Upgrade to e5200 from e2180?

if 3.3 is not fast enough for you then switch. although im curious what you are running that 3.3 is not fast enough

Well, the main reason I'm wondering is the cache. Me and my friends have identical systems save for the processor and heatsink (even the OS is the same, from the same day install. -Windows 7 beta), and it's an e4400 @ 3Ghz.

The difference is that his system runs our favorite games with MUCH higher minimum frame rates at the exact same settings. Fallout 3, for example, on his system dips down to about 35fps, while mine dips down to 3-5 at times. Maximum framerates are about the same, and because of the low dips, my average frames took a massive hit, too.

This WAS happening before I switched to Vista, or 7, so the only reason I can think of is a hard drive issue (even went to a basic install of Vista once with nothing installed but the game and drivers, and it did it. Even tried installing on a secondary hard drive of mine for no difference, too....) or it's the amount of cache difference.

It's not just Fallout 3, Though. It's Red Alert 3, Far Cry 2, Crysis Warhead, and more.

the older c2d limit out at 3.4ghz in many cases i run a e6750 at 425fsb or 3.4ghz

above that stablity suffers but it could be chipset to p35 tops out especially in micro atx box - i use


i run a shuttle with 4ghz e0 e8500 both with raid0 and this is 3.4ghz - its a tought call i agree

save up for i7