Built my current ring around a year or so ago, maybe a bit more. Its a conroe 2.13Ghz @ 2.4 and a Gigabyte 965P-S3 V1.0 with 4 gig of Geil 6400. How does this compare to current chips? What can i get for a few hundred quid that will be faster as i dont want to buy new ram but assume i need a new board.
-
Competitor rules
Please remember that any mention of competitors, hinting at competitors or offering to provide details of competitors will result in an account suspension. The full rules can be found under the 'Terms and Rules' link in the bottom right corner of your screen. Just don't mention competitors in any way, shape or form and you'll be OK.
Much point in upgrading
- Thread starter schnipps
- Start date
get ip 45 or x48 and either an 8 series C2D or Q9550 depending on your budget, although you could wait till after christmas and see what jan/feb brings in the way of revised graphics chips from Nvidia, and I7 wider range being released.
Well, it might only be info that is released by then but then youl lknow where you stand.
Well, it might only be info that is released by then but then youl lknow where you stand.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 12 Jul 2005
- Posts
- 21,476
- Location
- Aberlour, NE Scotland
You have a 6550 yes? Overclock it further and you won't need to spend anything apart from on a decent cooler if you have'nt already got one. It should hit at least 3Ghz.
Dont know what it is, to hit 3 though im going to need faster ram, no? I am also just on the stock cooler
not really faster ram, 6400 should be fine for around 3ghz, get yourself a noctua or zalman tbh 
plus, you could easily get more than 2.4 just using your stock cooler, spend 40-50 quid, and save yourself buying a new cpu, save for nehalem, then in march time when the broader range is out, splash out then.
plus, you could easily get more than 2.4 just using your stock cooler, spend 40-50 quid, and save yourself buying a new cpu, save for nehalem, then in march time when the broader range is out, splash out then.
Do you have 2x2GB of Geil or 4x1Gb?
Having 4x1Gb may hinder the overclocking potential of the chip as the Northbridge will be stressed that bit more due to the 4 sticks of ram.
It does not always hinder though as I have 4x1Gb sticks of Corsair XMS2 and they will hit 950Mhz with 5-5-5-15 timings.
See if you can get the chip overclocked past 3Ghz stable with the RAM first. As the E6550 has a multiplyer of 7, you will have to raise the FSB to at least 430 to get 3Ghz which if you have the chip and ram at 1:1 will put your ram to 860mhz. You may also have to slacken the timings on the ram to 5-5-5-15 to get that speed. I'm not sure as I have never used Geil before.
Do you have a spare quiet fan that you can point towards the Northbridge Heatsink as that will help keep temps down?
If the ram will do that and your chip will easily go past 3Ghz but your temps on the chip are high, then maybe get an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro, Scythe Katana 2 or a Zalman CNPS7500-CU. Have a look at your motherboard and check the dimensions around the chip to see if the Northbridge Heatsink won't get in the way.
Edit: Just checked and you motherboard does not support the 45nm Processor. Thats the E8400 idea in the bin then. Well if the memory still holds you back, then you could get a Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L & E8400 for just short of £200.
Having 4x1Gb may hinder the overclocking potential of the chip as the Northbridge will be stressed that bit more due to the 4 sticks of ram.
It does not always hinder though as I have 4x1Gb sticks of Corsair XMS2 and they will hit 950Mhz with 5-5-5-15 timings.
See if you can get the chip overclocked past 3Ghz stable with the RAM first. As the E6550 has a multiplyer of 7, you will have to raise the FSB to at least 430 to get 3Ghz which if you have the chip and ram at 1:1 will put your ram to 860mhz. You may also have to slacken the timings on the ram to 5-5-5-15 to get that speed. I'm not sure as I have never used Geil before.
Do you have a spare quiet fan that you can point towards the Northbridge Heatsink as that will help keep temps down?
If the ram will do that and your chip will easily go past 3Ghz but your temps on the chip are high, then maybe get an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro, Scythe Katana 2 or a Zalman CNPS7500-CU. Have a look at your motherboard and check the dimensions around the chip to see if the Northbridge Heatsink won't get in the way.
Edit: Just checked and you motherboard does not support the 45nm Processor. Thats the E8400 idea in the bin then. Well if the memory still holds you back, then you could get a Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L & E8400 for just short of £200.
Last edited:
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 12 Jul 2005
- Posts
- 21,476
- Location
- Aberlour, NE Scotland
I think it's a 6420 not a 6550 as i first thought. It should still easily hit 3Ghz though. Your ram should'nt hold you back at 3Ghz. Just adjust the divider in the bios to keep it in spec. Just remember that everytime you increase the fsb you increase the ram speed so keep changing the dram frequency to keep it in spec. Even if you have 4x sticks of ram all you should need to do is increase the NB voltage a notch or two. A Freezer 7 Pro will be fine (and cheap) for your cpu.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 12 Jul 2005
- Posts
- 21,476
- Location
- Aberlour, NE Scotland
The problem is that different companies call it different things in the bios. Mine for example, calls it the FSB strap to NB. Basically it allows you to set your ram to run at 200/266/333/400/533 etc and then you pick the actual ram speed from the Dram Frequency (or similarly named) list. You need it to run at the closest speed to it's stock speed.
A worthwhile upgrade might be to do what I did. Buy a Q6600 from MM, and sell your Duo. Only cost me £60, and well chuffed.