Jan 25, 2021
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I'm a owner of a pretty old system desktop computer. My motherboard is Gigabyte G41m combo v2, Dual Core E5300 2.66 800 bus processor & 2gb ddr2 800 FSB Ram (I don't have a SSD). I would like to upgrade, wanna keep this system. Can't buy new gen PC due to financial problems.

I'll insert a 2x4GB=8GB 1333 FSB DDR3 ram, but I got confusion about processor.

Now my questions is:


  1. Which LGA 775 processor will be perform better for multi-tasking? At least better than present config, No Hang/Not Responding problems anymore! Is it possible?
  2. Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz 6MB 1333 vs. Core 2 Quad Q6700 Quad-Core 2.66 GHz 8MB 1066 vs. Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad-Core 2.40 GHz 8MB 1066?
  3. Does cache memory, Processor & Ram 1333 bus speed, 4 cores & 4 thread really matters? Any significant improvements & performance for multitasking? Quad-Core 2.66 GHz & 2.40 GHz will perform better than Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz 6MB 1333? I can't afford 12mb cache Quad-Core higher speed Refurbished processor. It's so pricey in my country, according to wasting so much for this system not a good idea.
Mine main multi-tasking work is so many browser tab opened at a same time, working with MS Excel 2019 Pro..But my present config PC can't handle so much Excel data.

Please don't talk about mod Xeon 771 processor...Focus on my main topic .
 
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1 and 2. I wouldn't even look at the q6700 since the q9400 should be cheaper and more available. Hanging could be another issue altogether as you simply don't have enough ram to do anything. Depending on if these are rare or cheap in your country, the x3xxx xeons were lga775 and were basically twins of the qxxxx series, but since no one knows about them, they are either very cheap or very expensive. I would take a look for sure if price is an issue.
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compar...Intel-Xeon-X3360/1045vs1039vs1098vs1280vs1284

3. Yes, all of that makes a huge difference for multi-tasking. I have e8600 and q9550 based systems and my e8600 when given more than two tasks, you can tell the processor is shuffling tasks. Memory performance is less important than just enough memory. If you can get some 4gb ddr3 modules and the board can take it, I would simply run those for 8gb (or 12gb if you can have both ddr2 and ddr3 at the same time), and if you can find 8gb ddr3 modules that work, you can run 16gb and be in really good shape.

Another thing to consider is if you don't need excel 2019 pro, use an older version of excel and older os--basic spreadsheets work the same under xp as they do under win 10, except xp flies on older hardware like this even with just 4gb of ram. I use my older systems to look at high res pdfs (600dpi) and they are great for that purpose.
 
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Math Geek

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i'd def get the full 8 gb of ddr3 ram your mobo can support. note that will be 4 x 2gb sticks as the board does not support 4 gb sticks. so look for a matched 4 x 2gb set if possible

that will help the most for the excel usage. but in the end it is still a 12+yr old cpu so you won't see modern performance out of it. i have a q6600 system with 8 gb ram and it worked great for everything i asked it to do, even some light gaming. it won't do vm's very well but it should handle browsing and some light to medium excel. but it won't do any massive multi-page workbooks very well. it's still in use as a homework/media machine to this day.

think the q9*** series would be a bit better if you can find one of those but if not, then the q6600 should be as much as you can do with it.

as you can see it can handle any of the cpu's

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-G41M-Combo-rev-20/support#support-cpu
 
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Jan 25, 2021
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1 and 2. I wouldn't even look at the q6700 since the q9400 should be cheaper and more available. Hanging could be another issue altogether as you simply don't have enough ram to do anything. Depending on if these are rare or cheap in your country, the x3xxx xeons were lga775 and were basically twins of the qxxxx series, but since no one knows about them, they are either very cheap or very expensive. I would take a look for sure if price is an issue.
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compar...Intel-Xeon-X3360/1045vs1039vs1098vs1280vs1284

3. Yes, all of that makes a huge difference for multi-tasking. I have e8600 and q9550 based systems and my e8600 when given more than two tasks, you can tell the processor is shuffling tasks. Memory performance is less important than just enough memory. If you can get some 4gb ddr3 modules and the board can take it, I would simply run those for 8gb (or 12gb if you can have both ddr2 and ddr3 at the same time), and if you can find 8gb ddr3 modules that work, you can run 16gb and be in really good shape.

Another thing to consider is if you don't need excel 2019 pro, use an older version of excel and older os--basic spreadsheets work the same under xp as they do under win 10, except xp flies on older hardware like this even with just 4gb of ram. I use my older systems to look at high res pdfs (600dpi) and they are great for that purpose.

Refurbished processor availability depends on whole sale buying from China, certain specific models not always available. Everyone's has the same processor reasons of whole sale buying from China.

1 and 2: These used refurbished processor available in my country.

Processor name:
Price: (Bangladeshi Taka) $1 US=84.84 Taka
used Xeon X5460 3.16 GHz 12MB Cash with GIGABYTE GA-G41M-Combo (used)

Don't know single processor price
Seller asking price: 4,800 Taka
If single processor, I think: 3,100-3,200Taka
Core 2 Quad Q9650 3.00 GHz
Asking price: 3,000 Taka
Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83 GHz 1333 FSB
Asking price: 1,800 Taka
Intel Xeon X3360 Yorkfield 2.83 GHz 12MB

Asking price: 1,500 Taka
Core 2 Quad Q6700 Quad-Core 2.66 GHz
Asking price: 1,399 Taka
Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield 2.66 GHz 1333 fsb 4mb (only 4mb)
Asking price: 900 Taka
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40 GHz 8mb
Asking price: 690 Taka

Forgot to mention that, "I'll insert a 2x4GB=8GB 1333 FSB DDR3 ram" Ram already managed.

3. My GA-G41M-Combo motherboard support Dual-Channel Ram, total 4 ram slot...2 for DDR2 & another 2 for DDR3.
(or 12gb if you can have both ddr2 and ddr3 at the same time) A youtuber proved that ddr2 & ddr3 ram won't work together. PC won't boot...don't know it's true or not. Mine motherboard does not support 1 stick 8GB DDR2/3 Ram.

@SamirD

Forcedly, I have to use Windows 10 Pro & MS Office 2019 Pro...

some latest formulas only works in excel 2019. Sadly I don't have MS Office 365 subscriptions, can't use other formulas. Just watching tutorials (MS Office 365)
 
Last edited:
Jan 25, 2021
28
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40
i'd def get the full 8 gb of ddr3 ram your mobo can support. note that will be 4 x 2gb sticks as the board does not support 4 gb sticks. so look for a matched 4 x 2gb set if possible

that will help the most for the excel usage. but in the end it is still a 12+yr old cpu so you won't see modern performance out of it. i have a q6600 system with 8 gb ram and it worked great for everything i asked it to do, even some light gaming. it won't do vm's very well but it should handle browsing and some light to medium excel. but it won't do any massive multi-page workbooks very well. it's still in use as a homework/media machine to this day.

think the q9*** series would be a bit better if you can find one of those but if not, then the q6600 should be as much as you can do with it.

as you can see it can handle any of the cpu's

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-G41M-Combo-rev-20/support#support-cpu

@Math Geek, on my motherboard...some peoples or many peoples already using 2x4gb DDR3 1333 FSB Ram, even DDR3 1666 FSB, That's why I got confidents. 2gb 800 bus not available anymore, totally vanished!

as you can see it can handle any of the cpu's

Gigabyte G41m CPU Support List: Thanks for link, but already check so many days ago before you given it to me.
 
Jan 25, 2021
28
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I have a G41 chipset motherboard with a Q9550 and 8 Gb RAM and it is certainly adequate for browsing with multiple tabs open. Having said that, with the choices you have stated, I'd go with the Q6700 unless it is a lot more expensive than the Q6600. If it is, go with the Q6600.

Glad, found someone..!! your motherboard brand name? Did you faced any problems after 8gb ram installed?

@rickypicky5 @rickypicky5
Check my country price list...you will realize something. What's your opinion now?

2x4GB ram cost me total 1,000Taka. Per used 4GB stick is 500 Taka.
 
Refurbished processor availability depends on whole sale buying from China, certain specific models not always available. Everyone's has the same processor reasons of whole sale buying from China.

1 and 2: These used refurbished processor available in my country.

Processor name:
Price: (Bangladeshi Taka) $1 US=84.84 Taka
used Xeon X5460 3.16 GHz 12MB Cash with GIGABYTE GA-G41M-Combo (used)

Don't know single processor price
Seller asking price: 4,800 Taka
If single processor, I think: 3,100-3,200Taka
Core 2 Quad Q9650 3.00 GHz
Asking price: 3,000 Taka
Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83 GHz 1333 FSB
Asking price: 1,800 Taka
Intel Xeon X3360 Yorkfield 2.83 GHz 12MB
Asking price: 1,500 Taka
Core 2 Quad Q6700 Quad-Core 2.66 GHz
Asking price: 1,399 Taka
Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield 2.66 GHz 1333 fsb 4mb (only 4mb)
Asking price: 900 Taka
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40 GHz 8mb
Asking price: 690 Taka

Forgot to mention that, "I'll insert a 2x4GB=8GB 1333 FSB DDR3 ram" Ram already managed.

3. My GA-G41M-Combo motherboard support Dual-Channel Ram, total 4 ram slot...2 for DDR2 & another 2 for DDR3.
(or 12gb if you can have both ddr2 and ddr3 at the same time) A youtuber proved that ddr2 & ddr3 ram won't work together. PC won't boot...don't know it's true or not. Mine motherboard does not support 1 stick 8GB DDR2/3 Ram.

@SamirD

Forcedly, I have to use Windows 10 Pro & MS Office 2019 Pro...

some latest formulas only works in excel 2019. Sadly I don't have MS Office 365 subscriptions, can't use other formulas. Just watching tutorials (MS Office 365)
If you're limited to wholesale china, then 99% of these are going to be fakes, and even worse fakes than they send to the usa. :( Do you have relatives that can buy you a real used cpu in usa/uk and then mail it to you? This will probably cost the same, but get you a real processor than some malware injected fake.

I forgot about the q8xxx series--those are really great too and from the list above, I would choose the q8400 over the q6700 for sure as the faster fsb (1333 vs 1066) makes a difference for sure:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compar...Intel-Core2-Quad-Q6700/1038vs1041vs1282vs1039

Looks like the x3xxx series xeons are there and are definitely cheaper than their qxxxx series twins (300 Taka less for the x3360 than q9550), so I'd see if you can find prices for the following: x3230, x3220, x3323, x3330, x3320, x3350, x3363, x3353, x3380, x3370.

Bummer about the ram setup, but 8gb is decent. Just don't try to have more than one application open at a time as you can end up eating all the ram.

I understand--it seems that software is what drives hardware upgrades today, which is really sad since the software is just bloated with bad coding.
 
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Glad, found someone..!! your motherboard brand name? Did you faced any problems after 8gb ram installed?

@rickypicky5 @rickypicky5
Check my country price list...you will realize something. What's your opinion now?

2x4GB ram cost me total 1,000Taka. Per used 4GB stick is 500 Taka.
My motherboard is an Asus P5G41T-M LX. It has just 2 RAM slots and I've installed each with a 4 Gb stick (a matched set). Since the Q6600 is half the price of the Q6700, the Q6600 is obviously the better buy.

This is the RAM that I'm using.
 
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Jan 25, 2021
28
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If you're limited to wholesale china, then 99% of these are going to be fakes, and even worse fakes than they send to the usa. :( Do you have relatives that can buy you a real used cpu in usa/uk and then mail it to you? This will probably cost the same, but get you a real processor than some malware injected fake.

@SamirD SamirD

I don't thinks so everything are fakes...cause saw on Youtube that lot's of peoples buying from Aliexpress, seller rating & customers satisfactions are also good. In my country, lot's of peoples buying these item's which actually whole sale imported from China. Everyone's has the same processor, if you ask many sellers for a specific model they don't have it!

Real user used CPU also available in my country, but it's really hard to find..!! cause think already 10-12 years passed..!! But I found a real user of Core 2 Quad Q9650 3.00 GHz, He used it for 10 years, But for 10 years used cpu he was asking 2,500 Taka! (LOL) Then I asked him, Why you are asking so much for 10 years own used cpu? He replied, "Go to market, you won't find my processor below 3k taka" I told them you are asking as like businessman, businessman they have business cost...they import it from china, then added final price with profit, you are not like them, your CPU using age reduced your CPU price.." Then replied, " Why should I not compare the present price? My wish & my product, I'm not forcing you to buy it from me"

My relatives lives in USA, but they won't do any hassle for me...useless, Also air shipping cost will be more than the original product. I don't have any international credit/debit card to buy from Aliexpress.


I forgot about the q8xxx series--those are really great too and from the list above, I would choose the q8400 over the q6700 for sure as the faster fsb (1333 vs 1066) makes a difference for sure:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compar...Intel-Core2-Quad-Q6700/1038vs1041vs1282vs1039

q8400 got only 4mb cache...So, only 4mb cache doesn't so matters compared with FSB 1333,6MB & 8MB cache?

Looks like the x3xxx series xeons are there and are definitely cheaper than their qxxxx series twins (300 Taka less for the x3360 than q9550), so I'd see if you can find prices for the following: x3230, x3220, x3323, x3330, x3320, x3350, x3363, x3353, x3380, x3370.

There's a one problems with modded Xeon cpu, I have to mod the motherboard BIOS. I have to find specific CPUID, then removed some CPUID & added some new CPUID. A hassle, without hassle motherboard won't detect the cpu.