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Intel Core 2 Duo Advice

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I am getting a new computer and was thinking which Intel Core 2 Duo is the best value to buy. I was wondering whether it is worth spending the extra money and getting the E6600 with the 2mb extra cache and also whether it is better value to get the 800mhz FSB or the 1066 FSB.

I am not sure about the FSB either as if I get the E6300 with 1066FSB would I have to get a special motherboard and memory and would that be a lot more expensive. I had a look at the bundles and they all seem to be using the 800mhz ram even though the CPU is capable of running at 1066mhz.

The last time I built a computer was about five years ago so things have moved on a bit since then. BTW the computer is mainly becuase I want to play a game most have probably heard of called supreme commander at 1920 1200 res in medium detail and also I am probably getting the 8800 GTS 320mb or 640mb. Not sure which yet though so any advice on this would also be helpful.
 
Hi, get the 6300, it will easily OC to that of a 6800, and beyond if you want and on air. Believe you me, the cache will make very little difference...
ChrisC
 
Ambro said:
{snip}I am not sure about the FSB either as if I get the E6300 with 1066FSB would I have to get a special motherboard and memory and would that be a lot more expensive. I had a look at the bundles and they all seem to be using the 800mhz ram even though the CPU is capable of running at 1066mhz{snip}
Intel Core 2 Duo compatible/certified mobos can take any (speed) DDR2 RAM :)
 
If you're trying to save on money get the 6400 over the 6300. The higher multi will make life easier on your RAM with you decided to get a board that doesn't allow you to adjust RAM frequency seperate from the CPU. You'll easily get 6800 speeds on an OC with the 6400 which is more than enough to run whatever games you will be playing for the next year and a bit.

If you're wanting to push the OCing boat even further get a 6600. 3.6Ghz is easily obtainable and the x9 multi means you won't have to push the RAM to get it. Better yet if you only want to do a small OC (3Ghz say) the higher multi again makes that even easier and whilst the cache won't make a great deal of a difference in day to day use you have to also consider that running the chip at 3Ghz won't make a great deal of difference to running it at 3.6Ghz in day to day use either.

6400 for the cheap power gaming option
6600 for the hardcore 3.0Ghz + OCing nut.
 
easyrider said:
Not so true...


Temps depend on vcore and cooling

and the chips themselves.
So a 6300 will be the same temp as a 6400 on the same overclock with same vcore and cooling?
 
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Depends on how much VCore is required to clock the chips. The early E6300's could do 3.2 @ under 1.35. I've seen the 6400 require 1.4 for the same clock, and 1.5 for 3.5. Even though the fsb is lower on the 6400, it's the vcore that brings the temps up.

My 6300 runs @ 1.35 @ 460 fsb, tat reports 39-41 Idle and 49-52 Load.
 
6300 = best value
6600 = best chance of high clocks

6400 = nice middle ground. I wouldn't buy an E6600 simply for the extra cache as it isn't utilised as much today as it will be in the future. The extra multiplier is why the e6600 costs a bit more - much the same as the 6400>6300. If you are going the 'poor mans conroe' route (/hides from fallout), then make sure you have a good board and ram to go with it otherwise it will end in tears.
 
Nothing wrong with a 'Poor mans conroe' :D

With a DS3 / Some nice RAM, you will hit some nice clocks for a nice price - DS3 will allow up to 500FSB which enough for 3.5ghz on a 6300 :)
 
w3bbo said:
If you are going the 'poor mans conroe' route

Rubbish...

6600 does not mean higher clocks...

6600 can top out at 3.6ghz

Some 6400's can do 3.8ghz +


It all depends on the chip.
 
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Cache in games and software you run "solo" is very important. The heuristics (Last recently used) will fill the cache with as much game routines possible since its the only thing used (thats why you need to close those tray applications when playing :p).

However, in everyday use no matter if you got 1GB cache if you click a random application is a cache miss (the cpu doesnt read you mind), and has to be fetched from the ram -> disk -> (cd rom j/k).
 
Hi, the cache will make very little difference in anything but video encoding. Please perform a search within this forum and you'll get your answers as this has been debated time and time again...
ChrisC
 
Biggest difference really is a 6300 will need 430FSB to get to 3Ghz so you will need some decent RAM

The 6400 is pretty much guaranteed to do 3.2Ghz and will only need 400FSB to do it so any cheapo PC6400 RAM will do it.

In hindsight i wish id got a 6400 but i was short on cash at the time lol :p
 
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