Upgrading from e2160@3.0?

[Scrimmy]

I've been running an e2160 at 3.0 for the past year and have to confess I'm starting to itch for an upgrade. I recently picked up a new video card (MSI GTX 260) cheap at New Egg and I'm getting itch for another upgrade. Basic system is an Abit IP35-e, the e2160, an MSI GTX 260, 4 gigs RAM mostly playing Warhammer Online. Currently running it at 1680x1050 but I bought the new video card in anticipation of a bigger monitor to be running at 1920x1200.

Couple different options I'm considering, so I just wanted some feedback, especially with Nehalem around the corner. Right now, I think I'm leaning most in the direction of a relatively cheap upgrade to better match the new videocard and push some more frames in RvR playing WAR. Most likely, I'm considering a holdover upgrade while the new socket and CPUs settle in and prices come down until I upgrade next fall or winter.

Options I'm considering:
e7200: seem very inexpensive and very overclockable. Looking very attractive simply because it's the cheapest upgrade, provided the increase is substantial enough.

e8400: I'm guessing this is the best option; extremely overclockable and still relatively cheap

q9450 or q9550: seem like great deals, but I'm less sold on the dual core simply because I primarily game with this computer and the benefits to gaming are marginal at this point.

I'd be open to other options, mostly feeling things out now.

 

[Kraeoss]

actually the E5200 is a better budget chip than the E7200 for the price they both top off at basically the same speed i.e. 3.6 - 3.8. Here @ 84.usd free shipping.

 

[nerp]

I'd go with an E8400 and settle with 3.6 to 3.8ghz with low volts. It will be a drop in replacement with your IP35-E and you should notice a nice boost. I swapped out an E2180 @ 3.2ghz with my E8400 @ 3.6 and the difference is quite noticable.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: nerp
I'd go with an E8400 and settle with 3.6 to 3.8ghz with low volts. It will be a drop in replacement with your IP35-E and you should notice a nice boost. I swapped out an E2180 @ 3.2ghz with my E8400 @ 3.6 and the difference is quite noticable.

This. The cache makes a huge difference (to the point where the 5200,7200 aren't a good deal), there are threads about this with charts/comparisons.

OP I noticed a decent difference in FPS going from 3Ghz to 3.4ghz. I would recommend you push further, you can. Go up to 1.5075v (on your board, same as mine ), and watch your temps-- as long as you're at or below 74C you'll be fine. I've run that for about 10 months now no problem.

 

[Scrimmy]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux

Originally posted by: nerp
I'd go with an E8400 and settle with 3.6 to 3.8ghz with low volts. It will be a drop in replacement with your IP35-E and you should notice a nice boost. I swapped out an E2180 @ 3.2ghz with my E8400 @ 3.6 and the difference is quite noticable.

This. The cache makes a huge difference (to the point where the 5200,7200 aren't a good deal), there are threads about this with charts/comparisons.

OP I noticed a decent difference in FPS going from 3Ghz to 3.4ghz. I would recommend you push further, you can. Go up to 1.5075v (on your board, same as mine ), and watch your temps-- as long as you're at or below 74C you'll be fine. I've run that for about 10 months now no problem.

Hmm, this actually sounds kinda fun to play around with in the short term. Is that speed with stock or an aftermarket cooler? I originally threw this system together as a cheap gaming rig after I took a break from PC gaming, so I tried to keep costs low and part of that was sticking with the stock cooler.

Overall, though, sounds like an e8400 is the best bet. Maybe I'll grab that along with a good cooler and see how fast i can push it.

 

[nerp]

I'm using mine with a Tuniq 120 and I have to really struggle to get load temps past 50C on the hottest core. 3.6 @ 1.22vcore (1.28 in BIOS) and with C1E and speedstep turned on volts drop a bit.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: Scrimmy

Originally posted by: soccerballtux

Originally posted by: nerp
I'd go with an E8400 and settle with 3.6 to 3.8ghz with low volts. It will be a drop in replacement with your IP35-E and you should notice a nice boost. I swapped out an E2180 @ 3.2ghz with my E8400 @ 3.6 and the difference is quite noticable.

This. The cache makes a huge difference (to the point where the 5200,7200 aren't a good deal), there are threads about this with charts/comparisons.

OP I noticed a decent difference in FPS going from 3Ghz to 3.4ghz. I would recommend you push further, you can. Go up to 1.5075v (on your board, same as mine ), and watch your temps-- as long as you're at or below 74C you'll be fine. I've run that for about 10 months now no problem.

Hmm, this actually sounds kinda fun to play around with in the short term. Is that speed with stock or an aftermarket cooler? I originally threw this system together as a cheap gaming rig after I took a break from PC gaming, so I tried to keep costs low and part of that was sticking with the stock cooler.

Overall, though, sounds like an e8400 is the best bet. Maybe I'll grab that along with a good cooler and see how fast i can push it.

Aftermarket cooler, Thermalright Ultra 120.

If you don't have one, probably is better to just get the e8400, that'll OC fine on stock.

 

[brencat]

I'll also suggest the E8400, provided you can get a decent price ~ $160 all in. The E7200 @ $120 is not a good deal, but it might be if you can get it for $100. I seriously doubt you're bottlenecking that card much if at all at 16x10 with your E2160 > 3.0ghz.

I game on a 19" CRT @ 12x10 and with my "aging" 8800gts there is no difference in COD4 FPS with everything maxed on most boards varying CPU speeds between 3.0 and 3.3ghz on my E2180. I average about 91 fps except for Creek (~ 49).

 

[nyker96]

I've gone from E2180@3 to a E7200@3.5, so far the one thing this new CPU is much faster on is x264 encoding. 4hr job now down to about 2:45. very pleased with this aspect of the upgrade. But other things like browsing, office work, even programming I don't really notice much difference.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: nyker96
I've gone from E2180@3 to a E7200@3.5, so far the one thing this new CPU is much faster on is x264 encoding. 4hr job now down to about 2:45. very pleased with this aspect of the upgrade. But other things like browsing, office work, even programming I don't really notice much difference.

If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that FPS != MMORPG. MMOs are WAY more CPU intensive than FPS.

 

[Twsmit]

I just moved from an E2180 @ 3.2 to a E7200 @ 3.8. Triple the cache, runs cooler and gave me an extra 600mhz. Not a huge upgrade, however I was able to sell the old chip to recoup some cost and I have a Microcenter nearby where they have the E7200 for $100. Good deal if you're looking for one.