Best 2 overclockable setups: 1 AMD and 1 CORE2Duo

[AnotherGuy]

As we get closer to the price cuts of the Apriil 22nd.... I would like to know what we come down to in price / performance wise.... So id like to hear from you what are the best 2 options considering overclocking.... from Intel and AMD...

So pretty much cheapest/best overclockable Mobo , Ram, processor and also a cpu cooler. I will include shipping in the price.... and links with E-tailer name ie. Newegg, ZZF....

I'll be making changes to this post as more recommendations come up... Here are the systems:

INTEL SYSTEM

Intel c2d E4300 ......................................................................~$107 + Shipping no hsf @ Ewiz or ~$117 with hsf @ ZZF
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 HSF .............................................~$20 + Shipping Ewiz
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 rev3.3 ..............................................~$120 + Shipping Ewiz
2x1gig Supertalent cas5 ddr2-800 ................................~$98 + Shipping Ewiz

Shipping of total items ................................................................... ~$13

Total ....................................................... ........................................... $358

Overclock possible to 3.0 - 3.2ghz


AMD SYTEM

AMD a64 X2 3600 ....................................................................~$59 no hsf or $69 with hsf @Newegg
Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 HSF ..........................................~$19 + Shipping Ewiz
Biostar Tforce 550 ...................................................................~$73 + Shipping Ewiz

or DFI Infinity nf UltraII-M2 ................................................~$76 + Shipping Ewiz

2x1gig Supertalent cas5 ddr2-800 ................................~$98 + Shipping Ewiz

Shipping of total items ................................................................... ~$13

Total ............................................................... ................................. [ $262 - $269 ]

Overclock possible to 2.6 - 2.8ghz


Other RAM choices for both systems:

2x1gig G.Skill ddr2-800 5-5-5-15 ............................... ~$110 Newegg
2x1gig G.Skill ddr2-800 4-4-4-12 ............................... ~$135 Newegg
2x1gig OCZ plat rev2 ddr2-800 4-4-4-15 ................~$110 after $50MIR ZZF
2x1gig Geil ddr2 800 4-4-4-15 .......................................~$124 Newegg
2x1gig Corsair XMS2 ddr2-800 4-4-4-12 .................~$124 after $50MIR ZZF

I used the same RAM for both systems although I am sure both systems Intel and AMD CAN use slower and supposibly cheaper RAM like DDR2-667 and still overclock at same speeds, but when u can find a cheap ddr2-800 like the above G.Skill for $110, i think the ddr2-800 is better for the long run.


Power supplies:
Power Supply is ONE important item and lately very hard to choose from. The Suggestions that follow are picked up from professionals and good reviews, not my random pick. The first three PS on the list are most recommended for an overclocked system with a beefy videocard, since they use a combined 12v rail amperage which can be distributed wherever its needed... not totally separate 12v rails as with most multi rail power supplies... For more info read this article at Extremeoverclocking.com

Recommended for Single Card GTX or R600 or mid-range SLI: (note that R600 recommends a 6+2pin PCI-E connector... but a 6pin has been also shown to be enough... not sure about this since the card is not even out yet)
Corsair HX 520W Modular for $105 before $10MIR at ZZF.
Antec TruePower Trio 550W for $95 before $25MIR at Newegg

Recommended for GTX SLI and R600 CROSSFIRE:
Corsair HX 620W Modular for $144 before $20MIR at ZZF.

Budget PSU for Light SLI or a Single GTS: (good reviews)
Enhance ENP 5150gh 500W for $81 Ewiz
XCLIO GoodPower 500W for $58 at Newegg

Budget PSU for a Single 8600gts or less:
Fortron Source 450W for $64 Newegg
Rosewill RP550-2 550W for $63 Newegg

Pls if u have a good Power Supply that is strongly recommended or another motherboard for any system please do suggest it.

A guide on How to Overclock a e4300 on the Gigabyte 965p_ds3 is here:http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=610&p=1

A useful link related to this thread is also this: http://xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/dualcore-roundup_9.html

Now I hope everyone will agree that from a E4300 @ 3.0-3.2ghz we can expect at least a 20% better overall performance than a x2 3600 @2.6-2.8ghz... The Xbits link above with the benchmarks can support this.
So it all comes down to whether the $90 price difference justifies that 20% performance difference or not... The choice will be based on the budget probably... but for some it might also be based a little on the fanboism that might be left in you So go ahead and make up your minds. I will not decide which one is better for you.

Thanks to whoever helped with the recommendations.

Have fun with building your leet systems while getting ready to play the latest and greatest games this summer!!!

 

[cubeless]

but u may be the guy who only gets 2.5 out of your c2d...

i just built a

ne x23600 $70
ne biostar tforce 550 $69 w/rebate
ew supertalent 667 $104
ew af 64 hsf $20

about $15 shipping total, but i got $20 combo discounts and such...

and oc'd to 2.85... box is fast, box is cheap...

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: cubeless
but u may be the guy who only gets 2.5 out of your c2d...

That is true. However, last time I pointed it out I was thoroughly berated for the heresy. The claim is that any and all C2D chips are capable of close to 3GHz, the limiting factor being other parts like mobo/RAM. That being said on the one hand, OTOH it doesn't matter in a sense what limits it but the fact that some people just can't clock any higher. I know a few guys at the LAN parties I go to who got on the C2D bandwagon but can't clock very high. Does it matter that they don't have the "right" motherboard?

Anyways, I'm still waiting for the "right" mATX C2D board. That Abit Fatal1ty board is looking good!

 

[AnotherGuy]

Thats exactly what i am looking for, comparisons in price and performance... so people know what kinda choices there are... for different price brackets.... I am not tryin to point out what i like better amd or intel. I went with a c2d example since thats what i been following more closely lately, and not much amd mobo options. I will put the best options from both sides in the first post... but i need real prices including shippin for each item.

Just so u know chances of me only gettin 2.5 on c2d are the same as u gettin only 2.5 as well in the amd right? so that cancels that.

May I ask u which fan is that, the stock fan or special? brand? model?

Also which 1 is better overclocker the brisbane 3600 or the windsor 3600?
EDIT: ok the Brisbane is the answer to that.

Is that biostar 1 of the nicest choices? up to ~$120 is there a better oc-ing board choice?

 

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: AnotherGuy....
Also which 1 is better overclocker the brisbane 3600 or the windsor 3600?
Is that biostar 1 of the nicest choices? up to ~$120 is there a better oc-ing board choice?

I Have the Biostar, but this looks pretty good also.. Well under $120 ..

DFI INFINITY NF ULTRAII-M2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136015

I have one on the way next week to go with a 6000+

 

[AnotherGuy]

updated with AMD recommendation... If u have some more recommendations on the RAM or Motherboard and also a cpu HSF....

Hey i think we actually need one of those guides with Budget, MainStream and HighEnd system recommendations like there used to be in the AT forums before

 

[Cruise51]

Originally posted by: Diogenes2

Originally posted by: AnotherGuy....
Also which 1 is better overclocker the brisbane 3600 or the windsor 3600?
Is that biostar 1 of the nicest choices? up to ~$120 is there a better oc-ing board choice?

I Have the Biostar, but this looks pretty good also.. Well under $120 ..

DFI INFINITY NF ULTRAII-M2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136015

I have one on the way next week to go with a 6000+

This DFI board will get you the best overclocking but it may need a bios update to support a brisbane cpu... Something you should look into. If so, DFI might ship you a bios chip for free.

 

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: Cruise51

This DFI board will get you the best overclocking but it may need a bios update to support a brisbane cpu... Something you should look into. If so, DFI might ship you a bios chip for free.

Latest BIOS available at DFI support site ..

Support AMD AM2 Brisbane 65nm CPUs.

http://www.dfi.com.tw/Support/Download/...RY_TYPE=INFINITY&STATUS_FLAG=A&SITE=NA

 

[AnotherGuy]

K i think i might move the dfi as first recommendation if enough people do recommend it...

Now I think i need to add a HSF for each setup because I think at those overclocks both systems will get a little too hot with stock hsf....
Now the Thermalright Ultra 120 that AT recommends is one of my favorites and costs $55 shipped. This is compatable with both AMD AM2 and Intel 775. Can some1 recommend any good HSF for around $30-45?

 

[harpoon84]

Originally posted by: AnotherGuy
Thats exactly what i am looking for, comparisons in price and performance... so people know what kinda choices there are... for different price brackets.... I am not tryin to point out what i like better amd or intel. I went with a c2d example since thats what i been following more closely lately, and not much amd mobo options. I will put the best options from both sides in the first post... but i need real prices including shippin for each item.

Just so u know chances of me only gettin 2.5 on c2d are the same as u gettin only 2.5 as well in the amd right? so that cancels that.

May I ask u which fan is that, the stock fan or special? brand? model?

Also which 1 is better overclocker the brisbane 3600 or the windsor 3600?
EDIT: ok the Brisbane is the answer to that.

Is that biostar 1 of the nicest choices? up to ~$120 is there a better oc-ing board choice?

You may want to have a look at this Xbitlabs article, it probably has what you are looking for: http://xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/dualcore-roundup_9.html

I skipped the stock speed part and moved straight to the overclocking section. You should pay note to the Brisbane @ 3GHz vs Allendale @ 3.2GHz graphs for an accurate comparison between the overclocking potential of the two chips. I know the speeds are a bit higher than you anticipated but you can still get a good idea of what to expect.

Btw, with the E4300 setup, you don't really need DDR2-800 unless you're aiming for a 100% 3.6GHz overclock (possible, but unlikely), if you are aiming more for 3 - 3.2GHz then save some $$$ on the RAM and get DDR2-667 instead. Using the 1:1 RAM divider, at 3GHz you will be running DDR2-667 at stock speeds, even at 3.2GHz it's only a very mild overclock for the RAM and shouldn't be a problem.

I'm leaning towards the E4300 setup just because it should perform 10 - 30% better (depending on the application of course) once overclocked, it's a bit more expensive but some of the price difference can be reduced by using DDR2-667 on the E4300 platform.

 

[imported_Husky55]

Originally posted by: AnotherGuy
K i think i might move the dfi as first recommendation if enough people do recommend it...

Now I think i need to add a HSF for each setup because I think at those overclocks both systems will get a little too hot with stock hsf....
Now the Thermalright Ultra 120 that AT recommends is one of my favorites and costs $55 shipped. This is compatable with both AMD AM2 and Intel 775. Can some1 recommend any good HSF for around $30-45?

Nothing and I mean NOTHING beat the ARCTIC FREEZER 7 for price and performance!!!

 

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: Husky55

Originally posted by: AnotherGuy
K i think i might move the dfi as first recommendation if enough people do recommend it...

Now I think i need to add a HSF for each setup because I think at those overclocks both systems will get a little too hot with stock hsf....
Now the Thermalright Ultra 120 that AT recommends is one of my favorites and costs $55 shipped. This is compatable with both AMD AM2 and Intel 775. Can some1 recommend any good HSF for around $30-45?

Nothing and I mean NOTHING beat the ARCTIC FREEZER 7 for price and performance!!!

At $60 for the 7, it's not that good a deal..

But $30 for the 64 is not bad..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125

 

[imported_Husky55]

Newegg is gouging big time. They also had some open box for $14 (OOS)

You can get Freeer 7 at Ewiz for about $24. I got a couple some time ago for about $45 for 2.

 

[AnotherGuy]

Originally posted by: harpoon84

1) You may want to have a look at this Xbitlabs article, it probably has what you are looking for: http://xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/dualcore-roundup_9.html

2) Btw, with the E4300 setup, you don't really need DDR2-800 unless you're aiming for a 100% 3.6GHz overclock (possible, but unlikely), if you are aiming more for 3 - 3.2GHz then save some $$$ on the RAM and get DDR2-667 instead. Using the 1:1 RAM divider, at 3GHz you will be running DDR2-667 at stock speeds, even at 3.2GHz it's only a very mild overclock for the RAM and shouldn't be a problem.

1) Yes I have already read that article... very nice indeed... but I think the safest bet with brisbanes 3600 is around 2.6 - 2.8ghz. reading the newegg reviews not every1 can get the 3ghz overclocks.

2) I agree with that... and i did also point to the Supertalent ddr2 667 in my main post... but I think thats up to every1's preference. Personally i feel for $30 difference id get the better RAM... why? because maybe when Penryns come out u might be able to just switch the cpus in the same mobo and make use of those 2 gigs of ddr2 800 better than if it was a ddr2 667... This system is supposed to last at least more than 2 years... since its built on the budget side... and if thats the case i dont see plp changing their whole system every year... but still it's up to you... I will include a ddr2 667 and then create a price Bracket instead of 1 exact Total price.

Originally posted by: Husky55
Newegg is gouging big time. They also had some open box for $14 (OOS)

You can get Freeer 7 at Ewiz for about $24. I got a couple some time ago for about $45 for 2.

thanks for the tip great finding

 

[witold]

Nice write up. The AMD system is about what I'm planning to build for my first overclocked machine.

 

[kmmatney]

As a low cost work computer, I bought a dual-core AMD 3600+, cheap MSI ATI Express1200 motherboard, and low cost Geil RAM, and it easily overclocked to over 2.35 GHz. I stopped there, but it could probably go higher. Very impressive performance for how cheap the parts were: $214 shipped for cpu, motherboard, memory, and decent on-board video.

 

[elcamino74ss]

I'll get my 7900gs in two days and will post my results with my newegg x2 3600 but I went with the gigabyte nforce4 SLI board. It was only $78 and it had lots of nice features. Should be good for at least a mild OC and I'll have the option to go SLI later. The board also support up to 16gb of ram.

 

[Rapishorrid]

Nice thread, I am in the exact same situation - waiting for the Intel price cuts so i can grab an E4300 and build my rig. Pretty pumped because it will be my first time with serious over clocking, and I'll be selling my current comp and starting from complete scratch.. again.

As far as your Intel system, there is a couple good options for the memory right now.

- 2gigs Corsair XMS2 - $130 AR (you linked to)
- 2gigs OCZ Platinum rev2 -$120 AR (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...P=AFC-SlickDeals&Item=N82E16820227139)

I'm deciding on which kit to get right now actually Check the slickdeals forums for updated info on those deals.

Also while I'm here, I need to learn how to overclock before I can do anything.. any good, maybe even e4300 specific, guides out there?

 

[AnotherGuy]

Originally posted by: Rapishorrid
Nice thread, I am in the exact same situation - waiting for the Intel price cuts so i can grab an E4300 and build my rig. Pretty pumped because it will be my first time with serious over clocking, and I'll be selling my current comp and starting from complete scratch.. again.

As far as your Intel system, there is a couple good options for the memory right now.

- 2gigs Corsair XMS2 - $130 AR (you linked to)
- 2gigs OCZ Platinum rev2 -$120 AR (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...P=AFC-SlickDeals&Item=N82E16820227139)

I'm deciding on which kit to get right now actually Check the slickdeals forums for updated info on those deals.

Also while I'm here, I need to learn how to overclock before I can do anything.. any good, maybe even e4300 specific, guides out there?

Yep i just ran at the ocz plat cas4 at ZZF thoe n they have it $3 cheaper than egg $166.90.... ill put that up... I just hope theres no incompatibility issues between these different memory sticks and the mobo.

Heres a very nice guide for specifically e4300 overclock.... http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=610&p=1

The Geil ram looks good too...

 

[gorobei]

i went with:
c2d e3400 ------------------------ frys special ~$150
2gb corsair xms----------------------------------$160
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 rev3.3-----------newegg ~$111
noctua uh12f----------------------- sidewinder ~$60

i went with the ds3 because there's just more info available on the web for O'C it.
the Gigabyte website has a DDR memory compatibility chart, there were more corsair listings than OCZ.
the noctua with included fan is cheaper than the ultra120 + separate fan.

i'm currently overclocking at 3.0gHz. with plenty of room to go higher. the only issue being the L2 stepping making core temps thru TAT or CoreTemp unreliable. the bios temps say 18deg core temp, speedfan say 22deg idle, while TAT says 45deg idle.


(frys local ads are already dumping the e3400s and ecs M/B for $130)


[sorry typo, i meant e4300. my fingers are dyslexic.]

 

[imported_Husky55]

Originally posted by: gorobei
i went with:
c2d e3400 ------------------------ frys special ~$150
2gb corsair xms----------------------------------$160
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 rev3.3-----------newegg ~$111
noctua uh12f----------------------- sidewinder ~$60

i went with the ds3 because there's just more info available on the web for O'C it.
the Gigabyte website has a DDR memory compatibility chart, there were more corsair listings than OCZ.
the noctua with included fan is cheaper than the ultra120 + separate fan.

i'm currently overclocking at 3.0gHz. with plenty of room to go higher. the only issue being the L2 stepping making core temps thru TAT or CoreTemp unreliable. the bios temps say 18deg core temp, speedfan say 22deg idle, while TAT says 45deg idle.


(frys local ads are already dumping the e3400s and ecs M/B for $130)

You mean E4300 don't you? There is no E3400 that I know of.

@Anotherguy

I hate rebates and memory incompatibities so I would recommend G. Skill NQ DDR2-800 for about $120 at the egg.

About the Arctic Cooler Freezer Pro 7, it is extremely easy to install in addition it cools extremely well. Only about ONE or TWO degrees less that the Thermalright Ultra 120 or the Sunbeam Tuniq Tower(1kilogram)

 

[Rapishorrid]

I'm all for rebates and a good deal!

Three options for discounted memory right now:

Patriot eXtreme Performance
$133.98 AR

Corsair XMS2
$130.00 AR

OCZ Platinum Revision 2
$127.98 AR

All prices include shipping

I haven't decided what I am going to get yet.. any advice - even though they are all basically the same thing?

I'll probably grab whatever memory I decide to get plus this johnnyguru rated PSU with a rebate. From there I have to RMA my 6800GS for some heat problems, put it in this comp and then sell the whole thing. Any advice on selling comps? Then I will be set to wait for another $225 or less 8800GTS deal and grab all my other parts.

Thanks for all the info again guys and OP great thread

 

[f4phantom2500]

it's kinda stupid to say possible overclock on those lists, a more accurate term would be likely overclock. also if you're building a rig that's "guaranteed" to overclock that high (yes, it's very possible to get a C2D that won't clock that high, or one that'll go higher, same with A64), why not put a recommended power supply? Those are just as important components as anything else, if not more, and a lot of people don't know what makes a power supply good so really that's the most important recommendation.

 

[Rapishorrid]

why not put a recommended power supply? Those are just as important components as anything else

The power supply depends on more than just the processor and mobo which is what this thread is really about. For example if you have SLI you obviously have different needs in a PSU than someone with a single card.

 

[f4phantom2500]

Originally posted by: Rapishorrid

why not put a recommended power supply? Those are just as important components as anything else

The power supply depends on more than just the processor and mobo which is what this thread is really about. For example if you have SLI you obviously have different needs in a PSU than someone with a single card.

This thread is assuming a budget setup; most people on a budget don't have an SLI setup. Even so, he could recommend a single-GPU and a dual-GPU PSU separately; I mean, he does have like 4 RAM recommendations. Besides, those 2 rigs that he laid out would support the same PSU.