Intel Core 2 Quad 9550 or Core 2 Duo 8600 for games...

[retroborg]

My current setup is:
ASUS P5B-E M/B intel965 chipset (Supports 45nm CPUS 1333MHZ FSB via bios update and DDR-2 1066MHZ RAM)
2GB DDR-2 RAM 800MHZ
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHZ 6600 1066MHZ FSB
nvidia 7950 GTX 512MB
Onboard Sound card
WinXP PRO

The above system is mainly used for games, I would be interested to upgrade the CPU to one of the following:

Intel Core 2 Quad 9550 (s775/2,83GHZ)
Cache Memory L2 12MB
FSB1333 MHz
45 nmicron

Or:

Intel Core 2 Duo 8600 (s775/3,33GHZ)
Cache Memory L2 6MB
FSB1333 MHz
45 nmicron

So, which of the two CPUs will give me better performance for 3D games on my current rig? (Examples, CRYSIS, Half Life 2 Episode 2 & online C&C3 Kane's Wrath)

Thanks in advance

[jagabo]

Most games aren't well multithreaded so the faster clock on the 8600 might be better. On the other hand multithreading is becoming more common so future games might benefit from more cores.

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-q3-2008/benchmarks,31.html

But if you're so concerned about gaming speed why are you using a NVIDIA 7950?

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/benchmarks,30.html

[Nelson37]

Crysis on a dual-core 3Ghz, with an nvidia 8400, ran like crap. Upgraded to a 8800 GT on sale for $129.95, runs like a top with all the eye candy on.

Video card is more critical for game performance than CPU speed.

[jagabo]

You can get an ATI Radeon 4850 for about US$140 now (after $30 MIR). For gaming that would be a much better investment. Instead of a few percent increase in frame rate from a new CPU you will get a 100 percent increase in frame rate.

[retroborg]

It might be a better idea to just overclock the E6600 CPU from to 2.4GHZ to 3.0GHZ, and get e better fan-heatsink-cooler
I'm using the standard Intel fan-cooler that came with from the box when I bought it...

Especially since I never shut-down my PC as its online 24/7!

How about the:
Akasa AK-965
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=15387
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=15387&page=2

How ever, I would still like to know which is the better CPU for games at the moment.
E9550 or E8600?
Will those 4 cores do any difference for games?

I might as well buy a new GPU instead. How about the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 how well does it compare to the equivalent ATi GPU?

[TBoneit]

Of the two choices I'd go Quad core for future use if nothing else. If you had said Q6600 vs the Intel Core 2 Duo 8600 for gaming then I'd give a different answer.

BTW you did check the ASUS website to be sure your motherboard can support either CPU and to see if you need a BIOS upgrade. Also beware that some ASUS Mobo's will support different levels of CPU depending on the Motherboards Hardware version.

[jagabo]

I would still like to know which is the better CPU for games at the moment.
E9550 or E8600?

There is no simple answer to this question. There isn't much difference right now but the trend is toward more and better multithreading in games. The quad core CPU is the more future proof choice.

[retroborg]

Well yeah, I was planning on not upgrading the CPU for 3 years and maybe getting the next generation of NVIDIA cards after the 200 series... I really can't be bothered in changing the motherboard & Ram all over again!

I read that the current nvidia 280 is not as good as it’s advertised to be, so it might be wiser to go for the next series...
Is it true that the 280 doesn’t fully support DX10.1 in comparison to ATI?

[MJA]

if you buy ATI be sure to get the one with dual slot for extra cooling,and big fan like this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261027


or get the Zalman VF1000 Graphics Card Cooler

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?nm_mc=AFC-TechBargains&cm_mmc=AFC-TechBarga...82E16835118037

[retroborg]

Ok, so I bought the:
Intel Core 2 Quad 9550 (s775/2,83GHZ)
Cache Memory L2 12MB
FSB1333 MHz
45 nmicron

The CPU was recognized properly by my motherboard and the FSB was set to 1333MHz. (as shown in the Bios info)
How ever, in the Bios DRAM Frequency menu, I can now only choose from the following frequencies: DDR-2: 667MHZ, 833MHZ, 1000MHZ, 1111MHZ, 1333MHZ
My current DDR-2 is the KINGSTON KHX6400D2/1G HYPERX 1GB PC6400 800MHZ, (2GB)
http://www.e-shop.gr/show_per.phtml?id=PER.554789
but the 800MHZ is not even listed in the menu, so I have downgraded it by selecting the 667MHz. “DRAM Frequency: Auto” & “CPU Frequency: Auto” if the AI tuning is set to manual, then the PCU frequency is set to 333.

Also, in the CPU settings menu:
“Ratio actual value: 8.5”
“CPU Ratio Settings: Auto”

Also, in CPU-Z 1.47 tool, in the memory timings menu the FSB : DRAM is 1:1

Is there a way to set my DDR-2 to 800MHZ?

If not, I was thinking about upgrading the Ram to this DDR-2 and set it to 1000MHZ in the Bios, in order to have the most out of it.
CellShock Ram 2GB Kit DDR2 1000MHZ 4-4-4-12
http://www.plaisio.gr/product.aspx?product=907170&HYMNIMITAHITITADIAVLOU=1000MHz&categ...727&catalog=20
The timing 4-4-4-12 is better than my current 5-5-5-15.

However I noticed that this Ram’s Operating Voltage is 2,20V, where as the Supply Voltage of my current Kingston 800MHz DDR-2 Ram is 1.95V. So I’m not sure if it will work on my M/B?!

Any help will be appreciated!
Thanks in advance

[redwudz]

If your motherboard does not select the correct RAM voltage, you will need to set it manually. Not that complicated. My MB has a default RAM voltage of 1.8VDC and I had to set that up to 2.1VDC for the 4GB of OCZ RAM to work correctly. Most MBs allow RAM voltage settings up to 2.1VDC or a little higher. (BTW, changing the RAM voltage to the manufacturers specifications is a minor operation. Changing other voltages, such as CPU and NB voltages is not. I would not adjust CPU or other voltages unless you are really sure what you are doing. $$$ )

I have a similar RAM speed problem with a Q9300 and 1066Mhz DDR2 RAM. The only easy settings are 800Mhz and 1200Mhz. I set it at 800Mhz until I can study the BIOS settings a bit more to find a setting somewhere in between. I already know it won't boot at 1200Mhz, but should work at 1100Mhz or roundabouts. I could have gotten 1333Mhz RAM, but it would have cost more than the CPU.

But it is running well at 3Ghz, a 500Mhz OC. CPU temps are about 45C under load, so that works.

[retroborg]

Yeah I have updated the M/B Bios to the latest revision, but I have not been able to set a divider for 800MHz and 1066MHz...
Not sure what's the correct ratio to set it to...?!

I checked the DDR2 memory voltage control and my board supports: 1.80v, 1.90v, 2.00v & 2.10v.
However most of the newer DDR-2s 1066MHZ seem to require 2.2v, so my guess is that they wont work on M/B?
For example: KINGSTON KHX8500D2/1G HYPERX DDR2 1GB PC8500 1066MHZ
http://www.e-shop.gr/show_per.phtml?id=PER.553808

As for the CellShock Ram 2GB Kit DDR2 1000MHZ 4-4-4-12, it is rated to run 4-4-4-12 at 2.1-2.3v
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/464/2/
So, I'm not sure how it will work on my M/B?