£300 core component build for overclocking fun

Jimbo Mahoney · 31 Jan 2008 at 21:12

I'm looking into getting a bang-for-buck overclocking rig. Main focus is tweaking, benching and gaming. Budget is approx. £300, but can go over if it's really necessary. Emphasis on bang-for-buck though...

Currently it looks like this (already got PSU, drives, watercooling):

DFI LanParty P35 DK-T2RS

Intel Core 2 Duo E2180 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.00GHz (800FSB) - Retail

OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK)

PowerColor ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro Extreme 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail

Whadya reckon?

semi-pro waster · 31 Jan 2008 at 21:28

Can't see any obvious ways to improve it, maybe if you could pick up some cheap PC8500 that might be worthwhile but the multiplier on your CPU ought to be high enough for it not to matter all that much.

Amnesia · 31 Jan 2008 at 21:47

semi-pro waster said:
Can't see any obvious ways to improve it, maybe if you could pick up some cheap PC8500 that might be worthwhile but the multiplier on your CPU ought to be high enough for it not to matter all that much.

does memory really make that much difference ?

im not much of an overclocker but the few tests i done in games....memory made the smallest difference.

Pneumonic · 31 Jan 2008 at 21:49

E21** have issues past 430 FSB, so 6400 should be plenty

Jimbo Mahoney · 1 Feb 2008 at 05:13

Pneumonic said:
E21** have issues past 430 FSB, so 6400 should be plenty

Yeh I've heard they typically wall there. It's a shame I can't justify an 8400 as I would dearly like some 45nm fun.... guess that'll have to wait a few months.

Cupra · 1 Feb 2008 at 05:36

e8200?

Jimbo Mahoney · 1 Feb 2008 at 05:42

memory said:
does memory really make that much difference ?

im not much of an overclocker but the few tests i done in games....memory made the smallest difference.

You're right in that it doesn't make much difference, but if you, for example, want 3.4Ghz out of a CPU with an 8x multi (E2140 for e.g.), then the memory needs to be capable of 425Mhz, since you can't run it below the FSB speed. In order to guarantee 425Mhz, you might consider buying PC8500.

Jimbo Mahoney · 1 Feb 2008 at 05:43

Cupra said:
e8200?

I am tempted with the 45nm I must say, but I don't think I can justify spending the money right now. I think I'll get one later. Play with this 65nm and get a feel for it (and update the BIOS of the board), then go 45nm in a few months.

Cupra · 1 Feb 2008 at 05:50

id just say tho ethe price of the e2180 you could have a 2nd hand e6600 from members market

Amnesia · 1 Feb 2008 at 21:53

Jimbo Mahoney said:
You're right in that it doesn't make much difference, but if you, for example, want 3.4Ghz out of a CPU with an 8x multi (E2140 for e.g.), then the memory needs to be capable of 425Mhz, since you can't run it below the FSB speed. In order to guarantee 425Mhz, you might consider buying PC8500.

im pretty much a noob compared to most u guys when it comes to overclocking but i have my e6600 running at 3.ghz(stock 2.4) and my memory speed i didnt change.
i just selected the unlink option in the motherboards bios.
i would have thought most motherboards would have this option.

Jimbo Mahoney · 4 Feb 2008 at 11:27

memory said:
im pretty much a noob compared to most u guys when it comes to overclocking but i have my e6600 running at 3.ghz(stock 2.4) and my memory speed i didnt change.
i just selected the unlink option in the motherboards bios.
i would have thought most motherboards would have this option.

Which motherboard is that?

I wasn't aware of any that could run the memory slower than the FSB.

Amnesia · 5 Feb 2008 at 08:33

Jimbo Mahoney said:
Which motherboard is that?

I wasn't aware of any that could run the memory slower than the FSB.

motherboard

quite a few people seem to have had problems with this board so i wouldnt recommend it but for me its been one of the best buys i made.