Which Intel CPU

[Apex]

Am looking at upgrading the shuttle and have just put together a small build

4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS3, DDR3 PC3-10666 (1333) 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 9-9-9-24

Shuttle XPC SX48P2-DELUXE, S775, Intel X48, DDR3 1333/ 1600/ 800, PCI-E (x16), SATA 3Gb/s. SATA RAID

I will carry over my ATI 4850 + HDDS and CDRom/DVDRom but the last componet has me scatching my head

Do i get a

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, S775, Wolfdale, 3 GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 6MB Cache, 9x Ratio, 65W, Retail

or a

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550, S775, Yorkfield Core, 2.83GHz, 1333MHz, 12MB Cache, 8.5x Ratio, 95W, Retail

Would having quad core make that much of a difference or would it be better to get a higher clock dual core

[nightkhaos]

Now that multithreaded games are becoming more and more common you want more threads, hence I would recommend the Quad Core of the two.

Althrough in all honestly you might be better of with an AM3 and a 955 X4.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Am looking at upgrading the shuttle and have just put together a small build

4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS3, DDR3 PC3-10666 (1333) 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 9-9-9-24

Shuttle XPC SX48P2-DELUXE, S775, Intel X48, DDR3 1333/ 1600/ 800, PCI-E (x16), SATA 3Gb/s. SATA RAID

I will carry over my ATI 4850 + HDDS and CDRom/DVDRom but the last componet has me scatching my head

Do i get a

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, S775, Wolfdale, 3 GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 6MB Cache, 9x Ratio, 65W, Retail

or a

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550, S775, Yorkfield Core, 2.83GHz, 1333MHz, 12MB Cache, 8.5x Ratio, 95W, Retail

Would having quad core make that much of a difference or would it be better to get a higher clock dual core

I would get a Q9550 TBH as it would have a longer lifespan for gaming than a dual core.

Also if you have your heart set on the SX48P2 Deluxe I would spend a bit more money and get a Core i7 920 and an SX58H7:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Shutt...SLI-SATA-3Gbps

TBH,I would not get the SX48P2 Deluxe and instead I would get the DDR2 SX48P2E from Ebuyer for around £290:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145419

AFAIK, the P2E lacks bluetooth and built in wireless but for a saving of well over £100 it is better value for money.

The Q9550 is cheaper from Scan and DDR2 should not make a huge difference for a Core2 IIRC.

IMHO, I really like the design of the P2 case and it is a bit sad to see no more new ones being released as the H7 seems to be the latest high end Shuttle case design. At least I have my SD37P2 to keep me company still!!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

To the OP IIRC the SN26P was socket 939?? If this is so the CPU is going to worth a reasonable amount of money on Ebay.

[Apex]

Yeah, my chip is a SKT 939 X2 4400 Torledo Core ( lower power version ) =)

The reason I not looked at the i7 Shuttle and Chip is the cost and the fact that the i7 chips suck a shed load more power and chuck a lot more heat out.

If i went i7 then my GPU would be holding it back..... i've not got a endless pit of money you know

The Dual core chip is cheap and uses a lot less power and chucks a lot less heat out and due to being only dual core.

I've looked at the quad cores but I am failing to to believe that it will be of benifit to me, most games at GPU limited not CPU limited....

AFAIK, the P2E lacks bluetooth and built in wireless but for a saving of well over £100 it is better value for money.

It is also DDR II not DDR III

[Apex]

Now that multithreaded games are becoming more and more common you want more threads, hence I would recommend the Quad Core of the two.

Althrough in all honestly you might be better of with an AM3 and a 955 X4.

Problem is they don't make a high end AM3 Shuttle......

[MoonPig]

I have a Q9550, awesome CPU. Got it shipped from the US (Came to around £115).

Does 3.8GHz on 1.2v. As soon as my Pump arrived, i'll be trying for higher.

This CPU is awesome, and slightly faster than my old 4GHz E8600.

Plus, the future of games will work better with Quads over Duals.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The Dual core chip is cheap and uses a lot less power and chucks a lot less heat out and due to being only dual core.

I've looked at the quad cores but I am failing to to believe that it will be of benifit to me, most games at GPU limited not CPU limited....

Actually more and more games are amaking use of quad cores. These include FarCry2,ARMA II and GTAIV to name a few. Also what happens in a year or two when more games can take advantage of quad cores then?? The E8400 only costs around £40 less than a Q9550 and the former is pointless at the price.

Remember that the Athlon II X4 and Core i3 quads and multithreaded dual cores will be hitting the sub £100 market soon(and there are Phenom II X3 processors currently there) so they are going to become quite common in new builds. More game engines are becoming multihreaded too due to more games becoming cross platform. Already the Phenom II X3 is quite popular in many builds.

Also have considered how much more powerful graphics card may become in the next few years?? If anything the E8400 will probably be limiting future games more than a Q9550.

It is also DDR II not DDR III

Already stated that in the post and TBH it as an absolute waste of money to use DDR3 with a Core2 and also the barebones is £130 more for near zero real life benefit regarding performance. See you don't need to reach the end of your "pit"!

Of course you could just build a Sugo SG01 or SG02 based computer and use an AM3 processor like an X3 720 or X3 705e.

[kalniel]

Compromise and get the excellent Phenom II X3 720

Seriously I'd probably go with the Intel dual core for the shuttle. No games are going to require >2 cores for some time due to the prevalence of dual cores in the market, and developers will not longer target the PC as a lead platform in most cases anyway.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Compromise and get the excellent Phenom II X3 720

Seriously I'd probably go with the Intel dual core for the shuttle. No games are going to require >2 cores for some time due to the prevalence of dual cores in the market, and developers will not longer target the PC as a lead platform in most cases anyway.

The dual core is a waste of money at around £120 and TBH the multiplatform games are showing more and more benefits form triple and quad cores. For £40 more a Q9550 is worth it especially if the build is going to last three to four years or so.

Also the OP wants to go with a DDR3 barebones and an E8400 over a DDR2 barebones with the same chipset and a quad which will be at least £80 cheaper in the latter case.

Socket 775 is EOL soon and if anything the prices of the better processors will start to increase just like with socket 939 X2 chips.

[Terbinator]

Q9550 all the way !!!

[sammorris]

Q9550+ddr2 >>>> e8400+ddr3.

[Apex]

So is DDR III realy not worth the extra it's going to cost ? ( noted that the DDR III version of the shuttle is like £100 more )

If that is the case ( and CTF makes some good points ) then i will prolly end up with the DDR II SX48P2 and the quad core Q9550

[Apex]

Compromise and get the excellent Phenom II X3 720

Seriously I'd probably go with the Intel dual core for the shuttle. No games are going to require >2 cores for some time due to the prevalence of dual cores in the market, and developers will not longer target the PC as a lead platform in most cases anyway.

I would but has stated there are no high end AMD Shuttles XPC's anymore

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

So is DDR III realy not worth the extra it's going to cost ? ( noted that the DDR III version of the shuttle is like £100 more )

If that is the case ( and CTF makes some good points ) then i will prolly end up with the DDR II SX48P2 and the quad core Q9550

That would be a nice combo!!

I would but has stated there are no high end AMD Shuttles XPC's anymore

I know its depressing....!

The best available is this one:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148249

It only has an 8200 chipset,a 300w PSU and a lack of space compared to a P2 chassis.

[Apex]

I have a Q9550, awesome CPU. Got it shipped from the US (Came to around £115).

Does 3.8GHz on 1.2v. As soon as my Pump arrived, i'll be trying for higher.

This CPU is awesome, and slightly faster than my old 4GHz E8600.

Plus, the future of games will work better with Quads over Duals.

So they clock well ? Reckon i could get 3GHz stable with out too much increase ( consider this is going into a Shuttle )