WillC

Hey,
I think I've decided to upgrade my CPU but I am not totally sure what to get, or even if I need an upgrade.
Right now I have..

HIS Radeon X1950 Pro IceQ3 Turbo 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express Dual DVI HDTV CrossFire Ready Video Card H195PRQT256DVN-R at TigerDirect.com

Canada Computers - Motherboards > Socket LGA775/T : Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket 775 Intel 965 Express + ICH8 Chipset Dual Channel DDR2 533/667/800 Gigabit Lan Intel High Definition Audio PCI-Express x16 Graphics 6xSATAII All-Solid Capacitor Motherboa

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Processor BX80557E6300 - 1.86GHz, 2MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB, Conroe, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket 775, Processor with Fan at TigerDirect.com

Corsair Value Select PC2-5300 2X1GB DDR2-667 240PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit - DirectCanada

Corsair Value Select PC2-5300 1X1GB DDR2-667 240PIN Dimm - DirectCanada


I was looking at some other stuff like
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Processor BX80570E8400 - 3.0GHz, 6MB Cache, 1333MHz FSB, Wolfdale, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket 775, Processor with Fan in Canada at TigerDirect.ca
OR
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor HH80562PH0568M - 2.40GHz, 8MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB, Kentsfield, Quad-Core, OEM, Socket 775, Processor in Canada at TigerDirect.ca

The reason I picked these is because I like Intel and they seem to be similar (Oh and the price is actually pretty fair). One has quad CPUs while the other has more mHz but is only duo..
Do any of you guys think these are good and if not, which are better that are not over $200 CAD?

BlueMak

Yes they are good, if I was going to buy a new desktop system I would buy a quad core cpu, but it all depends on what you use your PC for. If most applications you use are made for 1 core, at most 2, there is no reason to buy a quad core cpu.
So, if your applications can use the 4 cores natively, get the 4 cores cpu for better performance or for a bit more future proofing (though that, like the cake, is a lie).
If you are an average user with some gaming on the side, you should be satisfied with the 2 core cpu. The E8400 is very good from what I know.
BTW, the OEM CPU you have there, means it doesn't have a cooling set with it, so you will have to spend extra money for that too.

Mind you I don't have either of those CPUs.

EDIT: Considering the rest of your system that is a bit older, I would just get the cheaper, but make sure the motherboard supports either of those newer CPUs before you buy them!!!
You will eventualy get a new mainboard and graphics card and memory etc, and if you plan on keeping the system for another couple of years, you might as well buy the newer version of CPU, the E8xxx. Now, I know that goes against what I said earlier about future proofing, but in my mind it still makes sense.

__________________
The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Syndicate2083

My friend just upgraded to an e8400 and absolutely loves it. It performs well with the rest of his setup and he can use it with pretty much any game out there with good performance. He noticed a great performance increase.

If it is between dual core and quad core. It's up to you really, theres pros and cons to each one. Like Blue mentioned, it depends on what specifically you are going to do with it.

__________________
-Crash the silence for the sake of memory.

Intrinsic Realities, APC-MGE EAS Team, Veteran-USN.

If anyone needs help with APC products or has questions, feel free to PM me!

mkk

That motherboard is a bit old now so it might have issues with 45nm CPU's. If it's a revision 3.3 board then there's a chance with the last beta BIOS but without official support. GIGABYTE - Support - Motherboard - BIOS - GA-965P-DS3 (rev. 3.3) A Q6600 would be safe, or just try overclocking the current chip until it's time for a broader upgrade.

PC_Inquisitor

Go quad core. Yes, I know there are not a bunch of apps. that use 4 cores, but, you can overclock the quad core and there you are. And don't forget, also, the power of doing multiple thingsat the same time.

Finally, don't forget to chech the compatibility of your mobo

procupine14

if you can fit it in your budget go for the quad over the dual. Even a fast dual core < quad core (99% of the time)

__________________
Laptop: HP dv6000 - Vista Ultimate (32-bit) - AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60(2.0GHz) - NVIDIA GeForce Go 7200 256MB - 4GB Kingston DDR2 667 - 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

HTPC: Vista Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Athlon 5200+ x2 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 800 - 250GB Seagate Barracuda - Samsung EcoGreen 1TB - Hauppauge single tuner HD - ASUS Radeon HD4550 512MB - ECS RS485M-M mobo - Creative X-fi soundcard

Other PC: Vista Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Athlon 4200+ X2 - 4GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2 800 - 250GB Seagate Barracuda - XFX 8600GT XXX - DFI Infinity NF570 SLI-M2/G

PangingJr

both Wolfdale and Yorkfield CPUs can be working in my P965-DS4 Rev.1.0, i recall the Wolfdale could also went up to 500 FSB as well...

however, i don't think Gigabyte will release a production version or final BIOS to officially support Intel 45-nm in their entire Intel P/G965 based boards,
and you will have to use the available BETA BIOS if you want to use the Intel 45-nm on your board, the peoblem is that, under some of the BETA BIOS's there may be some loss of function in the overclocking,
for example, the BIOS is locked to use only 1:1, or the CPU's core voltage cannot be increased.

so for the Gigabye board, if you want to change the CPU, i suggest you go for Q6600, and then try using an older version of BIOS, it worked best with the Q6600.

WillC

Ok so what you are saying is that I should upgrade my mobo when I upgrade my CPU? I have a fan/heatsink or what have you on my current CPU. It seems to work fine but I assume a more powerful CPU needs a bigger heatsink/fan.

I think I will just wait until I need a new computer, maybe in a year or two if I can stretch it and then buy all new things.
Do you think my PSU would be able to run a new HD radeon card and quad core CPU? It is OCZ GameXStream 700W ATX12V 24PIN SLI Ready Active PFC ATX Power Supply 120MM Fan Black - DirectCanada and right now it is working fine but I was told it was a bit overkill with my current setup...

procupine14

yeah that should suit it. Better overkill than underpowered.

__________________
Laptop: HP dv6000 - Vista Ultimate (32-bit) - AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60(2.0GHz) - NVIDIA GeForce Go 7200 256MB - 4GB Kingston DDR2 667 - 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

HTPC: Vista Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Athlon 5200+ x2 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 800 - 250GB Seagate Barracuda - Samsung EcoGreen 1TB - Hauppauge single tuner HD - ASUS Radeon HD4550 512MB - ECS RS485M-M mobo - Creative X-fi soundcard

Other PC: Vista Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Athlon 4200+ X2 - 4GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2 800 - 250GB Seagate Barracuda - XFX 8600GT XXX - DFI Infinity NF570 SLI-M2/G

BlueMak

It looks like you motherboard supports the quad core, so you don't have to upgrade your motherboard, get a new one, to use that one.

Don't you dare just take the fan and heatsink of the old cpu and place it on the new one. Guaranteed failure.

__________________
The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.