Intel Pentium Dual Core E5400 VS. AMD Athlon II X2 250 BE

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seerwan

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Lads, i must choose between:-

1 - Pentium Dual-Core E5400, 2.7 GHz, 2 MB, 800 MT/s, 13.5x.
2 - Athlon II X2 250, 3.0 GHz, 2 MB, 2000 MT/s, 15x.

The AMD is slightly better when theyr'e both stock, but OCing wise the E5400 can OC to 4.0 GHz with a good air cooler, but i have no info on the OC limits of the AMD... I know that the AMD is a Black Edition, so its more flexible, but is it as highly overclockable?

Although I admit, I wont be OCing them anywhere near their limits as i'll b using stock coolers...

I have a ATI Radeon HD 4670 1 GB GDDR3 that i bought 2 days ago and my monitor's max resolution can only go up to 1280x1024.

Everything, except RAM, ill b recycling from my current PC such as PSU, Hard Drive, Case, graphics card, etc.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I am EXTREMELY budget sensitive, and I'll only need this set up for a maximum of 1 year. I'll be buying a really cheap mobo with basic OC abilities, nothing fancy at all.

SO, what do u advise? Intel Pentium Dual Core E5400 OR AMD Athlon II X2 250 BE?

Thanks.
 
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szymek

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Because the e5400 comes with a really small and hardly efficient cooler I'd take the Athlon. Perhaps it won't OC to 4ghz but neither will e5400.
 
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seerwan

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hmm... the cpu fan for my pc broke about a year ago and i replaced it with an intel certified fan for intel core 2 duos...

would the same fan come with the e5400, or a less capable one?
 
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szymek

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this one which comes with e5400 is twice smaller just like with e8500. You would get something around 3-3.2ghz with it, no more. I got 3.8ghz on e8500 on my brothers rig, but with Pentium D's heatsink. I believe athlon will be better, especially when Phenoms on am3 will arrive. You will be able to get a modern cpu;))
 
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megamanx00

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The Athlon II X2 250 does not have a black edition. I think you're thinking of the Phenom II X2 550. Anyway, the E5400 is a little better clock for clock than the AMDs and you will get a higher overclock percentage wise with the Intel. The thing is, to overclock the Intel you need to invest a bit in a good board. AMDs are a little more forgiving as far as the motherboard goes so you can usually get buy with a cheaper board.

If you're on a budget then an Athlon X2 250, or even the Phenom II 550, with a 780G or 770 board is pretty cheap and will let you put money towards other components. Whether you choose Intel or AMD, make sure you get a good Air cooler if you want to get anywhere close to 4.0GHz as the stock cooler won't do. 120mm Xigmatek or Sunbeam cooler would do nicely ^_^.
 
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seerwan

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oh yes, i just double checked, sorry, ure right, not Black Edition. im still tlking botu the same processor, i was just mistaken; it isnt a BE.

if thats the case "AMDs are a little more forgiving as far as the motherboard goes so you can usually get buy with a cheaper board" - ill prolly choose AMD, then.
hmm... Phenom II 550 BE might cost too much for me, sadly...

hmm... but which has the better stock cooler? i cant afford an after-market one; im strictly limited to a budget of USD $190 - 220, which includes a CPU and a MOBO...

btw, the 550 beats any intel E7000 series, right?
 
pauldh

pauldh

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Why not the E5200? Should reach same OC as that e5400. The last SBM we hit 3.5GHz on the puny stock Intel cooler. That CPU even reached 4.0GHz on a sub $70 mobo (but couldn't stability test it because of temps/cooling). Current price at Newegg is about $129 for that mobo+CPU. For your budget, you could do a better mobo, and even a $25 cooler. Of course, if your C2D cooler is a bigger/copper model it could allow higher voltage/clocks.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-2-overclock,2310.html

The PII 550 is a sweet CPU that can approach the same OC as the E5200. Much higher stock performance than the E5200, but clock for clock I'd wager they are pretty close. Stock is no contest which performs better as the 550 has decent clocks out of the box. For the OC'er both are excellent options. Haven't had the pleasure to pit them against each other, but IMO the E5200 may very well be able to top the 550 once both are max OC'ed.
 
pauldh

pauldh

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^ Yeah, it's hard to argue against the E5200 for those who are on a tight budget and are willing to OC. AMD's more expensive 550 and 720 BE are very nice, but IMO no doubt the E5200 still owns the title for best bang/buck budget OC CPU.
 
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seerwan

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I live in the Dubai, in the UAE, and I had the shop I deal with check and they don’t stock any AMD dual cores or Intel Pentium Dual Cores! No E5200, no E5400! They don't even stock the C2D 7000 series!! Only the E8000 series, and the cost of one 8400 is almost my entire budget!
And its not just the shop that checked; it’s the entire Computer Plaza,

But I was told I can order the AMD, it would take a week to arrive... I’ll need to check on the E5000's, see if those can be delivered...

I’m not sure what I’m gonna go for yet, they both seem pretty good and pretty cheap... ill most likely choose whichever is cheaper where I am...

Since they’re more or less the same, I’m considering these CPU's:-
1 - Athlon II X2 250
2 - Phenom II X2 550 BE
3 - Pentium Dual-Core E5200
4 - Pentium Dual-Core E5300
5 - Pentium Dual-Core E5400

And ill get the one that’s cheapest, probably, but if there isn't a large margin between the E5200 and the E5400, I’ll probably go for the 5400 because of the higher multiplier...

Thanks guys. When I decide on the CPU, expect me back here to ask for advice on which motherboard to get; it’ll b easy, I anticipate very limited options here…
 
pauldh

pauldh

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Ouch, that hurts. Well, you have a good selection to look for, not matter the brand. Good luck!

Keep in mind, the E5200 already has a high 12.5 multiplier, so it has the potential to hit 4.16 GHz at FSB-1333 (like the E8x00's use stock).

All I recommend for E5x00 overclocking is lower the multiplier and take it straight to 333 (1333). From there up the multiplier (and cpu voltage) as needed. If you want to squeeze all you can from it, then up the FSB in small increments after you can't hit the next multiplier. I wouldn't really see getting any extra OC benefit from the E5400's higher multiplier unless you can't run FSB-1333 for some reason.
 
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seerwan

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but wont i need a good cooler for that?

im almost certainly going to be using the the stock fans...

and 4.2 is way too much, ill aim for 3.6 - 3.8 Ghz, ill just instantly jump it to 1066 and see how high i can take it before it heats the temperature ceiling...
 
pauldh

pauldh

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Yes, you would need a good cooler for 4.0GHz. Of course, if you prices were our prices... an E5200 + good cooler is cheaper than the PII X2 550.

With the puny stock E5x00 cooler, don't expect to go beyond 3.5GHz. You'd likely be limited to about 1.25V, and it's luck of the draw how high your chip will go at that voltage. Worst case, with a bad chip, poor case airflow, and high ambient room temps, you may be stuck near 3.0GHz. A fully stable 3.2-3.5GHz would be my general expectations. But, with your bigger Intel C2D cooler, 3.6 GHz+ is very possible.

Max E5200 load temps I like to see while running prime 95 stability testing is 70C. During normal use you will not get near those temps.
 
andy5174

andy5174

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Are you Gao Dong Hua(Paul)?
 
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seerwan

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Yo, guys, I went today personally, and these r the results:-

1 - No new dual core AMD's are available. At all.
2 - E5200 - USD $76.
3 - E5300 - USD $79.
4 - E6300 - USD $95.

So since the AMD's are not available, i must go with Intel. Due to the prices, the E5300 offers best value.

The motherboard available was the ASUS P5KPL-AM SE, and it costs USD $58.50. Could u plz lemme know what u think...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131369
http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=563&l4=0&model=2606&modelmenu=1

I also have the option to go for a cheaper ASRock G31M-S Mobo, for USD $45.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157146
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=G31M-S

Remember, I was willing to spend USD $205, and I will want to overclock it the E5300 to at least 3.2 Ghz... So, what say u?
 
andy5174

andy5174

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I would choose ASUS without even thinking it if I were you. Btw, I am with an ASUS P5KPL-CM which is very very similar to the one mentioned by you. Don't expect too much from a G31 m/b though.

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=xs6iinKxu0y5agcg&templete=2

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=6nnVb6RBxd7PhGmt&templete=2

p.s. CM with Gigabyte LAN and worse component, whereas AM with 100/10 LAN and slightly better component.
However, I don't think you are going to use this rubbish G31 for very long. Hence, I suggest that you
get whichever is cheaper.
 
pauldh

pauldh

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Your prices are very good, similar to ours in the USA. There's plenty in your budget for a better mobo. If you truly want to push that CPU, look for a P45 chipset motherboard. There is only one available in Micro ATX (DFI p45 jr) though.

I don't have any G31 OC experience. I know decent OC's have been reached on some though. Asrock has some surprising OC features in budget boards. I was able to reach 4.0GHz with an E5200 on a Micro ATX Asrock G41M-LE in the last SBM:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-2-overclock,2310-3.html


@ andy: Gao Dong Hua??? I'm guessing no. :)


BTW, either E5200 or E5300 will do. $3...why not. I'd avoid the Pentium E6300 though as the lower multiplier may limit your OC abilities on certain mobos.
 
andy5174

andy5174

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hmmmm.... you'd better not OC it that much with crappy G31 board. However, it should be fine if you have a fancy HSF and a quality cooling case.

Someone OC the E5200 to 4Ghz with water cooling though. Give it a try.

Good luck!
 
andy5174

andy5174

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+1 p45 for OC

@Pauldh: you liar :p
 
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