Just wanted some quick opinions. Comparing the 2 processors in the various benchmark test charts it seems the E8500 performs minimally better than the E8400. I am looking to upgrade from my E6600 processor, and I only really game on my computer. I don't plan on overclocking. Is the E8500 price difference justifiable, cuz the E8400's are dirt cheap atm. Thanks!

Get the 12 8+4+0+0 not the 13 8+5+0+0

Much cheaper the 12 is and overlcoks well too. 9x multiplier is still nice. 8500 not worth that extra 40-50$
Christopher

ummm, i own an e6600 and you wont get a huge performance increase with either CPU. Why dont you just overclock the e6600 (like i did got it to 3.2ghz without any pains) and wait for Nehalem

Disregard Christopherr's way of finding out processing power first off; The E6600 is still an excellent gaming processor, why do you feel the need to upgrade it? I have an E6300@2.8 for 24/7 use, and it flies through the newest games (paired with an 8800GT of course). If you really do feel the need to upgrade, don't go to another dual core, the performance gains won't be there. Look at a Q6600 or Q6700 as they are cheaper, more viable options over the E8xxx series.

It seems like the 8400/8500 out perform the E6600 in gaming by large. I'm running an SLI 8800 GTS system, 4GB DDR2 RAM, Raptor HD...I think the processor is holding me back, its my bottle neck. I was under the impression from all the reviews that the Quad Cores are inferior for gaming compared to the newest dual core, but better at multitasking (i.e. video editing, etc). I'm really only gaming.

I'd like a Nehalem, but I'm not real thrilled having to upgrade motherboards again....(just built this system last month). Plus, I'd like to wait for the 2nd generation of Nehalem mobos so they work out the kinks I'm sure they'll have.

What are you running your E6600 at? Those chips are notorious for their overclocking potential, you should at least be able to squeeze out 3.2-3.4 comfortably. To test the difference from stock to OC, use 3dmark. If your score increases linearly with CPU clock speed, then you know.

its a no brainer get the E8500

your getting an extreme chip for a few dollars more - i will not go into details why but take my word for it!


multitaksers should go for a q6600 or a quad but for gamers with no multitasking the dual core blows away the quad due to cooling issues.

but, as windows become more and more better to use 4 cores - and it is evolving as we type, the q6600 is the better choice

the e8500 is better bin and will give you 4ghz+ the 8400 are the E8500 rejects

For me it was a no brainer (although I was switching from Athlon X2) to use the 8500. Yes it's more but newegg started selling the OEM at $219 a couple weeks ago (although I think went up to $229 now). While E8400 & E8500 might have similar potential 8500 has a 9.5 multipler. With a Rampage formula X48 and 4gb OCZ DDR2-1066 a flip to 400fsb and 3.8ghz was as simple as setting 400FSB w/o voltage tweaks or anything else. I would not even call that overclocking but rather a freebie from Intel.

It took a little more effort in voltage and cooling but I just got the system game and prime95 stable at fsb 450 and 4.28ghz. I've gotten it to start as high as 500fsb and 4750ghz but there are still temp issues to overcome. At 4.28ghz with a single ultra overclocked Geforce 8800 GTX I'm in the 16000's on 3DMark.

Lots more potential in E8500 even if you just bump it to 400 FSB. If you are not even going to do that then is probably a waste.

optinal multipler is 9 - pay extra for the E8500 if you want max oc in the 4.2-4.4 area

I love how you guys just go into threads and say get this cpu and overclock it. Do you fools even read the OP's post or just skip it and make your own retarded reply? He said he IS NOT planning on overclocking. And even if the OP was going to start to overclock he would use his current chip since its already a great overclocker

My question to you Veshek is if you just built this system a month ago, why did you use the old e6600 instead of one of the newer 45nms(E8*00 cpus) or the FSB1333's(E6*50 cpus) that are cheaper and faster than a e6600.