.

And even without overclocking, the e7200 typically beats the e6600 (2.4GHz, 4MB cache) in benchmarks. So it will certainly beat up the e4600 even if it's clocked a little lower.

Keep in mind that e7200 will consume less power so it will also cost you less in electricity over time, more than making up for the $10 difference.

 

[Serradifalco]

daveybrat:thumbsup:
Denithor:thumbsup:

My sig:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[imported_Scoop]

Unanimous Decision in favor of E7200.

 

[toadeater]

What motherboard do you have? The E7200 overclocks much better than the E4600.

 

[stuff311]

Originally posted by: toadeater
What motherboard do you have? The E7200 overclocks much better than the E4600.

Quite possibly the silliest board in the world. A P5NSLI. I have an E6400 in it. Should I just invest into a new mobo instead and OC my current proc? It's stepping is B2.

 

[aigomorla]

7200 all the way.

If you factor in the OC potential of both cpu's.

The E4600 is too painful to look at.

 

[JimiP]

Another vote for the E7200.

As for a motherboard... I really recommend DFI's P35 T2RS. For $129 @ the Egg, it's hard to pass up.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Kinda what JimP said ....

I'd consider a nice P35 mobo as your first upgrade with your cash - - and bump that fsb 'slightly' past 300

Set yah up for a really nice cpu upgrade down the road ...

 

[Drsignguy]

I must agree that the E7200 is by far the better chip.

 

[Mondoman]

Any halfway decent MB will work fine at 1333MHz FSB, since that's now an "official" speed. You'll likely have a hard time getting an e4600 running at 3.6GHz without substantial voltage boosts etc, an the e7200 has internal improvements as well, so I'd go with the latter.

 

[iooiioio]

if you look ahead, the e7200 is SSE 4.1 -- major impact in the near future of gaming

 

[Denithor]

Why not just overclock your e6400? You might have to invest in a P35/P45 motherboard to get maximum performance but that chip should be able to do 3GHz or higher without breaking a sweat.

I had one of the first generation e6400 chips, on a P965-DS3 it would only run 2.66GHz with some extra volts, on an IP35-E it ran 3GHz without even a voltage bump.

 

[MyLeftNut]

Yeah, like previous poster said, it would be a better idea if you could overclock your e6400 to around 3.2-3.4ghz. I think almost all e6400s can do that, just with varying voltages. Depending on your needs, that may last you for more than another year until something much more powerful is available and affordable.

 

[stuff311]

Thanks for all your input, guys. Based on what you've said, I decided to acquire a new mobo and unlock my current 6400's potential. From what I heard, there is supposed to be a price drop on intel procs sometime soon, (not to mention talk of an E7300) so I'm going to hold off on the E7200 for now. BTW, this is the mobo I purchased. It's priced very nicely and has everything I need...much more capable than my current ASUS. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Mustanggt]

I have been iching to buy a new CPU, I just overclock my 6300 to 3.0 Ghz plenty fast i guess, check this review out 6300VSE8500From what i gather a Overclocked 6300@3.5 is darn close to stock E8500

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: stuff311
Thanks for all your input, guys. Based on what you've said, I decided to acquire a new mobo and unlock my current 6400's potential. From what I heard, there is supposed to be a price drop on intel procs sometime soon, (not to mention talk of an E7300) so I'm going to hold off on the E7200 for now. BTW, this is the mobo I purchased. It's priced very nicely and has everything I need...much more capable than my current ASUS. Thanks again for your help!

That's a real nice lookin' mobo at a great price :thumbsup:

Biostar has never let me down. The Realtek ALC662 audio rocks on my A770 AM2+.

Let us know how it goes ...