E2180 --> ?

[kppanic]

Hi all,

Right now my E2180 is at 3.6 but it still cannot drive my 4850's.

What would be a sensible upgrade..?
I was thinking "screw it" and then just go for Q9650 but that costs a lot.
I was eyeing Q9400 but then having a 8GB of 800 RAM I don't think I can push my RAM too much.

I can just go E8500 or even the E7xxx but then now I am stuck in the marginal upgrade dilemma, and I would like to go the Quad route if it makes sense. Of course, the main purpose of this rig is gaming, but I don't know if getting a Dual core at this point in time would be a worthier investment than getting a Quad... Wondering if a Q9xxx at 3.2-3.4 is enough to drive the 4850s...

Thanks.

 

[Trunks9486]

Get the 9550 and clock it at about 3.6 to 3.8GHz

 

[marcus_667]

Quad core all the way in my opinion ive not been in the quad core camp long really abou 4 months and i came from an E6750 @ 3.6 ghz and i abosolutely love the quad over the dual core everything seems so snappy

 

[kppanic]

Get the 9550 and clock it at about 3.6 to 3.8GHz

My only concern with Q9550 is if I can push my RAM beyond 400FSB for 24/7.
the 8.5 multi on a Q9550 is not going to hinder 3.6 I hope..

I supposed 9550 at 3.4 or 3.6 makes that much of a difference..

 

[kppanic]

Quad core all the way in my opinion ive not been in the quad core camp long really abou 4 months and i came from an E6750 @ 3.6 ghz and i abosolutely love the quad over the dual core everything seems so snappy

Yeah, exactly that, I am willing to pay premium for that "snappiness" that Quad core users talk about.

I just can't decide whether a Q9400 would be enough to drive my video cards, or I would actually need a 9550/9650 to feel a difference... That L2 cache difference is always bugging me...

 

[pastymuncher]

Yeah, exactly that, I am willing to pay premium for that "snappiness" that Quad core users talk about.

I just can't decide whether a Q9400 would be enough to drive my video cards, or I would actually need a 9550/9650 to feel a difference... That L2 cache difference is always bugging me...

That "snappiness" is a load of twaddle in my opinion. I had a Q6600 at 3.8Ghz and i could'nt tell any difference when i got rid of it for a E6600 at 3.8Ghz.

Nice clock on the E2180 by the way.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Right now my E2180 is at 3.6 but it still cannot drive my 4850's.

What would be a sensible upgrade..?

6MB Wolfdale clocked at 4GHz +


off-topic:

That "snappiness" is a load of twaddle in my opinion.

"snappiness" is a real term but I don't think it has anything to do with dual-core vs quad-core and everything to do with Memory/NB/tRD latency, the lower the ns the "snappier" everything feels!

 

[marscay]

That "snappiness" is a load of twaddle in my opinion. I had a Q6600 at 3.8Ghz and i could'nt tell any difference when i got rid of it for a E6600 at 3.8Ghz.

Nice clock on the E2180 by the way.

depends on what you do with your machine, anyone who truly multitasks can feel the difference.

i can easily bring my dual core machines to a crawl when the quad will happily chew the same tasks like butter.

 

[gurusan]

i can easily bring my dual core machines to a crawl when the quad will happily chew the same tasks like butter.

How do you do that? I notice zero difference between a q9650 @ 4.4ghz and wolfdale at 4.4ghz in windows.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Anyway before this turns into a dual vs quad debate just say what you think is a " sensible upgrade" for kppanic

The E2180 is a bit lean in the old cache department, surely a fat slab of cache plus extra clock speed will see him good?

 

[kppanic]

That "snappiness" is a load of twaddle in my opinion. I had a Q6600 at 3.8Ghz and i could'nt tell any difference when i got rid of it for a E6600 at 3.8Ghz.

Nice clock on the E2180 by the way.

Thanks but the thing is I literally feel zero diff between 3.2 and 3.6 other than at benchmarks.

I am leaning towards Q9400 at this moment but then I might as well get q9550/9650. Argh. I don't want q6600 as it is 65nm.

I want a CPU to drive the CF 4850 and last me until i7 refresh. I feel as though if I got a 6600/7x00/8x00 I might end up getting another 775 before I can endure the transition.

 

[kppanic]

Welp that's it. I got a Q9650. =) This will have to last me for 2 years ha!

 

[marscay]

How do you do that? I notice zero difference between a q9650 @ 4.4ghz and wolfdale at 4.4ghz in windows.

VM's for one, more cores more smooth

only works if you have a lot going on, preferably with 8gb......light duties i can't notice either.