Is upgrading a E2160 to a E5300 worth it?

Yep, you will see a noticeable improvement. I went from a E6300 C2D Conroe (1.86GHz) to a E5300 and saw a major improvement.

The E5300 is also very overclock-able, reaching 3.6GHz on stock voltages and shouldn't have trouble getting to 4.0GHz on air cooling.

E5200/E5300ss should cost around $60.

I'm not looking to overclock nor can I overclock with the Dell BIOS. (This is an Inspiron 530d) I'm just looking for it to get closer to playing say..Crysis or UT3 without a lag (it almost plays it without a lag right now). And Crysis' demo does good without using the Binoculars on Medium.
(I have a Sapphire 4670 512MB HDMI Onboard video card).

Anyway, It appears some "ZipZoomFly" place has the E5200 for $64.. Not much savings over the E5300.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?Product...

Also, if I do decide to upgrade, do I want something like Arctic Silver 5? Or do I just use the sticky stuff on the intel cooler?

1. What is the best CPU your motherboard can support? Since you say you have a Dell, you might not be able to support 45nm CPUs. Their motherboards are absolute crap and will rarely provide the necessary BIOS updates for compatibility with new CPUs.

2. Thermal paste comes with the stock cooler, but you'll need to buy thermal paste since you won't be able to use the stock cooler with your Dell-motherboard and case.

OK so I will put my original cooler back on?

I can do Core2Duo's, but not quad cores with the Inspiron 530d (however the other ones can *shrug*)

I can do Dual Cores, and Celerons.

No word about the nm's limits.

How do I find out about the nm limitations or not?

Give the dell forums a search. There will be the best chance of finding others experiences on what worked and what didn't. Or contact dell with your service tag number and just ask what CPUs are supported.

My computer is out of warranty. (they will make me use the pay service)

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd530/...

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19302941.aspx

It appears I can run 45nm cores?

Wow, thats an eye opener that Dell is putting that kind of upgradability into their systems now. Encouraging.

Heres the head to head of the 2160 vs 5200.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=66&p2=69&...

Yeah, if the info in that forum is factual, the E5xxx or E3xxx will work just fine. Zipzoomfly is a great site. They always have some part on a great sale and I use them often.

And for using a stock fan and needing new grease, I wouldn't worry about spending more for performance, you're not going to be getting into territory that needs performance goo. Just the cheapest shipped you can get.

The guy above claimed that I would not be able to use Intel's cooler, would it be fine for me to use the Dell supplied one that comes on the E2160 ? Also I think I'd just go head with the E5300. ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... )

The E5300 is going to run cooler than the 2160 so either will be fine. I haven't looked inside a dell in a long time to see if they have their own mounting system or not, so take BSODs word for it and prepare to use the Dell HSF. You could scrape the goo off the intel HSF and put it on the dell HSF and not have to buy anything but the cpu.

Yeh, I assumed that Dell is still using BTX cases with BTX HSFs, so the ATX HSF that comes with the CPU won't fit.

Do what skora says about recycling the intel HSF thermal paste and you should be set.

But in general, if I was to purchase the Arctic Silver 5 I could use it?

Yes.

Yeah you could use it, but its not going to make your system run any faster or make it last any longer. So aside from bragging rights, why spend the money?

OK, is there anything I should be worried about?

This would be my first time upgrading the processor.

It seems the LGA775 just unscrews to pop the cooler off, and the CPU comes out by releasing the leaver ?

After that I just pull the processor out, put the new one in in the same place and flip the things back, put the lever back, screw/push the pins in on the CPU after applying thermal pace to the core of the processor?

To not have to scrap/screw up the paste on the new intel one putting it on the other one. To have a backup already on site?

Yep, thats the simple version. Just make sure your grounding yourself before starting. Just touch the frame of the case before any electrical component and you'll be fine. If you need some extra guidance, this was made by our own Tecmo34 and should be a guide visual guide for the parts relevant to your project.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274745-31-step-step-g...

Sounds about right. You'll need to make sure the CPU is lined up correctly. This means matching Pin 1 up with pin 1 on the mobo. Should be a gold triangle to help you with this. I agree with the cooler as well. Either should be fine.

This guide for thermal paste application. Since you're scrapping it on there, just use something like a credit card to put a very thin layer on it so it looks like the finished results in this guide:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_conten...

Hm, so I don't want a "pea" size of goo running everywhere, but a thin layer?

The amount of goo you need is quite minimal from what you would expect. Once the HSF latches down, there's not much room between the CPU and the base. Its just to fill the micro space between the surfaces on a very small scale.

I believe the thermal paste (TIM) should be at most the thickness of a sheet of paper. Less if possible.

Yeah, just a dab...(2 mm drop)

How about $60 (shipping is a couple bucks, eWiz is pretty reputable) for a E5400:

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=E5400&title=Intel-P...

It's an OEM, no fan, but you don't need it.

Good find, that's all he needs and cost less for more performance.

Again, I CAN'T overclock.. nor am I interested in doing so.

Or the second gen, 2.8 GHz E6300 for about $80.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

That's only a few more cheaper than the Pentium.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

The FSB is over 800 MHz, and I can't use but 667 or 800 MHz RAM. Seems it would be a waste unless the Core2Duo's are better anyway? (I have 667 MHz RAM installed anyway).

59.50 + USPS Priority mail = $66.95

Retail at newegg is $72.99 with free shipping. Seems the other one comes out a little better.

Note on the OEM I didn't think about, you won't get a fan or the thermal paste on the bottom, so you'd still need to buy some type of goo.

Yeah. Is there something you recommend for the el cheapo ? And how am I supposed to know what a "2mm drop" is ?

~$6 for the silver filled stuff. The $2 alumina stuff will probably work fine too if you don't overclock.

http://www.ewiz.com/query.php?categry=702&name=Thermal-...

Here's a picture:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_conten...

Actually that $2 grease might be the best stuff:

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_conten...

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-A2014&title=The... then ?

I guess so. Good luck. Be careful not to get any on the contacts.

Contacts?

Yeah, the underside of the chip. Probably best to apply the paste when it is socket anyway. Sometimes, the stuff flows though. Read that benchmark.com link above is a very good article.

er uh the paste goes on top of the core, not the bottom of it? lol

For what you're doing, anything that isn't water will work for your TIM (thermal interface material.) Cheapest delivered is the way to go. Use the pictures as your guide for application and don't sweat the 2mm. Just remember, you don't need much, it will spread pretty well on its own. Don't use too much and you won't have to worry about it getting on the circuitry. Too little and you'll know it when you check temps and can correct that without damaging the CPU.

As for the ram speed issue you're worried about, don't. The ram subsystem isn't going to hold back your system and those numbers really only need to be worried about by overclockers. But heres a shot to show how confusing it is to balance those numbers:

The CPU talks to all the other components through the north bridge and the CPU FSB speed is what those two parts talk to each other at. BUT, the rest of the parts only talks to the northbridge at 1/4th that speed except the ram which is 1/2. Head hurt yet? So the E6600 PDC 1066 FSB CPU speeds that are used for the northbridge is only talking to the rest of the system at 266mhz. Now the ram will be double that at 533mhz if the divider (don't worry about that one either) is 1:1. So your 667mhz ram is still running faster than an optimal 1:1 ratio for the ram to the northbridge speeds. Long confusing explanation made short, youre 667mhz ram doesn't become too slow until you have a CPU FSB speed higher than 1333mhz.