Is upgrading a E2160 to a E5300 worth it?

[Name141]

Would upgrading the E2160 (dual core 1.8 GHz Conroe(65nm)) to a E5300 Wolfdale (2.6 GHz 45nm) worth it?

And is there something a little cheaper option that would be better than the E2160? The only option I see on newegg would be the Celeron E3400.

 

[skora]

Yeah, just a dab...(2 mm drop)

How about $60 (shipping is a couple bucks, eWiz is pretty reputable) for a E5400:

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=E5400&title=Intel-Pentium-Dual-Core-Processor-E5400-2-7GHz-800MHz-2MB-LGA775-CPU-OEM

It's an OEM, no fan, but you don't need it.

Good find, that's all he needs and cost less for more performance.

 

[Name141]

The Celeron E3200/3300/3400 would be a noticeable improvement and they are cheap. These are just as overclockable as the E5200.

Again, I CAN'T overclock.. nor am I interested in doing so.

 

[jsc]

Or the second gen, 2.8 GHz E6300 for about $80.

 

[Name141]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116348

That's only a few more cheaper than the Pentium.

 

[Name141]

Or the second gen, 2.8 GHz E6300 for about $80.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116091&Tpk=E6300

The FSB is over 800 MHz, and I can't use but 667 or 800 MHz RAM. Seems it would be a waste unless the Core2Duo's are better anyway? (I have 667 MHz RAM installed anyway).

 

[Name141]

Yeah, just a dab...(2 mm drop)

How about $60 (shipping is a couple bucks, eWiz is pretty reputable) for a E5400:

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=E5400&title=Intel-Pentium-Dual-Core-Processor-E5400-2-7GHz-800MHz-2MB-LGA775-CPU-OEM

It's an OEM, no fan, but you don't need it.

59.50 + USPS Priority mail = $66.95

Retail at newegg is $72.99 with free shipping. Seems the other one comes out a little better.

 

[skora]

Note on the OEM I didn't think about, you won't get a fan or the thermal paste on the bottom, so you'd still need to buy some type of goo.

 

[Name141]

Note on the OEM I didn't think about, you won't get a fan or the thermal paste on the bottom, so you'd still need to buy some type of goo.

Yeah. Is there something you recommend for the el cheapo ? And how am I supposed to know what a "2mm drop" is ?

 

[Stardude82]

~$6 for the silver filled stuff. The $2 alumina stuff will probably work fine too if you don't overclock.

http://www.ewiz.com/query.php?categry=702&name=Thermal-Paste

Here's a picture:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=3

 

[Stardude82]

Actually that $2 grease might be the best stuff:

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=3

 

[Name141]

Actually that $2 grease might be the best stuff:

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=3

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-A2014&title=Thermaltake-CA-A2014-Thermal-Grease then ?

 

[Stardude82]

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-A2014&title=Thermaltake-CA-A2014-Thermal-Grease then ?

I guess so. Good luck. Be careful not to get any on the contacts.

 

[Name141]

I guess so. Good luck. Be careful not to get any on the contacts.

Contacts?

 

[Stardude82]

Yeah, the underside of the chip. Probably best to apply the paste when it is socket anyway. Sometimes, the stuff flows though. Read that benchmark.com link above is a very good article.

 

[Name141]

Yeah, the underside of the chip. Probably best to apply the paste when it is socket anyway. Sometimes, the stuff flows though. Read that benchmark.com link above is a very good article.

er uh the paste goes on top of the core, not the bottom of it? lol

 

[skora]

For what you're doing, anything that isn't water will work for your TIM (thermal interface material.) Cheapest delivered is the way to go. Use the pictures as your guide for application and don't sweat the 2mm. Just remember, you don't need much, it will spread pretty well on its own. Don't use too much and you won't have to worry about it getting on the circuitry. Too little and you'll know it when you check temps and can correct that without damaging the CPU.

As for the ram speed issue you're worried about, don't. The ram subsystem isn't going to hold back your system and those numbers really only need to be worried about by overclockers. But heres a shot to show how confusing it is to balance those numbers:

The CPU talks to all the other components through the north bridge and the CPU FSB speed is what those two parts talk to each other at. BUT, the rest of the parts only talks to the northbridge at 1/4th that speed except the ram which is 1/2. Head hurt yet? So the E6600 PDC 1066 FSB CPU speeds that are used for the northbridge is only talking to the rest of the system at 266mhz. Now the ram will be double that at 533mhz if the divider (don't worry about that one either) is 1:1. So your 667mhz ram is still running faster than an optimal 1:1 ratio for the ram to the northbridge speeds. Long confusing explanation made short, youre 667mhz ram doesn't become too slow until you have a CPU FSB speed higher than 1333mhz.