Understanding Intel CPUs

[axy1985]

Hi! New around these forums, but a long time PC user/builder, that used to side with AMD. Well, as most of us, I owe no one my loyalties, so I go for the fastest of the brands, these days being Intel.
I'm renewing my PC from an "old" socket 939 X2 system, and I'm going for shopping in a week.
So far I've decided to go for Gigabyte's DS3L P35 based mobo, because it apparently hits the sweet spot between cost and performance, and am getting 2GB (don't need more really) of OCZ Plat. Rev2 RAM. Don't have any issues with those selections, but feel free to suggest anything else, pros or cons.
What has me wondering is the CPU. I initially was going for the Allendale based E4500, but I'm always looking for better, more cost effective solutions, so stumbled upon the apparently Conroe based E4300. I say apparently, cause I read an article here on Anand stating that the E4xxx series were all Allendale based, so now I'm confused. Why is the 4300 Conroe based? Are there any non-technical (performance, features, thermals, etc) differences between a E4300 Conroe based or an Allendale based CPU? I intend on OCing the CPU to exactly 3GHz, and I believe that any of those CPUs should easily achieve that. It shaves $20 off my total, so it's always worth considering. Still, when I'm upgrading, I like to go with the most recent option, in this case, the E4500.

Thanks!!
BTW, sorry if it's the wrong section...

 

[PolymerTim]

Originally posted by: axy1985
Hi! New around these forums, but a long time PC user/builder, that used to side with AMD. Well, as most of us, I owe no one my loyalties, so I go for the fastest of the brands, these days being Intel.
I'm renewing my PC from an "old" socket 939 X2 system, and I'm going for shopping in a week.
So far I've decided to go for Gigabyte's DS3L P35 based mobo, because it apparently hits the sweet spot between cost and performance, and am getting 2GB (don't need more really) of OCZ Plat. Rev2 RAM. Don't have any issues with those selections, but feel free to suggest anything else, pros or cons.
What has me wondering is the CPU. I initially was going for the Allendale based E4500, but I'm always looking for better, more cost effective solutions, so stumbled upon the apparently Conroe based E4300. I say apparently, cause I read an article here on Anand stating that the E4xxx series were all Allendale based, so now I'm confused. Why is the 4300 Conroe based? Are there any non-technical (performance, features, thermals, etc) differences between a E4300 Conroe based or an Allendale based CPU? I intend on OCing the CPU to exactly 3GHz, and I believe that any of those CPUs should easily achieve that. It shaves $20 off my total, so it's always worth considering. Still, when I'm upgrading, I like to go with the most recent option, in this case, the E4500.

Thanks!!
BTW, sorry if it's the wrong section...

I'm pretty sure both the E4300 and E4500 are Allendale only.
http://www.intel.com/products/...ber/chart/core2duo.htm
and differ only by speed. Maybe the site where it was labeled as Conroe was just a typo. That kind of thing happens pretty often in the specs.

I'll let someone more knowledgeable confirm, but I'm pretty sure you can hit 3GHz with either chip as well although it might be a little easier with the E4500 since it has a higher multiplier.

Your build looks good. It is a classic overclocker setup these days. I agree you're probably fine with 2GB RAM as long as you aren't going Vista and don't have an memory intensive programs. However, RAM is so cheap right now...

 

[axy1985]

Ok, I've been reading some more, and apparently early E4300 were Conroe based E6xx, with half their L2 Cache disabled.
Ah well, I'll go with the E4500. I may end up getting better results for $20. Thx!

 

[tutelary]

get the extra ram. you can throw a high end quad in this machine in a year or two, its worth having the extra ram for as little as it currently costs.

 

[JPB]

Originally posted by: tutelary
get the extra ram. you can throw a high end quad in this machine in a year or two, its worth having the extra ram for as little as it currently costs.

Exactly right. When I bought my DDR, it was $110 for a gig. Now you can get 2 gig of memory for around $60 and its even DDR2

 

[myocardia]

Axy!!! Welcome to anandtech. It took you long enough. If you can find a new E4300, that isn't OEM, I'd say get it. Here's why-- it's got a better multiplier for overclocking. These Intel chips don't like having their multipliers lowered by more than 1x when overclocked, which would mean you'd be stuck with either an 11x or 10x multi, if using an E4500. With an E4300, you'd have the two best multi's available, 9x and 8x. You'll get slightly better performance, since you'll have not only a higher FSB, you'll also have higher RAM speed. Plus, that extra $20 will buy you the Intel equivalent of the AC Freezer 64 Pro, the AC Freezer 7 Pro.

Okay, newegg has raised their price on the Freezer 7 Pro, again. Ewiz has it for $23, with free shipping, though.

Originally posted by: tutelary
get the extra ram. you can throw a high end quad in this machine in a year or two, its worth having the extra ram for as little as it currently costs.

Agreed. When you can buy 2x2 GB of PC6400, with no rebates, for $80 (plus free shipping), it really makes no sense to limit yourself to 2GB. Overclocking always works better with only two sticks of RAM, so adding two more 1GB sticks later isn't nearly as good of an option as just buying 2x2 GB to begin with.

 

[nerp]

Go to 4GB. Now is the time to do it.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: JPB

Originally posted by: tutelary
get the extra ram. you can throw a high end quad in this machine in a year or two, its worth having the extra ram <for as little as it currently costs.

Exactly right. When I bought my DDR, it was $110 for a gig. Now you can get 2 gig of memory for around $60 and its even DDR2

It baffles me to think I spent over $200 on a 4MB SIMM at one point in my life. And no, that's not a typo

 

[Phynaz]

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: JPB

Originally posted by: tutelary
get the extra ram. you can throw a high end quad in this machine in a year or two, its worth having the extra ram <<<for as little as it currently costs.

Exactly right. When I bought my DDR, it was $110 for a gig. Now you can get 2 gig of memory for around $60 and its even DDR2

It baffles me to think I spent over $200 on a 4MB SIMM at one point in my life. And no, that's not a typo

A long time ago I spent $200 upgradeing a Commodore 8032 from 8KB to 16KB. And that was at cost, as I worked at the computer store.

 

[v8envy]

Ooh old hardware cost epeen contest! Me too me too!

Hrm. Highlights. 300 baud modem (massive upgrade from 110!) for around $300. Never got it to work quite right. Second floppy drive for my Apple ][. $160ish, and that was a steal. ATI All-in-Wonder with a massive 256*K* of RAM, and support for not only CGA but also EGA *and* VGA. $279. Maxtor 340 meg hard drive, $349. Supra 14400 modem, $250 at a trade show with sysop discount. Hottest deal evar.

The last 3 don't seem all that long ago, in the grand scheme of things.

 

[axy1985]

Hey myocardia! Was starting to wonder where everyone had left to heh.
Well, thanks for the replies. I know RAM is sick cheap these days, but sadly, I only have the money I got from selling my old build, and am already stretching my budget as it is .
Although I'd like 4GB, I don't really have those extra $30 for it, nor I like Vista x64
Additionally, I'm limited to stores that accept international credit cards, cause I live in Central America, but I have them ship the stuff to a physical address in Florida I have.... that means no newegg for me... currently buying from amazon.com, because to date, I haven't been able to find a hardware store that accepts international CC. It's not so bad really... I'm paying around $10 more than if I bought the same things out of newegg.

Oh, and going back to the E4300 deal... sadly, the one that was $20 less is an used CPU... I rather get a new one. Well... if I get a E4500... then I guess I'll HAVE to OC it higher than 3GHz then.... lol.

 

[Modelworks]

I have a E4500 that I have run at 3.3Ghz for months .
No real trouble getting it there, except raising the vcore to 1.35v.
Uses Arctic 7 Cooler and idles at 29C, load 48C

 

[axy1985]

I already have a nifty Thermalright cooler around, so I should get good results there too .
Yeah, E4500 it is then.

 

[GZS]

Does Google Checkout or *AH NO!* Paypal accept international CC's? Maybe you can cut your cost a good bit by buying parts from these or other forums?

 

[axy1985]

Paypal does, but newegg and lots of others don't even accept international CC based Paypal accounts. Yuck, huh.
That Google checkout thing looks very promising, I'll check it out!