Looking for advice on dual core to buy

[xxxJCxxx]

Hello,
I'm looking to pick up a really cheap cpu that I may want to OC someday. So, I am looking for some opinions on a good (cheap) Intel dual core to look at. From my limited knowledge of oc'ing, it seems fsb is a major factor. I have been looking at the following cpu's so far: e6750, e6550, e7400, e8200. Looking for most bang for my buck on an OC. have about $70 to spend.

My Mobo:
ASUS P5KC Mobo

Thanks!
JC

 

[jonpaul37]

E4500 OC'd to 3.2 has performed just about the same for me as the E8400 @ stock 3.0 speed, hope this helps. The extra L2 cache in the E8400 helps, but not that much to warrant the extra $$$ you would spend.

 

[Changnoi]

Don't consider anything except an E5200, e5300 or e5400. They've great overclockers, have high multipliers, are based on 45nm wolfdale tech, and they're cheap as he'll. I built a system for a friend with one and it's so good it's making my q6600 jealous.

 

[gracefully]

+1 to Changnoi. At your budget, those are really the only CPUs you can choose from. Although the seemingly "best" CPU is the E8200, it's about 100$ above your budget.

 

[jonpaul37]

Don't consider anything except an E5200, e5300 or e5400. They've great overclockers, have high multipliers, are based on 45nm wolfdale tech, and they're cheap as he'll. I built a system for a friend with one and it's so good it's making my q6600 jealous.

If an E5400 is making your Q6600 jealous, your Q6600 has issues.

Q6600 > E5xxx any day of the week.

 

[gracefully]

If an E5400 is making your Q6600 jealous, your Q6600 has issues.

Q6600 > E5xxx any day of the week.

Very very true. :lol:

Maybe it has an identity issue, and was actually an E660 and not a Q6600.

 

[xxxJCxxx]

Best answer selected by xxxJCxxx.

 

[xxxJCxxx]

Thanks for the replies....appreciated.

 

[jonpaul37]

lol, you selected the best answer from someone who is basically saying an E5xxx is better than a Q6600... something totally wrong with that....

Just to enlighten you...

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu,2520-7.html

If you notice the last "conclusion" page, the E5xxx series is in the same league as the E4xxx series CPU's thus validating my recommendation for the E4500, ALSO, notice that the Q6600 is WAY above both of them... Just saying

 

[xxxJCxxx]

Follow question: If I could pick up a used e7400 vs a new e5400 for apout same price....what would you suggest?

 

[jonpaul37]

read the chart in the link above, it clearly states that the E7400 is better than the E5400, also, i would not worry about the E7400 being used, it should be fine.

 

[xxxJCxxx]

Thx jonpaul!

 

[xxxJCxxx]

BTW, I selected "best answer" based on answering question with price range in mind.

ETA: Yes, after reviewing chart...it looks like e4500 may be best bang for the buck. Sorry, i'm a newbie just playing around with building a new pc. I've got a lot of learning to do.

Thanks again.

 

[jonpaul37]

If you plan to Overclock the Core 2 Duo in the future, please read the following article and study it s few times, then attempt the overclock...

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/240001-29-howto-overclock-quads-duals-guide

 

[xxxJCxxx]

Will do...thx again. Another question if you don't mind. What's your opinion on the trade offs between 45nm and fsb speed i.e. e6750, 65nm, 1333fsb vs. e7400, 45mn, 1066fsb???

Looks like I can pick up either of these chips in my budget. Seems like it's a trade off between heat and fsb speed. Am I missing something? Which would you prefer over the two?

 

[jonpaul37]

go for the 45nm CPU as it allows for a little more room for overclocking and runs cooler.

the E7400 runs @ 1066 default FSB but can be OC'd higher. the 1066 is actually the rated FSB, the FSB is really 266 FSB X 10.5 Multiplier which = 1066 rated FSB, but if you changed the 266 yo 300, it would be 1200 rated FSB... It is safe to do this.