Is Intel® D946GZIS a good option for Core 2 Duo E6300

[white]

Hi all!

it's a long time since I last used a Intel processor, my last one was a Pentium III 500MHz, ages ago. 😀

My current machine is a Athlon 64 3000+, and I want to make a "small" upgrade. And since I saw everyone saying good things about Core 2 Duo, and it's price isn't sky high, I decided to give Intel another chance to grab my heart 😉

I am intended to buy a E6300 Core 2 Duo 1,86GHz (which we can run a nice overclock - up to 3,4GHz actually), but I am not sure which MOBO to get.

My hardware supplier is offering me a Intel® D946GZIS (http://www.intel.com/products/motherboard/D946GZIS/index.htm).
But, since I haven't put my hand in any Intel PROC or MOBO for a long time, I decided to as you guys, if it is a good choice. Is that?

Thanks in advance guys!

Best Regards from Brazil.

 

[wizzard67]

Hi,

While the Intel 946GZIS is a good, solid board it doesn't have any overclocking options.

You might be better off going with something like a Gigabyte GA-945-DS3

HTH 😀

 

[white]

OK! that's sad 🙁

the only option I got from GIGABYTE is the 945GM-S2. Would that do the work? With a little overclock 😀?

 

[minty]

Hey White

You might want to wait around for the E4300 core 2 duo and over clock that puppy, check out the following links....

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2duo-e4300.html

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2903

have fun...

 

[bga]

I am intended to buy a E6300 Core 2 Duo 1,86GHz (which we can run a nice overclock - up to 3,4GHz actually), but I am not sure which MOBO to get.
My hardware supplier is offering me a Intel® D946GZIS (http://www.intel.com/products/motherboard/D946GZIS/index.htm).
But, since I haven't put my hand in any Intel PROC or MOBO for a long time, I decided to as you guys, if it is a good choice. Is that?

No, don't get that. It is a cheap value board with a cheap value chipset, which is not even current. Get something with the real 965 chipset - you should consider nothing else for the Core2 (unless spending a lot for the 975 chipset). You should be able to get someting with the P965 (if you will be using a PCI-E graphics card) or the G965 (if using integrated graphics) in Brazil by now, but maybe you will have to shop a bit around. From my experience in Mexico, it is probably Intel brand motherboards which first arrives with the newest chipsets - but they are not very good overclockers. If you want to overclock you will have to wait until you can get some of the Taiwanese (GigaByte, Asus, MSI, ABit, Foxcon) boards with the P965 chipset (overclocked integrated graphics...? I think not).

 

[white]

Ok, since I can't find any of those boards here, I will hold this buy.
Let's see when I find one of those.
As soon as I find anything with the chipset you mentioned I'll let you guys know.

By the way...it is the chance to wait for the E4000 series 😀

thanks a lot guys!

Best regards!

White

 

[white]

Let me revive this topic!!

Hi all!

Guys I've just found some place that sells "MB Intel DG965 SSCK".
Is that a good one?

Thanks in advance!
Regards!

White

 

[bga]

Guys I've just found some place that sells "MB Intel DG965 SSCK".
Is that a good one?

That is certainly much better than the Intel boards you mentioned earlier. It will work perfectly with the Core2, though do NOT count on overclocking it. The only Intel motherboard which overclocks (somewhat) is the expensive D975XBX2 series. If you want to overclock get a Asus or Gigabyte board with the P965 intel chipset.
You should also be aware that the DG965 SSCK is Micro-ATX (good for small cases - bad for expandabillity) and includes integrated graphics (fine for office work - bad for games).
Assuming that the only boards with the Intel 965 chipset (which you absolutely should get instead of older obsolete chipsets) you can buy, is Intels own motherboards, I can recommend the DP965LTxx (xx can be different letters) board which is a good (stable well layedout) cheap ATX board without intergrated graphics.

 

[white]

Ok, it's me again.

I've found two options (one that was already suggested for you guys), and these options are:

Gigabyte GA-965P-S3

and

Intel DP965LTCK

My question is: which of these 2 options are better for a C2D e4300?? Which offer better overclocking capabilities?

Thanks guys!

Regards!

 

[bga]

Wellcome back!

I've found two options (one that was already suggested for you guys), and these options are:
Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 and Intel DP965LTCK
My question is: which of these 2 options are better for a C2D e4300?? Which offer better overclocking capabilities?

The Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 is a fine board, which should overclock very well, if you do not press it too far. The Intel DP965LTCK is a good, rock solid board, but not a good overclocker.

 

[white]

Thank you bga! Thank you everyone!

So, I now have an start!

Core 2 Duo e4300 with a Gigabyte GA-965P-S3.

It's now time to work on the memories, hard disk and video card!

2GB of DDR2 533MHz would be a good start?
I am thinking to use an ATI Radeon X550 256MB PCI-e.
For HD a 250GB Samsung SATA II.

It's a low-budget machine, but still, can be good for gaming and also for working (I am an asp.net web developer), isn't it?
At least it will do much better then my Athlon 64 3000+. 😀

Thanks again!

Regards!

 

[bga]

Thank you bga! Thank you everyone!
So, I now have an start!

Core 2 Duo e4300 with a Gigabyte GA-965P-S3.

It's now time to work on the memories, hard disk and video card!

2GB of DDR2 533MHz would be a good start?

2GB is highly recommended. Can you get DDR2 800MHz (value RAM is ok) at a reasonable price (not more than +10%) ? If yes, then get 800Mhz RAM, if not 533MHz will have to suffice.

I am thinking to use an ATI Radeon X550 256MB PCI-e.

Thats an old card :!: You should at least get a X1300.

For HD a 250GB Samsung SATA II.

Samsung is quite ok.

It's a low-budget machine, but still, can be good for gaming and also for working (I am an asp.net web developer), isn't it?
At least it will do much better then my Athlon 64 3000+. 😀

Certainly a step up from the Athlon (you will get dual core now). You should be very happy with that machine for several years.

 

[white]

2GB is highly recommended. Can you get DDR2 800MHz (value RAM is ok) at a reasonable price (not more than +10%) ? If yes, then get 800Mhz RAM, if not 533MHz will have to suffice.

OK. the problem is, it is MUCH more expensive here, so what mem config should I prefer:

1 - use 2 gigs of 533Mhz (2 x 1GB)

2 - use 2 gigs of 667Mhz (2 x 1GB)

3 - use 1 gig of 800Mhz (1 x 1GB)

4 - use 1 gig of 800Mhz (2 x 512MB)

2 gigs of 800Mhz is like 400USD here!!!! I can't afford that now 🙁

 

[bga]

OK. the problem is, it is MUCH more expensive here, so what mem config should I prefer:

1 - use 2 gigs of 533Mhz (2 x 1GB)
2 - use 2 gigs of 667Mhz (2 x 1GB)
3 - use 1 gig of 800Mhz (1 x 1GB)
4 - use 1 gig of 800Mhz (2 x 512MB)
2 gigs of 800Mhz is like 400USD here!!!! I can't afford that now 🙁

Hmm... too bad with those unreasonable DDR2-800MHz prices. Of the above alternatives 2 gigs of 667MHz will give you the best overall system performance. But then again, paying more than 10% extra over 533Mhz RAM is not worth it.

 

[white]

WOW!

I've just discovered that if the same price I buy 2 gigs 667Mhz, I can buy 4 gigs of 533. Now, which of these two options are better? 2 gigs 667Mhz, or 4 gigs 533mhz?

Also, when looking for the x1300 card, I've found a 7600GT for almost the same price. Which one should I go for??

Thanks again!

Sorry to bother that much!

Regards!

 

[your_best_enemy]

well get 7600gt.
4gb ram does not work correctly with windows as of now.
so get 2 gb.
getting 667 mhz ram will give you much better room for overclocking.

 

[bga]

I've just discovered that if the same price I buy 2 gigs 667Mhz, I can buy 4 gigs of 533. Now, which of these two options are better? 2 gigs 667Mhz, or 4 gigs 533mhz?

That is a difficult question. Windows 32bit will only use 3.5GB, so .5 goes to waste. And as the other poster notes, 533Mhz RAM leaves little room for overclocking. I think, I would get the 667Mhz RAM.

Also, when looking for the x1300 card, I've found a 7600GT for almost the same price. Which one should I go for??

The 7600GT - no contest!

 

[white]

OK!

That's settled then!

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo e4300
Mobo: GA-965P-S3
Mem: 2 gigs DDR2 667Mhz (2 x 1GB)
Graphics: Nvidia 7600GT 256MB
Storage: 250GB Samsung Sata II

Thanks everyone, bga in special.

I'll let you guys know when it's done!

Best regards!

Take Care!