The best out their for C2D

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kill4killin

Gawd
Joined
Jul 3, 2006
Messages
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Ok, I'm a little out of the overclocking loop as far as it goes for C2D overclocking. The last hardware I bought is what is in my sig and that was over 2 years ago and I overclocked it and stopped staying up to speed with the new hardware that I could not afford.

Long story short, I can now afford to upgrade again and I am curious as to what is the most current stuff that overclocks well. I remember reading a month back or so that the E4300 was showing promising results and that it is in the sub $200 market range which is always good. I also remember reading that G.Skill DDR2-800 was the best stuff to get, but that was a while ago. But what I really don't know a lot about is the motherboards.

I am looking for some advice on what to use as the motherboard if I am getting a C2D E4300 and 2GB G.Skill DDR2-800. I'm going to probably use stock air cooling for at least a little while, while I do some initial overclocking to it since I like to see what it will do on stock cooling whenever I get a new processor. Then I will be getting a new hsf, is the Scythe Infinity still one of the best ones on the market to get right now, or is there currently better that I don't know about?

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate you guys helping out an old out of the loop member like myself.
 
For OCing I'd say an E6420 and E6600 are great choices for the money.

As for memory,

2GB (2 x 1GB) Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC2-8500

and

2GB (2 x 1GB) Buffalo Firestix PC2-8000

are both very good overclocking sticks and are both very reasonably priced.
 
Thanks MakubexGB, I was more looking for advice on the motherboard, but I will certainly look into those things as well. My main reason for going with the E4300 is that it is cheaper then the E6300 and I have heard comparable results so I'm interested to see for myself.

PS: I just looked on newegg to find there is something called the E2140 out now. A dual core 1.6Ghz processor that is only about $90. Does anyone have any good overclocking numbers with this processor or know of any for that matter? The E4300 is still REALLY cheap but for $90 I could almost care less what happens to it during an OC...
 
Just took a look at the Asus P5B-Plus and it was reviewed well by all those who bought it on newegg.com any objections, comments or better suggestions? Im not not making this final decision for at least a while, but Im just looking for a little feedback as I look through to see my opinion.

(sorry for the lack of apostrophes, Firefox is doing that stupid quick search thing whenever I press it again)
 
The E21x0 series has half the cache of the budget Core 2s(and a quarter of the cache of the fully-fledged Core 2s, like the E6320, E6420, E6600, etc.).I've also heard that they don't overclock as well as the Core 2s. It's good for a cheap processor, but if you want a system with great performance, you'd be better off spending the extra cash for an E4300 or E6320.
 
If you use an E4300 RAM shouldn't be that important due to the lower FSB, if you keep the RAM in sync you'll be at 3.6GHz before you even reach 800MHz on your RAM, so any reasonable quality DDR800 RAM should do. Even good quality 667MHz stuff will probably be fine if you're prepared to loosen the timings a little.
Of course if you use a E6XXX series procesor with a 1066MHz FSB RAM will become much more important as it will basically have to be running 266MHz faster for the same level of O/C.
 
I just did a little google surfing and it appears that most people with the 2140 chips are getting 3Ghz - 3.2Ghz tops on the chips and that is all since they only have an 8x multi. It seems like they are thinking the 2160 will perform better because of the 9x chip, but I am beginning to revisit my E4300 because it is only $30 more and by and large it seems most of what I have found on google seems to try to sway people more towards it then the 21x0 chips.
 
ASUS seems to be having some real customer service issues lately -- and while it's a different division, I'm sure, I can confirm that RMAing my notebook the second time the motherboard crapped out on me for no apparent reason recently has been hellish when compared to the first time around.

Most seem to have good things to say about EVGA, though, hence my choice in motherboard.

You asked for the best... EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 no question at all. In my opinion, anyway. Overclocks like crazy, great support, $30 when you register it (and register it within 30 days if you get one, your warranty depends on it!) gets you "Advance RMA" (cross-shipping prepaid both ways by EVGA should you ever need to RMA the board, one time fee). Lifetime warranty, too. If you, like me, don't care about the lifetime warranty (I build every 2 years or so, so it's kind of a moot point) go with the 122-CK-NF68-T1 instead and save a few bucks. The only difference is the warranty -- 2 years, rather than lifetime. Avoid the "SE" and NF63 boards, though, as they cannot overclock quad cores (though they OC dual cores just fine, so again, another way to save considerable cash if that doesn't matter to you).

The Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme is probably better if you're on air than that Scythe. Sunbeam Tuniq Tower is in roughly the same class. Both run about $60, though the Thermalright requires you to supply your own fan on top of that.
 
what about the Thermalright SI-128? Does that fit the Intel chips as well as the AMD chips? I was looking to get it for my AMD but never did and this would be a great chance to get it for the C2D.
 
Yeah, someone did a recent article on the 21xx chips (looking... ahh, here you go), so you can read up on that, but it sounds like you've already hit on one of the important issues - cpu multiplier...

CPU/Multiplier/FSB to get 3GHz

1mb cache
2140 = 8 * 375 = 3GHz
2160 = 9 * 333 = 3GHz

2mb cache
4300 = 9 * 333 = 3GHz
4400 = 10 * 300 = 3GHz
4500 = 11 * 272.72 = 3GHz
6300 = 7 * 428.57 = 3GHz
6400 = 8 * 375 = 3GHz

4mb cache
6320 = 7 * 428.57 = 3GHz
6420 = 8 * 375 = 3GHz
6600 = 9 * 333 = 3GHz
6700 = 10 * 300 = 3GHz
etc.

...Note that the 6300/6320 are the worst in this regard - you have to push the FSB quite a bit higher to get a nice processor speed. Personally, I'd avoid the 6300/6320, but any of the others will do, depending on your budget. The 4300 overclocks so well because of that high (relatively speaking) cpu multiplier.

Based on this, the E4400 should be an even better choice than the E4300, but some early reports I saw claimed that it's wasn't a great overclocker (I haven't researched it though).
 
I run my E6420 at 3.2Ghz constant without issue and have the Orthos times to prove it. ;)

stable.jpg


So glad I didn't pay up for something 'faster' now...
 
What are the usual temps to expect with a C2D. I know its 50C with an AMD processor that is the taboo temp, but what is it with the C2D? I see most of them running between 50 - 60C they must have a higher temp tolerance I take it?

PS: this is just me being superstitious but I just noticed that the price of all the parts on newegg right now is $333 and that is the same FSB needed on the E4300 to get 3Ghz...coincidence...maybe
 
Intel says 65C is when you should start looking concerned... I think. Don't quote me. I dunno about that, myself. If I ran higher than 60C at any point I'd personally be concerned.

That said, I've seen people run temps as high as 70C under Orthos load.

My temps under "normal" non-Orthos load are around 50-52C, and they could be far lower if I was willing to turn up the fan on the stupid SilentWater, but it quickly becomes far from silent when I do that, hence the reluctance.

Probably going to build up a 'real' watercooling rig -- a loop for the CPU with a 2x120 radiator and a loop for my GTX with a 3x120 radiator -- before the end of the summer. We'll see.

Higher temp tolerances just seem to be the norm now... an 8800 GTX at stock clocks may often hit high 60's C just idle. Worries me. Mine idles at 56C after forcing the fan to 80% constant with RivaTuner.
 
Ok, so from what I'm hearing around the E4300 is the processor to go with. The motherboards to consider are the Asus P5B-Plus, Asus P5B-Delux and Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3. And the RAM to consider is between the G.Skill DDR2-800 and the Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800.
 
I would personally go with a 680i board, but really, stay away from ASUS right now. They're going down hill fast.
 
silent-circuit said:
I would personally go with a 680i board, but really, stay away from ASUS right now. They're going down hill fast.
Click to expand...

ASUS is actually on an upward trend right now. Yes their customer service isn't the best, but that's always been the case as far as I know.
 
Just take a look at the CPU OC data base for the E4300 and see just what folks are getting. Top E4300 Oc is from one of the cheapest ($109) MoBo's out there. Just a hint and might save you a ton of money in the long run. Why pay in excess of $200 for a board when you can get just as good of results out of one that costs half as much...........;) Something to think about I think.
 
I did take a look at that board it looks really really nice for the price, the reviews with the exception of one (idiot that didn't update the BIOS like you are supposed to) all confirmed the results of the top clock in the OC database saying that they got at least 3.4 if not better from that board so I'm thinking that that is probably of the top choices on my list.

So the list is now MSI 650i P6N SLI-FI and the ASUS P5B-Delux.

Anyone have any opinions on either the Crucial Ballistix or the G.Skill RAM?
 
G.Skill makes 2-3 different models of DDR II 800 ram... some people have had trouble with the 'NQ model on the P6N boards (before someone chimes in to tell me that it's working great for them - yeah, I have no doubt :) - that's why I said "some people").
 
silent-circuit said:
I run my E6420 at 3.2Ghz constant without issue and have the Orthos times to prove it. ;)

stable.jpg


So glad I didn't pay up for something 'faster' now...
Click to expand...


I just got a C2D 6420 like you.....i installed my OS and then went straight for 400fsb...3.2Ghz.....no slow increase
Evga 680i board, Gskill HZ DDR2800 Ram, Corsair 620W, AS5 and SI-128(i wish i could have got the tower ones......but with my case it wont fit. HUge case, but no depth. (THermaltake Mozart tx)

Temps are insanely low....never got more then 50C for either core under dual prime95 load for 12hrs monitoring with speedfan.


I have to push it a little harder, i just got this yesterday and i need to see what i can do. I have a couple glitches (first OC ever) but nothing more serious then forgetting to relax mem timings when OCing
 
kill4killin said:
So the list is now MSI 650i P6N SLI-FI and the ASUS P5B-Delux.

Anyone have any opinions on either the Crucial Ballistix or the G.Skill RAM?
Click to expand...

My p5b-deluxe will easily do 525mhz FSB in the colder months of the year.

My Gskill (HK) will also do that @ 4-5-5-12.
 
Arcygenical said:
My p5b-deluxe will easily do 525mhz FSB in the colder months of the year.

My Gskill (HK) will also do that @ 4-5-5-12.
Click to expand...

That should put you pretty close to the top of the C2D data base for that CPU type if you got it stable. I know that there are folks that have gotten there MSI 6N boards well over 500FSB with the right CPU, just check out the MSI P6N thread in the mother board section.........:D


http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1164174
 
Mmk, so G.Skill HK series sounds good, it's cheaper then the Corsair XMS2 that I was looking at by about $20 and if it will do what your saying combined with a potential of 500mhz on the motherboard this might be promising.

How in depth is the BIOS on the MSI boards? I have never owned one, but I know my current DFI board is EXTREMELY in detail with the RAM settings and what not and that has helped my overclock results by a good bit. Can the MSI board do near what the DFI board can with the RAM?
 
Core 2 Duos are not nearly as responsive to ultra-fine memory tuning as AMD chips are (with their integrated memory controller).

Having said that, you can set pretty much all the various timings and sub-timings and command-rate in the P6N BIOS. Additionally, the nVidia chipset lets you adjust the memory bus speed more or less (effectively) separate from the CPU bus, so you can set it to whatever speed you want and the chip figures out a divider for you.
 
Spanki said:
Core 2 Duos are not nearly as responsive to ultra-fine memory tuning as AMD chips are (with their integrated memory controller).

Having said that, you can set pretty much all the various timings and sub-timings and command-rate in the P6N BIOS. Additionally, the nVidia chipset lets you adjust the memory bus speed more or less (effectively) separate from the CPU bus, so you can set it to whatever speed you want and the chip figures out a divider for you.
Click to expand...

If by that statement you mean that Intel CPUs aren't as sensitive to memory timings and other memory adjustments you are correct. Having an off-chip memory controller means that differences in latencies aren't going to impact their performance. As we all know the Core 2 processors don't bennefit as much from increased memory bandwidth as AMD processors do.
 
Ok well that's good to know, I did not know that the Core 2 chips didn't haev onboard memory controllers, I thought they were the same as the AMD chips in that respect.
 
kill4killin said:
Ok well that's good to know, I did not know that the Core 2 chips didn't haev onboard memory controllers, I thought they were the same as the AMD chips in that respect.
Click to expand...

The memory controller is all part of the chipset. Specifically, it's in the north bridge.
 
Very interesting, I guess that would be a very good reason to keep the northbridge cool. The cooler the northbridge the better things will probably fair on one of these systems. I think when it is all said and done, for the air cooling initially anyway, I will have a Tuniq Tower 120 on the processor and a Thermalright HR-05-SLI on the northbridge assuming that it fits on whatever board I end up getting...which is looking more and more like the P5B.
 
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