CPU or Motherboard considerations

[az1d3]

I will just make a 10% OC or not, which will I choose? An el cheapo mobo at lower cpu clock speed or an average mobo at a higher cpu clock speed?

MotherBoard Intel S775 Foxconn P9657AA-8EKRS2H (1066FSB/PCI-e/Raid/GLan) $55
E2160 $95
2GB Kit (2x1024MB) PC6400 800MHz Geil 5-5-5-15 $88
=238
or

E2140 $75
Gigabyte GA-G31-MX-S2 (all in1) $99
2GB Kit (2x1024MB) PC6400 800MHz Geil 5-5-5-15 $88
=262

Price is in Au$

My video is 7900gs turbo force from gigabyte. It's just that my 3ghz prescot+asrock+1gb ddr400 + neohe 500w is kinda slow and is needing some minor upgrades until I can get build a new rig. thanks in advance

[Tech Geek Deluxe]

The E2140 is a good CPU tho I would suggest the E2160 for a few dollars more since some reviews indicate it overclocks slightly better.

I would consider a 40-50% overclock on either chip on stock cooling with properly applied quality thermal grease like Arctic Silver 5 and a 70-90% overclock if you used a quality cooling sink. The KINGWIN Revolution RVT-9225 ... looks to be a decent cheap Heatsink and the reviews are exceptional.

For the motherboard ... I personally think the ABIT IP35-E LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard is a solid choice ... it has many of the features and components of its highly acclaimed "Pro" version ... aside from some minor issues it appears to have a solid set of features and quality capicitors and such and a good chipset that has room to grow into a Quad or Penryn driven MOBO.

I would stay clear of GeiL ... I have fried 4 sticks of their Ram ... It runs hot compared to say ... Corsair or Crucial ...

[az1d3]

Thanks for your opinion. But I will have the same choice as well if my budget is not tight. I would definitely go for p35 chipset and e2160 or even 4400.

But you see, I would just like to change my aging system which is actually a transition because I just have them as spare when I sold my first dual core.

I was playing bioshock on a prescot and have decided to upgrade for a 2gb ddr400 ram but the price of a new ddr can be added to go for a new system after all.

[Yellowhello]

I think you should get the E2160 with a P35 motherboard like the DFI Blood Iron. It's gotten some pretty good reviews and I've heard that it can overclock the dual-cores (not so much the quads) extremely well, and it's a great choice for the money.

I highly recommend Crucial memory over the Geil you have picked out... the Crucial Ballistix 800MHz 2GB are going for dirt cheap right now, and these are top quality sticks that have the famed Micron D9 IC's.

Also I'd like to mention that although I recommended you get the E2160, you could probably get the E2140 and overclock it up to E2160 speeds, and probably beyond. The E21xx has a reputation to overclock extremely well, so you could actually get the E2140 and be really happy with it.

[az1d3]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

I think you should get the E2160 with a P35 motherboard like the DFI Blood Iron. It's gotten some pretty good reviews and I've heard that it can overclock the dual-cores (not so much the quads) extremely well, and it's a great choice for the money.

I highly recommend Crucial memory over the Geil you have picked out... the Crucial Ballistix 800MHz 2GB are going for dirt cheap right now, and these are top quality sticks that have the famed Micron D9 IC's.

In OZ Dollar
DFI Blood Iron=200
Crucial Ballistix=100
E2160=99

Now that's 400 without even putting a good HSF bec I probably be recycling a Zalman CNPS7000B-Cu by using ZM-CS1

But my budget is only 250 with a 20% buffer up to 300 perhaps

[Capper]

There's nothing at all wrong with the bundle you posted. Gigabyte makes in my opinion the best quality boards on the market right now, and I've never personally had problems with GeIL memory......and as long as you are not expecting a solid OC, you should be fine there.

[az1d3]

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 1.80GHz/1MB CACHE/800FSB/LGA775 $105.00
Patriot 2GB (2x1024MB with Heat Spread) DDR2-800MHz DC SL Kit $99.00
Gigabyte GA-P31-S3L S775 P31 FSB1333 DDR2 PCIEx16 SATA2 GbLAN ATX VDBI $99.00

@ $300

I guess this is the way for me

[Capper]

Thats really not a bad budget system at all

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by az1d3

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 1.80GHz/1MB CACHE/800FSB/LGA775 $105.00
Patriot 2GB (2x1024MB with Heat Spread) DDR2-800MHz DC SL Kit $99.00
Gigabyte GA-P31-S3L S775 P31 FSB1333 DDR2 PCIEx16 SATA2 GbLAN ATX VDBI $99.00

@ $300

I guess this is the way for me

Yep, nice choice on the Patriot RAM there. Looks like a solid system.

[az1d3]

I just wanna share my final upgrade. I can't get a patriot ram that's why I used Corsair XMS2

- running at 2997.2 Ghz
- coretemp idle at 28C

- passed the orthos test, has been playing unreal tournament 3 and bioshock with no problems at 1440x900

The issue that I am having is that CPUZ says that the FSB:DRAM ratio is 5:6 and not 1:1. Is it possible to run this on 1:1? Is there any advantage with synchronous fsb and dram?

E2160
Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L
2gb kit Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800Mhz CL4
ZM-CS1 to recycle CPNS7000-AlCu for LGA 775
Antec NeoHe 500W

Gigabyte 7900GS Turbo Force (recycled from old rig); itching for a good 8800 probably when the price drops to 200

Bios Settings

== Advanced BIOS Features ==
No-Execute Memory Protect = Enable
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) = Disabled
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) = Disabled
CPU EIST Function = Disabled


CTRL+F1 to Access SPD Memory Timings
== MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.) ==
Robust Graphics Booster = Auto
CPU Host Clock Ratio = 9x
CPU Host Clock Control = Manual
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) = 333
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) = 101
C.I.A.2 = Disable
Performace Enhance = Standard
System Memory Multiplier (SPD) = Manual
Memory Frequency 800 / 800
High Speed DRAM DLL Settings = Option 1
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD) = Manual
CAS Latency Time = 4
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay = 4
DRAM RAS# Precharge = 4
Precharge delay(tRAS) = 12
ACT to ACT Delay (trRRD) =
Rank Write to READ Delay =
Write to Precharge Delay =
Refresh to ACT Delay =
Read to Precharge Delay =
tRD =
tRD Phase Adjustment =
CPU GTLREF Ratio Control =
** System Voltage **
System Voltage Control = Manual
DDR2 Overvoltage Control = +0.3V
PCI-E OverVoltage Control = Auto
FSB OverVoltage Control = +0.1V
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control = +0.1V
CPU Voltage Control = 1.35000V

== PC Health Status ==
CPU Smart Fan Control = Enabled
CPU Smart Fan Mode = Auto