OC e4300 vs oc 6420

[kungpo]

OK - my main rig is an E4300 clocked at 340fsb with 4x 1gb of DDR2 667, and an AC7 cooler. Runs fine if a little hot under load.

My wifes PC is an under-utilised E6420 with 1.5GB DDR2 667

Is it worth getting some (2x 2GB or 4x 1GB) DDR2 800, and clocking the E6420. Will it clock much higher than the E4300 (with better temps). Will it make any tangigble difference, or should I not bother and just get a Q6600 instead, and continue with the DDR2 667. I'm also guessing the E4300 is not going to go significantly higher with 800Mhz ram with some serious cooling.

I appreciate that the Q6600 would also clock better with DDR2 800, but what's the more sensible thing to do right now.

[staffsMike]

you won't see a difference between the two dual cores.

I'd probably go quad core if you really need to upgrade. Is the dual core struggling?

[kungpo]

It's not struggling generally, I just fancy a bit more performance. You know what it's like...

[staffsMike]

I do indeed

If you can afford it, get a Q6600. With a decent cooler that will hit 3.4GHz easy

[kungpo]

Yeah I thought that might be the case. I guess I can always get some DDR2 800 later. A Q6600 at 340fsb is the same clock as my e4300, but with two more cores should really fly.

[staffsMike]

Yeah they are lovely to use.

You can do so much at the same time

[kungpo]

Quad ordered. I umm'd and arr'd for a while and thought bugger it...why not.

[staffsMike]

you won't regret it

[kungpo]

It's sooo exciting!

I didn't think to order a cooler (foolish) as i'm guessing the AC7 will not cool to similar temps as the e4300 at a similar OC? Any thoughts? Don't want to spend toooo much money though.

[staffsMike]

It will cool a G0 pretty well but not up with the best.

I've used a scythe ninja rev B on one. It's my favourite cooler as it works silently and nips on the heels (one or two degrees difference) of the best cooler out there the thermalright 120 extreme which needs a higher speed (nosier fan) to get the best results.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=296802

the mine is a little cheaper and rated highly too.

[kungpo]

It's quite a biggie! Will it sit ok horizontally. My case only has a single fan on the back - will that be enough?

[twicksisted]

I do indeed

If you can afford it, get a Q6600. With a decent cooler that will hit 3.4GHz easy

I can clock to 3.4ghz with the ratail fan on my G0 Q6600...
left it like that for a few days and then thought it was pointless so slowed it down to 333fsb 3GHZ
im reading good temps but am tempted to get a decent heatsink and run it at 3.4ghz permanently.

just make sure that you buy some AS5 to go with it as that makes a huge difference!
(probably why i can OC with the retail fan)

[staffsMike]

pretty sure it will fit most cases. As long as you take the time to fit it properly it will be steady as a rock horizontally. I've got one that way.

It comes with a low speed fan so with that an your one case fan it will work beautifully

[kungpo]

Perfect. I'll order on Monday.

As an aside...is it worth changing my mobo for a P5K? or not bother and keep the P5B?

Because....my wifes PC is a Gigabyte mATX board, which could take the e4300 and go in to the HTPC, give the P5B to the wife to use with the 6420, and stick the Q6600 on a P5K. Or just get another mATX board for the HTPC and leave the rest well alone.

[staffsMike]

wow quite the conundrum ..

the P5B deluxe will be fine for the q6600 so the cheapest route is probably just getting a new uATX

[kungpo]

Yeah..it's a bugger. One the one hand I don't want any aggro. On the other, I want the best long term proposition.