I've gone over to the dark side

[LiamC]

Built myself a Core 2 Duo system

E6600, 1 GB Corsair ValueSelect DDR-2 667, Gigabyte 965P-S3.

This thing rocks. After initial booting and verification, I set it to run @ 333MHz FSB (default 266). O.K. The bus is quad pumped, so 1333 FSB instead of 1066. Just faster than an X6800 @ stock volts. Ran it for 5 days folding 24/7. 333MHz also ran the DDR-2 @ 667

So I bumped the FSB to 366. 3.3GHz! Stock volts, Speedfan shows it as 1.344V (default 1.325V). RAM needed extra 0.2V in dual channel mode for stability. In single channel mode, this DDR2-667 has been as high as 833MHz with +0.1V.

Folding (2 instances) so far for a few hours. We'll see. If this works, that's a 38% overclock @ stock. With stock cooler as well. Sitting open on the bench, Temps are around 42 C (ambient ~14 C).

The best I could get out of an X2 was 10%. The best out of a Venice single core was 18%.

Celeron 300A anyone? Speaking of which, this is the first Intel system I've built since my 300A. "Your powers are weak old man"...

 

[LiamC]

I'm just going through a few of my folding scores for comparison (FAHMonitor)

2.36GHz Venice (Ve)
2.0GHz X2 (X2)
3.0GHz E6600 (In)

Project 774
X2 - 98 ppd
Ve - 116.5 ppd
In - 184.5 ppd
In - 206 ppd

Project 775
X2 - 133 ppd
Ve - 192 ppd
In - 316 ppd

Project 1809
X2 - 136 ppd
Ve - 216 ppd
In - 225 ppd
In - 227 ppd

Project 2098
X2 - 186 ppd
In - 261 ppd

Project 2124
X2 - 122 ppd
In - 203 ppd

 

[Adcadet]

Any thoughts on what is faster in a Core 2 Duo system: DDR2 667 at 4-4-4-12 vs DDR2 800 at 5-5-5-10 vs DDR2 800 at 4-4-4-15? It seems there isn't much price difference right now between DDR2 667 and DDR 2 800 although the timings confuse me.

 

[LiamC]

From what I've seen so far, DDR2-800 is just resonable DDR2-667 with slightly looser timings. Granted there is really low latency DDR2-800 out there as well, but you'll pay a motza for that.

If you're running two banks (dual channel), then there isn't a lot to be gained as 2 x 533 = 1066 (the FSB speed). DDR2-667 really comes into play when overclcocking, or when Intel decides to go for a 1333 MHz FSB, which was the original plan; and it looks like the P965 has no issue with 1333

 

[LiamC]

Look what popped up on XBit

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/display/core2duo-memory-guide.html

 

[Adcadet]

For 2 GB of RAM (2 * 1 GB sticks) I see very little difference in price between DDR2 667 and DDR2 800 from Newegg:

Patriot DDR2 667 4-4-4-12: $180
OCZ DDR2 667 3-3-3-12: $210

OCZ Gold 2*1GB DDR2 800 5-5-5-10: $226
OCZ Plat. Rev 2 DDR2 800 4-4-4-15: $240

Eh, so I guess then DDR2 800 stuff will run ya a bit more. From what I understand the 667 stuff will allow a 25% overclock of the CPU without any overclock of the RAM, and the DDR800 stuff will allow a 50% overclock of the CPU without any overclock of the RAM (using a 1:1 divider, which is preferred). I guess the question is, how much will you expect to overclock. I suppose if I'm only planning on a 25% overclock there's no point in going faster than DDR2 667, and then just finding a good cost to timings ratio.

 

[LiamC]

The cost difference is much greater in Aus.

Corsair 667 v 800 (1GB kit)
$160 v $225

 

[Stereodude]

I put 667 in my Core Duo notebook.

 

[Buck]

Nothing wrong with a Core 2 Duo system. I'm including the E6300 and E6400 in my price list now.

 

[Dïscfärm]

...or when Intel decides to go for a 1333 MHz FSB, which was the original plan...

I was surprised (a while back), when the final Core2 Duo specifications were announced, that the model lineup would NOT feature a processor with a 1333 MHz FSB speed anywhere in the mix. Intel had been talking 1333 MHz FSB for the desktop Core2 with a 1600 MHz FSB follow-up down the road. Only the Core2 Xeon has 1333 MHz FSB, but you are stuck with the pricey, slower, but very dependable FB-DIMM memory (very dependable when using gobs of DIMMs).

 

[fb]

I built a E6300 last week for a man that wanted an upgrade from his K6-2 450 or something like that. It has 1 GB Corsair ValueSelect DDR-2 667, and ASUS P5V-VM DH motherboard. I would have bought an Intel motherboard, but they didn't have any in stock...

Anyway, the system felt snappy and has been working fine (so far), except for the Kodak camera bloatware that didn't install until I turned off the Data Execution Prevention.

 

[Adcadet]

For 2 GB of RAM (2 * 1 GB sticks) I see very little difference in price between DDR2 667 and DDR2 800 from Newegg:

Patriot DDR2 667 4-4-4-12: $180
OCZ DDR2 667 3-3-3-12: $210

OCZ Gold 2*1GB DDR2 800 5-5-5-10: $226
OCZ Plat. Rev 2 DDR2 800 4-4-4-15: $240

Back around August 24th the OCZ Platinum (Rev 2, I think) memory was selling on Newegg for around $209. Then on September 11th when I posted the above it was $240. Today it's $299.99 minus a $30 mail in rebate. Other DDR2 800 memory seems to have gone up in price as well. Ouch! Is anyone else seeing this? Is this likely to get better anytime soon from what ya'all can see?

 

[Buck]

Back around August 24th the OCZ Platinum (Rev 2, I think) memory was selling on Newegg for around $209. Then on September 11th when I posted the above it was $240. Today it's $299.99 minus a $30 mail in rebate. Other DDR2 800 memory seems to have gone up in price as well. Ouch! Is anyone else seeing this? Is this likely to get better anytime soon from what ya'all can see?

For me price has not been an issue, but availability has been.

 

[LiamC]

Yep, seeing it in Aus as well. My understanding is that it is due to seasonal buying patterns in the Northern hemisphere. Memory will be (more) expensive until the New Year.