Requesting advice for CPU upgrade.

[ch33zw1z]

Current Rig specs:

Asus P5K, latest BIOS 1103
E2180 @ 320x10, stable of course
4x1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2 6400 (3:4) ~ 850 Mhz (don't remember exactly)

I'm looking into a CPU upgrade I've been unhappy since switching from an E6600, the difference is very noticeable and would like opinions from this forum, because I trust my fellow geeks here.

My machine is used for mostly web browsing and Audio/DVD encoding and playback. Also, running a Virtual machine for Linux (love the games it offers), and of course Office type apps. I will be playing Diablo III when it comes out. I will more than likely start folding with the new CPU also.

Ok, so I'm looking into a Quad, but here's where I'm not sure what to go with. I really want a Q9550, but is it really worth the extra $ over any lower Q9xxx CPUs? I'm also willing to go with a Q6600, the only issue is will it keep up a year (or two) from now? OC'ing is an option, if I went with the 9550 I wouldn't probably need to..The Q93/4's look good, but not that much cheaper

Hope I gave enough info about what system is used for, thanks in advance for input.

 

[myocardia]

I think you'd be happy with an E7300. It has 3x the cache of your E2180, is 45nm, and will overclock alot higher. As far as quads, you aren't going to get that much of an overclock with a 45nm quad and your board, because of their lower multipliers. You'd be better off with a Q6600, IMO. As far as how long a Q6600 will remain fast enough, I don't think any of us knows. I'd be interested, if you find out, though.


edit: After rereading your OP, yeah, a Q9550 would be your best option. An 8.5x multi will get you to ~3.4 Ghz, which is about as fast as a Q6600 @ 3.6 Ghz, and hardly any of the newer Q6600's are going that high now.

 

[Concillian]

pretty much any Q9300 should OC to Q9550 speed with no issue at all, the issue becomes FSB, as you're already at 400 at 3.0 GHz. 3.0 is very achievable. Higher is too if you're willing to bump voltages and your board can support FSB so high.

Q6600 is no less viable IMO, because your OC options are very similar, it's just your limits become the chip and not the FSB with the Q6600 as the chip will top out in the same frequency area that your FSB woul dtop out with a Q9300.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Thanks for the replies, I'm ok with not OCing the 9550. In fact when I get new stuff the stress testing begins @ stock speeds. Then I start to OC. I really haven't pushed the P5K very much, it doesn't mind 333 FSB, and I haven't gone higher with it yet. So I'm not sure what kind of OC relying on FSB alone.

 

[geokilla]

E7XXX series doesn't support VT, so I don't think you can run VMware on them. Get a E8400. They can easily overclock to 4Ghz. If you want a Quad, I'd say Q6600.