Upgrading my CPU

Forums › Desktop computing › Upgrading my CPU

chrislaing

41 posts

Geek

#28257 24-Nov-2008 14:18

Hi guys,

I'm currently running an Intel Pentium E2160 Dual Core 1.8GHz in my desktop, and was thinking of an upgrade.

Can you suggest an affordable one?

Personally, I was thinking of the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz (which also fits the LGA775 socket).

I don;t know much at all about upgrading processors, but this one seems to be good value for money.

Any advice?

Suplimentary question: Is there anything I need to be wary of when upgrading a processor?

PeterReader

Affiliate link: Shop online at MightyApe now.

pebbles

741 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#179896 24-Nov-2008 14:28

Just a question to help us out, what Motherboard do you have in the system? Just to get an idea of what's actually compatible ;)

chrislaing

41 posts

Geek

#179933 24-Nov-2008 16:06

Oh, sorry! It's a Gigabyte P35-DS3R with the LGA775 Socket.

Here's the full CPU-Z report

CPU-Z 1.48 HTML report file

CPU-Z 1.48 report file

Processor(s)

Number of processors	1
Number of cores	2 per processor
Number of threads	2 per processor
Name	Intel Pentium E2160
Code Name	Conroe
Specification	Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80GHz
Package	Socket 775 LGA
Family/Model/Stepping	6.F.D
Extended Family/Model	6.F
Core Stepping	M0
Technology	65 nm
Core Speed	1200.1 MHz
Multiplier x Bus speed	6.0 x 200.0 MHz
Rated Bus speed	800.1 MHz
Stock frequency	1800 MHz
Instruction sets	MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, EM64T
L1 Data cache (per processor)	2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache (per processor)	2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache (per processor)	1024 KBytes, 4-way set associative, 64-byte line size

Chipset & Memory

Northbridge	Intel P35/G33/G31 rev. A2
Southbridge	Intel 82801IR (ICH9R) rev. 02
Graphic Interface	PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width	x16
PCI-E Max Link Width	x16
Memory Type	DDR2
Memory Size	2048 MBytes
Memory Frequency	400.0 MHz (1:2)
CAS# Latency (tCL)	5.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# (tRCD)	5 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP)	5 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS)	18 clocks
Command Rate (CR)	2T

System

System Manufacturer	Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Name	P35-DS3R
System S/N
Mainboard Vendor	Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Mainboard Model	P35-DS3R
BIOS Vendor	Award Software International, Inc.
BIOS Version	F9
BIOS Date	11/16/2007

Memory SPD

Module 1	DDR2, PC2-6400 (400 MHz), 1024 MBytes, Apacer Technology
Module 2	DDR2, PC2-6400 (400 MHz), 1024 MBytes, Apacer Technology

Software

Windows Version	Microsoft Windows Vista (6.0) Home Premium Edition Service Pack 1 (Build 6001)
DirectX Version	10.0

eXDee

4025 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#179992 24-Nov-2008 18:11

What's the purpose of the computer? Games? Video Editing? Internet only? etc etc.
The Q6600 is a good quad core processor, good bang for buck. Would work well for general usage, video encoding and other multithreaded apps. But for gaming you'd go an e8400 or similar.

chrislaing

41 posts

Geek

#180000 24-Nov-2008 18:23

Oh thanks!

Well, it's definitely for general use, but gaming would be highest on my list of specific uses.

The e8400 is almost exactly the same price as the QQ6600 too!

Thanks, for the advice :-)

JoeBloggs

355 posts

Ultimate Geek

#180024 24-Nov-2008 19:13

I would take the E8400 over the Q6600. Possibly upgrade to a Q9550 if you can budget it. The E8400 runs cool even with some hefty overlocking (easily done on standard cooling). It'll be quite some time before programs and games developers start to efficiently utilise 4 cores; they can barely do it with 2.

Either way, look for something called "E0" or "E0 stepping" which has superseded previous "C0" units. Same price tage, same clock, better CPU. If the guy selling the CPU 'doesn't know' or 'won't tell you', be wary.

eXDee

4025 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#180028 24-Nov-2008 19:23

As for shop in general i suggest Computerlounge as number 1, and playtech as number 2. However since CPU's hardly ever fail, even when you attempt to destroy them with excessive overclocking, going for a cheap place would be fine.

C1 happen to be the cheapest for the e8400 at the mo and they're a reasonable store for service, so i'd get it off them - http://c1com.co.nz/shop/step1.php?number=13136

If you plan on overclocking a decent amount, the e8500 is a great investment, i've cranked mine from 3.1ghz to 4ghz

with a chunky cooler.
Otherwise if you're not going to overclock much the e8400 is definitely the way to go, it can go pretty high though anyway, even quite a bit on stock cooling.

chrislaing

41 posts

Geek

#180102 24-Nov-2008 23:02

ExDee and JoeBloggs, thank you very much for your replies!

I really appreciate the assistence, I'd be totally lost otherwise!