Gaming CPU

[ICEMAN133]

First off - im a total computer nub, so go easy on me

I'm looking to sort myself a new gaming rig, and posted in the general forums the other day asking advice. Semi_Pro_Waster kindly specced me this:


OcUK Value Hanns-G HW191D 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Silver (MO-017-OK)
Price: £109.99 (£129.24 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_This_Week_Only_25.html#amo_2d017_2dok


Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition inc. SP2 - OEM - 1Pk (N09-01528) (OS-001-MS)
Price: £52.99 (£62.26 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Operating_Systems.html


Creative Inspire 5.1 P5800 Speakers - OEM (SP-043-CL)
Price: £34.95 (£41.07 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/5_1_Speakers.html


Antec Sonata II Piano Black Quiet Case - 450W Smart Power PSU (CA-040-AN)
Price: £66.99 (£78.71 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Antec_Cases.html


Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.86GHz (1066FSB) - Retail (CP-126-IN)
Price: £114.99 (£135.11 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Intel_Pentium_Core_Duo2.html


Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 200GB ST3200820AS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-085-SE)
Price: £45.95 (£53.99 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Seagate_SATA.html


NEC AD5170 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM (CD-041-NE)
Price: £18.95 (£22.27 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/DVDRW_Drives.html


Connect3D ATI Radeon X1800 XT 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-044-CO)
Price: £114.99 (£135.11 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/X1800_Series.html


Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard (MB-061-GI)
Price: £91.99 (£108.09 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Gigabyte_179.html


GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300 667MHz Value DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB5300DC) (MY-034-GL)
Price: £129.99 (£152.74 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Geil_DDR2_Memory.html


Logitech G5 Gaming-Grade Laser Mouse - Retail (KB-069-LG)
Price: £36.99 (£43.46 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Gaming_Mice.html


SpeedLink Ultra SL-6466 Flat Illuminated Metal Keyboard (KB-001-SL)
Price: £29.99 (£35.24 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Keyboards.html


Icemat - Black 2nd Edition (GS-001-IC)
Price: £16.70 (£19.62 Including VAT at 17.5%)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Mouse_Mats.html


I chose the mat/mouse/keyboard myself \o/

To the point;

i get the impression the allendale is a bit 'budget', and seeing all the conroe *** ! threads, i thought it might be a good idea to spend a little more and upgrade to the

Intel Core 2 DUO E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail (CP-128-IN)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Intel_Pentium_Core_Duo2.html

is this a wise choice? or should i drop the extra cash elsewhere?

and im assuming i can keep the same mobo if i do upgrade?


Thanks in advance

 

[wizardmaxx]

If u can afford the 6600 then go for it, but the pc is going to be plenty fast for some time to come with the 6300. Personally id get the OEM version of the 6300 and get a descent cooler to go with it. As for spending the cash elsewhere you could go for the x1900xt 256mb.


"Personally id get the OEM version of the 6300 and get a descent cooler to go with it" - does anyone know if the OEM has a different warranty to the retail?

 

[Cob]

Yeah the OEM's only have a 12 month sellers warranty.

 

[mortals]

I just went for the e6400 for the multi.

Decided against spending the extra for a e6600 as tests seem to show an average of 5% increase gain from the extra 2mb cache.

The OEM chips only have a year warrenty I think, whereas normal ones have 3years. They also come with no HSF.

*edit* I type too slow

 

[hp7909]

{snip}i get the impression the allendale is a bit 'budget', and seeing all the conroe *** ! threads, i thought it might be a good idea to spend a little more and upgrade to the{snip}

For a very long time, it was considered that stripped down versions of the Conroe processors were code-named Allendale. In actuality, Allendale is a code-name for a different processor. Many suggest that E6300 and E6400 are actually code-named Allendale, however, the E6300 (1.86 GHz) and E6400 (2.13 GHz) processors are not code-named Allendale because they physically have 4mb cache, same as their big brothers E6600 and E6700 - it is just that half of their physical memory is disabled. Traditionally, CPUs of the same family with less cache simply have the unavailable cache disabled (this allows parts that fail quality control to be sold at a lower rating). The fact that E6300 and E6400 are not code-named Allendale and actually code-named Conroe has been has been confirmed by Intel themselves

Though the E6300's a very good chip, most here will argue that its an overclockers chip. Folks here have them even running at speeds higher than the flagship X6800 If you want performance without overclocking/etc, then go for the E6600. If its a budget build & or want to overclock then it has to be the OEM E6300. OEM so that you can purchase a better cooler than the one bundled with the retail version

 

[AmaTeX]

As said above the E6300 is fine, just do a mild oc to 2.6 2.8 and it will eat any game you through at it. I would spend a bit more on a PSU seasonic s12 energy+ 550w if you could stretch? If you could streach to a better psu ditch the case and get a lian li pc7 instead.

The PSU you will keep longer than the rest of the parts so you may as well get a good one.

 

[ICEMAN133]

thanks for the fast response's guys

On overclocking: though its certainly something i would like to venture into, i have no experience whatsoever in it so wouldn't want to buy parts on the assumption i'll be doing some mad overclocking skillz . On top of that, this will only be my second PC build so i don't wanna be too adventurous with different fans and whatnot.

Considering that, is the

Intel Core 2 DUO E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail (CP-128-IN)

the best option?

and graphic card wise, i hadn't looked much - didn't see your suggestion;

Connect3D ATI Radeon X1900 XT 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-053-CO)

isn't that much more than what i listed above, so i could grab that too if its much better.

 

[AmaTeX]

OCing a E6300 or E6400 to E6600 speeds is not hard and there are plenty of guides about here and else ware. And you need a different motherboard (more expensive) to get the best out of an E6600 so no real point. Stick with the E6300 or E6400 if you are that worried.

EDIT: Read through this DS3 ocing guide.

 

[CrazyMonkey]

Im gonna probly go for something like what you are going for, im gonna get a E6300 OEM and probly a Scythe Ninja Cooler for it. I expect i will get some sort of x1900XT 256 or 512 not decided yet. a 19" probly like the one you might get.
Gonna get the Lian Li PC-7 ( great build and cooling )
Also get a better PSU im probly gonna go for Hiper Type- R 570 Watt's (i think)

Oh this could be usefull just got the new Custom Pc Magazine (Issue 038 November 2006) its got 27 makes of ram tested , ranging from value to high end.

For value a 2gb set of Crucial CT2KIT12864AA53E ( only at 533Mhz ) easly overclocked to 850Mhz with just a tad more volt wise. or lower timings to 6-6-6-18 (from 4-4-4-12) and you hit 1,066Mhz easly, so im gonna go for these friend in school just got them and hit 850Mhz easly with slight difference in temperature. 2gb's for £143 (inc vat) isnt a bad price and im gonna go with these.