Thinking about getting an E2180

[AiponGkooja]

I've been wanting to upgrade my computer for a while because it's starting to show its age and cleaning it up is no longer solving all the problems being displayed.

I would also like to do this for a reasonable amount of money.

My question is just whether or not an E2180 is still a good buy. I haven't done much OC'ing, but I plan on putting an after-market cooler on whatever new CPU I get anyway, and I heard these overclock really well with a good mobo (another new part I need to get anyway). It was basically between a Q6600, or an E7xx/E8xx, or this E2180. The cheaper the better really, but I don't particularly want to have to upgrade again for another 3-4 years if it can be helped (that's how long I've had my current rig).

It would be teamed up with an 8800gt of some sort (I'm plenty patient enough to wait for the new ones coming out within the month to drop prices on those, hopefully), 2x2gb of PC2 6400, a new mobo (no idea what to do there...don't need SLI, just want something solid and tested), new case (shrug), new psu (620HX), and various other older parts that I'm just going to transfer over.

Any comments/info/suggestions greatly appreciated,
Aip

 

[error8]

The E2180 is a good budget cpu, but that only if you overclock it. At stock speeds is very close to the low end Athlon X2, so quite weak.

So, it's something like that: in the long run, the Q6600 seems to be a better choice, since games will start to use more then two cores and programs and other aplications too. But right now, the best cpus for gaming are the E8xxx and then E7xxx. Both are impressive overclockers, differentiated by the amount of cache, which doesn't translate into a big performance hit as clock frequency does. The E8xxx are doing a far greater job in games over the Q6600, since two cores clocked higher are better TODAY then four cores clocked lower.
If I were you, I'd get an E7xxx or E8xxx today and overclock the hell out of it and after some 6 months or so get a quad, since Intel is about to release Q8200 that really looks like a good budget quad core. In my opinion, just for games, 3-4 years is a very long time for a cpu, cheap and often upgrades are the way to go.

 

[Drsignguy]

Error8 hit it on the mark. E2xxx series are great budget chips only if you overclock them. I have 1 (e2160). I also own a E7200 and that chip just kicks compared. So, I would totally agree with his advice.

 

[rogue1979]

I just updgraded two pc's to E2180's. Seems like there was two different steppings.

One had a default voltage of 1.325v and is running 3.0Ghz at 1.42 volts.

The other is a 1.275v cpu and runs 3.2Ghz at 1.40v.

Both are running 9600GT's and seem to have plenty of speed for the video card, both scoring over 10K in Futuremark 2006.

Less than 400pts difference between them, apparently the gpu is getting plenty of processing power from the cpu.

 

[aigomorla]

E7X00 FTW!

grab that and dont look back.

 

[boomhower]

If you are going to truly keep this thing for 4 years I would go with the quad. But error8 gives good advice, upgrade more often with cheaper parts.(i.e. a Q6600 rather than a QX6850) But with nehalem coming this fall that really isn't an option at this point as you will have to replace the motherboard and ram next time around as well.

 

[VirtualLarry]

An E2180, when overclocked to 3.2Ghz, is perfectly fine for gaming. I have a couple of E2140s @ 3.2Ghz each in my gaming rigs.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
An E2180, when overclocked to 3.2Ghz, is perfectly fine for gaming. I have a couple of E2140s @ 3.2Ghz each in my gaming rigs.

yeah but for around 30-40 dollars more a E7200 clocked around 3.6-4.0 would spank it.

 

[AiponGkooja]

Looks like the small majority would say an E7200 now and a Q6600 in 6-12 months then?

Keep in mind, my Athlon 64 3500+ has lasted me 4 years, and the only problems I ever have with gaming are because of my video card. It likes to overheat like crazy unless I put settings low enough and blow a nice 500mm fan, on high, straight into my case, heh. And I'm looking for lowest overall cost really... maybe in a couple more years I'll be able to afford more steady upgrades, but right now and for a while yet, it's a little tight to be putting too much into my computer.

Thanks again!
Aip

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
E7X00 FTW!

grab that and dont look back.

Go with this plan! Runs cool and it will last you for as long as you need it to.

 

[solog]

I'd say wait a few more weeks. E7200 is supposed to drop to around $113. E5000 series is coming out sometime soon. That will have 2MB of L2 so it should cost less than the E7200. If that is less than $80 I would buy that instead of the E7200. Or if E2180 drops below $50 I'd buy that. You don't sound like you need lots of cpu speed and you did say the cheaper the better...

 

[solog]

and I wouldn't upgrade to a quad core 6 to 12 months later. If you want one, buy one now. Unless they drop a lot within the next year. I think the slowest Intel quad will still be over $150 one year from now.

Just wait till more info on the E5000 series comes out. It will be made on the 45nm process and will have SSE4

edit: These guys claim it will go for around $84 (1000 units, tray, usually real close if not exactly street price).

http://www.tcmagazine.com/comm...shownews=20396&catid=2

edit 2: These guys say 2500MHz (didn't know Intel used half multipliers):

http://www.beyond3d.com/content/news/654

looks like I will wait for the E5200

 

[AiponGkooja]

Well although I don't have money, one thing I DO have is time, so I have no problem waiting, haha.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
An E2180, when overclocked to 3.2Ghz, is perfectly fine for gaming. I have a couple of E2140s @ 3.2Ghz each in my gaming rigs.

yeah but for around 30-40 dollars more a E7200 clocked around 3.6-4.0 would spank it.

Didn't we already have that discussion, and the result was that it wasn't really worth the $$$ to upgrade?

If you bought the E7200 to start with, then yeah, it's still a pretty good deal. But the ultimate in C2D price/performance still belongs to the E2xxx series.

Also, I don't think that the majority of E7200s reach 4.0Ghz. I think 3.6-3.8 is a more realistic goal.