Author Topic: conroe and an upgrade (Read 1103 times)

Krusty · « **on:** April 13, 2007, 08:44:08 AM »

Well, if I get my tax return, I might spend $180 on a conroe CPU (E6300 I think). Or if I get a nice tax return, I might spend $30 more and jump up to the next chip (E6400 I think -- the naming convention eludes me right now).

I've got an ASRock board that is conroe-compatible (one of the reasons I bought it), 1 GB DDR1, Ge7600GTS, and you can check my sig for more details, but an older Prescott P4 2.66GHz.

As is, my FPS is good, but could be better. I know I'm being limited by my old CPU.

So I'm thinking of getting either the lowest conroe or the second lowest. Even the 1.8GHz would blow away the chip I've got now.

So, some questions:

1) Is there any major difference between the two lowest chips? I won't be overclocking much if at all. My gameport flight controls don't like being overclocked, every time I've tried it.

2) On newegg I saw a cheap chip listed as core 2 duo, but it was "allendale" -- is this new? The new "celeron", so to speak? What's the scoop, and am I better off with the conroe?

3) the search on newegg for "conroe" cores also turns up some Xeon chips. From the practical standpoint, I don't need those, and should avoid 'em, right?

Any other thoughts? I don't want to spend too much (I've got bills to pay).

I'd LIKE to get 2 GB of RAM, but here's the problem: I'm trying to modernize the PC. I've got the ASRock Dual-775 board, with DDR2 and DDR1 slots. I can only use one type at a time. My 1 GB stick is DDR1 from my old motherboard. If I get another 1 GB stick of DDR1 I'm taking a step backward, but I've got 2 GB of RAM. If I get a stick of 1 GB DDR2 I'm spending money for the same end result. If I get 2 GB of DDR2 I'm spending a lot more money (harder to justify).

Krusty · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2007, 09:29:12 AM »

Oh, and while we're on the subject, is CAS of 6 high for DDR2? I'm looking through 533, 667, and 800 mhz sticks of 2GB. It's not as much as I'd thought, but still somewhat expensive.

It means I won't get dual channel, though, with just 1 stick

EDIT: Errr... 2x 1gb sticks is less than 1 2gb stick. What's the benefit of the 2gb stick? Is it simply "more capacity"?

Reschke · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2007, 10:02:34 AM »

Thats just it more capacity. However if I were you I would go with the 800 versions of DDR2. They seem to be where the most bang for your dollar amount is in my mind.

Krusty · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2007, 10:08:01 AM »

I'm still not sold on the cost of getting new ram, but I'm considering it.

1x2GB runs about $160, while 2x1GB runs about $120. Both 800mhz. If I did, I think I'd go with 2x1, as I've only got 2 DDR2 slots that means I'd have to wait to upgrade my mobo (later on) if I wanted more RAM later.

Any thoughts about the CPU questions?

Fulmar · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2007, 11:44:25 AM »

If memory serves me right, the E6300 and E6400 are Allendale chips - they have the same bus etc but only 2mb cache, not like 4mb of the Conroe E6600 and up.

Definately go with the 800mhz DDR2, the price difference right now is that anything lower is futile. The 800mhz will allow for future upgradeability with faster FSB processors.

If you want to save $30, you can get the E6300 and very easily overclock it to the speed of the E6400, even on the stock cooler.

I run an E6400 with 667mhz ram, but I have mine overclocked mildly to 2.66ghz, this is a 1:1 ratio of FSB to DDR2 which is ideal. If you're running stock and not plan on overclocking, you'll see little difference in performance between 533mhz to 667mhz to 800mhz because the processor cannot utilize the faster DDR2 speeds beyond the 1:1 ratio of the 533mhz (which matches the E6xxx 1066mhz FSB, DDR2 533x2=1066).

Make sure you pick out a ram with good timings. Aim for something around 4-4-4-12.

Fulmar · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2007, 11:48:48 AM »

As for the ram, WITHOUT A DOUBT get the 2x1gb. This way the ram will run in dual channel which gives you roughly a 15% performance gain over 1x2gb chip. This will leave you with 2 more slots for ram.

2gb is a good ammount for Windows XP, XP cannot use more than 3gb effectively anyways. For Vista you can go up to some insane number (like 80gb, even though motherboards really dont support more than 8gb right now). 2gb will give you good performance in Vista.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2007, 12:03:09 PM »

Actually, there are motherboards which do support up to 64GB of RAM. Just FYI.

OOZ662 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2007, 12:31:44 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Fulmar
This will leave you with 2 more slots for ram.

He only has two RAM slots from what he said.

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Actually, there are motherboards which do support up to 64GB of RAM. Just FYI.

Server dweeb.

Krusty · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2007, 12:45:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Fulmar
If memory serves me right, the E6300 and E6400 are Allendale chips - they have the same bus etc but only 2mb cache, not like 4mb of the Conroe E6600 and up.

According to newegg those are conroe cores, with only 1 allendale on their books being listed as a "E4300" 1.8GHz.

Quote

Originally posted by Fulmar
Definately go with the 800mhz DDR2, the price difference right now is that anything lower is futile. The 800mhz will allow for future upgradeability with faster FSB processors.

If you want to save $30, you can get the E6300 and very easily overclock it to the speed of the E6400, even on the stock cooler.

I run an E6400 with 667mhz ram, but I have mine overclocked mildly to 2.66ghz, this is a 1:1 ratio of FSB to DDR2 which is ideal. If you're running stock and not plan on overclocking, you'll see little difference in performance between 533mhz to 667mhz to 800mhz because the processor cannot utilize the faster DDR2 speeds beyond the 1:1 ratio of the 533mhz (which matches the E6xxx 1066mhz FSB, DDR2 533x2=1066).

Make sure you pick out a ram with good timings. Aim for something around 4-4-4-12.

Thanks for pointing out the 533x2 bit, hadn't thought of that. I probably will get 667 or 800 though (if I get it) just so I'm prepared for the 5+ years it has to last.

Fulmar · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2007, 01:34:53 PM »

Sorry I misspoke before. From Wikipedia on the Allendale/Conroe.

"Allendale
There is some contention as to whether currently-available low-end Core 2 Duo desktop processors (E6300, at 1.86 GHz and E6400, at 2.13 GHz, both with 2MiB L2 cache) are specimens of the Allendale core. Until Q1 2007, all E6300 and E6400 processors released were Conroe (4 MiB L2 cache) cores with half their L2 cache disabled. The Allendale core, manufactured with 2 MiB L2 cache in total, offers a smaller die size and therefore greater yields.

Quoted from The Tech Report:

You'll find plenty of sources that will tell you the code name for these 2MB Core 2 Duo processors is "Allendale," but Intel says otherwise. These CPUs are still code-named "Conroe," which makes sense since they're the same physical chips with half of their L2 cache disabled. Intel may well be cooking up a chip code-named Allendale with 2MB of L2 cache natively, but this is not that chip."

Krusty · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2007, 01:47:37 PM »

Ah, thanks for the clarification!

That begs the question, however, if it's a 4MB chip with half that disabled, can you re-enable it??

Kinda like unlocking pipes on the Ge6800s, I mean.

Anyways I think I'll go with the E6400 and see if saving $30-$40 will let me squeaze in a couple GB of DDR2.

I'd like to spend $15 and get a new joystick while I'm at it.

Fulmar · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2007, 01:57:46 PM »

As much as I've tried to find, I don't think you can get 4mb out of them.

Krusty · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2007, 04:29:27 PM »

Suits me. Even stock (which is how I will run it) it'll blow away what I've got!!!

Fulmar · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2007, 04:56:49 PM »

I had a similar system to yours. P4 2.8ghz non-HT, 1gb ram, geforce 5900xt (it was free). Built mine in January, lasted almost 4 years. Always liked my Intels.

Tigger29 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2007, 10:00:38 PM »

I've got the same ASROCK motherboard, E6300, 2X1GB DDR2.. I couldn't be happier.. this thing is BY FAR the fastest computer I've ever used.. for EVERYTHING, including gaming.. even with my GeForce 6200 AGP video. Of course I haven't used high-end "several thousand dollar" gaming systems.. but I can honestly say thing thing just.. rocks.

When I built this setup, I just couldn't justify the extra money to upgrade for the E6400.. I was in the same boat... 2GB ram with E6300, or 1GB with the E6400... I chose the extra memory instead.

Good luck!