Old CPU upgrade?

[yahua]

Hello, I have a old pc with intel e8400 cpu, Abit ip35 motherboard and 8gb DDR2/800 ram as a second pc at home for basic use. I would like to upgrade a little with a minimum cost.

If I change cpu to Intel Xeon L5430 (from ebay, 18 euro, modified to work with LGA775 mb), will I see noticeable speed increase? Since Xeon L5430 only has 50 W TDP, I can also keep the old stock cooler from e8400 CPU.

Intel Xeon L5430: 2.66GHz/12M/1333/4 core
Intel C2D e8400: 3GHZ/6M/133/2 core

Any comments would be appreciated.

Yahua

 

[justin.m.beauvais]

Well, your motherboard doesn't explicitly state support for any Xeon processors, so getting one is a gamble. What it does show your motherboard supports is the Core 2 Quad CPUs. Your best option is the Core 2 Quad Q9650. It is a 3GHz 4 core with 12MB cache and a 1333 FSB. It will run on your system and outperform that Xeon.

 

[theonerm2]

It depends on what you're doing with the computer. For basic use like web browsing, watching movies... Stuff like that no you won't really notice a difference and in fact the higher clocked Core 2 duo will be a little better because it's clocked higher. For basic stuff usually single core performance wins out over more cores.

 

[velocityg4]

Assuming it works. You should see a big performance difference. The CPU is nearly twice as fast.

Just normal web browsing is very demanding on a Core 2 Duo. Those extra cores make a big difference. Since each tab and even different elements on a web page can be processed by different cores.

I've still got a Core 2 Duo lying around and several Core 2 Quads. There is a big difference between the two.

Also a cheap SSD will make a huge difference as a boot drive. Even if your motherboard only supports SATA I. There is a big difference due to the high IOPS.

 

[yahua]

Well, your motherboard doesn't explicitly state support for any Xeon processors, so getting one is a gamble. What it does show your motherboard supports is the Core 2 Quad CPUs. Your best option is the Core 2 Quad Q9650. It is a 3GHz 4 core with 12MB cache and a 1333 FSB. It will run on your system and outperform that Xeon.

Thanks for the comments. Q9650 is certainly better but it costs at least 45 euro in ebay plus a new cooler, since q9650 has 95 W TDP, the e8400 (65 W) cooler is probably not enough. In the era of cheap hardware now, I consider it a bit expensive to upgrade a over 10 yr old pc.

 

[The Paladin]

1. is your Abit ip35 motherboard model IP35, IP35-B, IP35-E or IP35-Pro, etc.?

2. cpu list from ABIT web site : http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/index.htm , (select P35 and model number below should list what it can handle)
then If confirmed you can used those CPU's I would use www.passmark.com to compare them side by side and make an educated choice.

CPUS compatibilities lists her for you. NOTE some REQUIRE BIOS UPGRADES (listed in the web link below)
IP35;http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35.htm
IP35 Pro; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35-pro.htm
IP35 Pro XE; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35-pro-xe.htm
IP35-E; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35-e.htm
IP35-P; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35p.htm
IP35-V; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35v.htm

good luck choosing.

edit : here is the link to possible Bios download listing needed http://abit.ws/page/en/download/download_bios.php@pFUN_KEY=8000&pTITLE_IMG=_2Fdownload_2Fimages_2Fdownload.html

 

[yahua]

1. is your Abit ip35 motherboard model IP35, IP35-B, IP35-E or IP35-Pro, etc.?

2. cpu list from ABIT web site : http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/index.htm , (select P35 and model number below should list what it can handle)
then If confirmed you can used those CPU's I would use www.passmark.com to compare them side by side and make an educated choice.

CPUS compatibilities lists her for you. NOTE some REQUIRE BIOS UPGRADES (listed in the web link below)
IP35;http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35.htm
IP35 Pro; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35-pro.htm
IP35 Pro XE; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35-pro-xe.htm
IP35-E; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35-e.htm
IP35-P; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35p.htm
IP35-V; http://abit.ws/cpu-support-list/mb/intel_p35_ip35v.htm

good luck choosing.

edit : here is the link to possible Bios download listing needed http://abit.ws/page/en/download/download_bios.php@pFUN_KEY=8000&pTITLE_IMG=_2Fdownload_2Fimages_2Fdownload.html

Thanks for info!
The mb is abit ip35. Of course Xeon L5430 is not listed in the CPU support list, since it uses LGA771 socket. Only a modified Xeon L5430 can be used on a LGA775 mb.

Passmark for e8400: about 2100
Passmark for Xeon L5430 : about 3700

In the end, the question is what is more important, cores? or frequency? The 2nd question is if a cpu is designed for server, does it work well for desktop apps.

 

[zyh1987]

1. for your scenario, cores is more important, since most of the software/os are tuned towards quad cores.
2. xeon are more expensive than consumer CPU, the performance difference are very small for this generations of xeon and c2d.
based operations should be the same, afaik,

 

[yahua]

Thanks guys for all the info and suggestions. I think I will try my luck with Xeon L5430. After all only 18 euro plus some work.

I am always interested in utilizing old hardware for modern use. Why we need all these powerful new cpus with usage seldom above 20%.

 

[zyh1987]

Usage and Ipc are different things, it’s the hardware eco system, you create the demand from software application , fulfill them with better hardware. Add more functions, create more demands. Hardware evolve and make it more powerful.

 

[william p]

Q9505S can be found sometimes for not much money and are 65W.
E7400 with a tape mod is dirt cheap 3.5GHz 2 core probably about 80W. The 2nd photo is the mod needed.
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2125877/tape-mod-bsel-mod-intel-q6600.html
If you can increase Voltage then E7500 will get you 3.66GHz