CPU recommendation please

[Vlip]

Hello,

I've got a C2D E4300 overclocked to 3.0 GHz on a WinXP (32bit) system. I'm not a gamer. The most CPU intensive app I run is Pinnacle Studio for video editing, rendering and DVD authoring.
Seeing that the E6850 and Q6600 are neck-and-neck on price, and taking overlock potential into consideration, which one will give me the best performance?

Thanks,
Vlip

 

[MarcVenice]

Q6600 will give better performance in the apps you mentioned, because of it's 4 cores. I wonder how a 4.0ghz e8400 stacks up to a q6600 though. The e8400 is the replacement of the e6850 btw, so stop looking at the e6850, and look at the e8400 instead.

 

[hclarkjr]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Q6600 will give better performance in the apps you mentioned, because of it's 4 cores. I wonder how a 4.0ghz e8400 stacks up to a q6600 though. The e8400 is the replacement of the e6850 btw, so stop looking at the e6850, and look at the e8400 instead.

what if his board doesn't support it? some have boards that will not support the new chips. he would have to buy new board and the chip. i think the quad would be good for what he wants it for

 

[MarcVenice]

That's a possibility, but even 680i supports 45nm chips if im not mistaken. So if he has such a board, or even a p35 mobo, then it's still a question I would personaly love to see answered.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Q6600 will give better performance in the apps you mentioned, because of it's 4 cores. I wonder how a 4.0ghz e8400 stacks up to a q6600 though. The e8400 is the replacement of the e6850 btw, so stop looking at the e6850, and look at the e8400 instead.

4 > 2 in the programs he listed.

Kentsfield or Yorkfield next month is my recomendation.

The Quadcore / Kents, Yorkie , will require a good cooler to keep up with the E6850 in oc.

@ 400fsb x 8 = 3.2ghz A kentsfield would still spank a E8400 @ 4ghz in any multi threaded application.

Its like this...

2 cores each thread takes 2 hours @ 4ghz.

4 cores each thread takes 2.5hours @ 3.2ghz

in 2.5 hours you have 4 threads completed on the quadcore.

in 4 hours you have 4 threads completed on the dualcore.


Is that easy enough for you guys to understand? And no 4ghz wolfdale is nowhere near 2x the speed of a 3.2ghz kentsfield. You probably wont notice it in any other application besides encoding.

 

[palladium]

I've heard E8400, with SSE4 support, beats Q6600 in encoding. And it's cheaper too...

 

[krnmastersgt]

if you want to start this E8400 > Kentsfield argument again theres already a thread on it.... and aigo's description was plain enough for anyone to understand if you ask me....

 

[Phunk0ne]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
That's a possibility, but even 680i supports 45nm chips if im not mistaken. So if he has such a board, or even a p35 mobo, then it's still a question I would personaly love to see answered.

Be careful of what you are stating here please. Only 2 motherboard vendors say they have a BIOS solution to get the new penryns to work on the 680i, namely Asus and DFI only. All other vendors who made their 680i design after nVidia's layout/reference, do not support the new 45nm processors.

 

[DerComissar]

I think the Q6600 would be best for Vlip. This is based on what he wants to use the system for, as well as motherboard compatibility. They are good overclockers as well.
The E6850 and the new Wolfdales are more suited to guys like me

 

[n7]

Q6600.

Or E8400/E8500.

 

[Vlip]

Thanks everyone! To answer the question some asked, I have a Gigabyte 965P-DQ6 that at this time (and maybe never) does not support 45nm processors, otherwise I would defintely go with the E8400 since it is about $50 cheaper. I paid over $200 for this mobo and would hate to have to buy a new one.

I don't know what happened to my signature. It contained all my system specs. I'll have to take a look at my profile but for now, here it is:

GA-965P-DQ6 | E4300 @ 3.0 GHz | Scythe Ninja + 2 Scythe 120mm fans
2X1 GB Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12 | ATI X1950XT 256 MB
WD 320GB SATA II (system), WD 160 GB SATA II (video), 2X500 GB WD RAID 0 (backup)
Generic DVD-ROM; Panasonic DVR-110D DL DVD+/-RW
Antec Sonata II w/ 2X120mm fans
Zalman MFC-2 fan controller