Cheap CPU Upgrade
Right now I've got a Gigabyte P35 mobo with a Core Duo E8400 CPU running at 3.4 GHz
I just want to upgrade my CPU - I really can't afford going all the way up to an iX system. What's the best bang for the buck quad core CPU (recently it's been discovered how to optimize Flight Simualtor X for quads so I want a quad now) I can get for my mobo? Thanks
I just want to upgrade my CPU - I really can't afford going all the way up to an iX system. What's the best bang for the buck quad core CPU (recently it's been discovered how to optimize Flight Simualtor X for quads so I want a quad now) I can get for my mobo? Thanks
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If I go past 3.4GHz on my current stuff I start getting Prime95 errors
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0299412
I overclock my E8400 to 3.6GHz with no problems at all. Prime95 runs okay.
That is a VERY good deal! Newegg has it for $278.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041
2.83 to 3.6 GHz with Q9550 is a very good 27% overclock. Even if you upgrade your memory you can typically go up to 4 GHz but that is only 10% more than 3.6. And, assuming that your P35 motherboard will support >467 MHz FSB which might not. I would not recommend investing more into DDR2. Q9550 at 3.6 is a quite good performance level for anything out there.
If you need a quad cpu, I'd look for a Q6600 on the "cheap"
otherwise, go iX
Read first!
I did, and I'm getting back on the originalâ„¢ topic
get the Q9550 for $180, and just run 400 FSB. do you really need more than 4x 3.2GHz?
I have a GTX260 as well and I have been itching to upgrade it. But I see no reason/game that requires a better graphics card (my monitor is 1920x1080). If someone can make me justify the upgrade, I will be very happy buying a GTX460. It overclocks so good.
I ALSO Bought some Crucial Ballistix ram since it was there. I bought the warranty thing so I can just bring it back and get a refund minus the cost of the warranty ($12)
Although my FPS in FSX didn't improve since the clock speed is actually lower (3.5GHz vs 3.8 on the E8400) the smoothness of the simulation is vastly improved. With more cores to handle textures and rendering all the micro-stutters and slide shows that I would get in crowded areas are gone. Everything is SMOOTH now. In that respect it is a huge improvement. I've noticed this effect in other games, too, since I usually have IE open and a music player going on while I'm playing. The game runs smoother.
Back to the 3.5GHz thing...I'm most disappointed in this ballistix ram, I thought it was specifically for overclocking or somethinglike that . So even with 5-5-5-18 timings it refused to boot at 430. 410 x 8.5 is as high as it can go and be stable. I lowered the multiplier to 6 just to make sure it wasn't the CPU (it is an E0 stepping), but sure enough at 430 the system wouldn't post, even at 6 mult.
Even my cheapo ADATA ram which it replaced could do that much (or better, since it could do 425 stably). I'll probably take it back, but the Q9550 is a keeper.
edit: almost considered going i7 but I didn't like their mobo selection. ultimately I can just take everything back for a refund minus the warranty cost when I finally do upgrade
The ballistix is rated 4-4-4-12 at 400MHz
My P45 motherboard (ASUS P5QSE-PLUS) supports 7-7-7-24. That is how I overclock A-Data DDR2-800 to 933 at 2.2v with the same processor. You got the idea; maybe you can try 6-6-6-18 and 2.1-2.2v.
You're gonna have to loosen the timings way up if you want to overclock that RAM. Jump it to 2.1v and loosen them up to 7/7/7.
Timings don't matter on the Core 2 Duo, and you definitely can't overclock those DIMMs with 4/4/4 or 5/5/5. Those timings are very aggressive.
yes I know we don't need 12MB cache CPU's, just like we don't need 10k rpm Velociraptors either :bigggrin:
Well, my CPU is still easier to overclock!!!