3.4 Prescott or 3.2ee??

[maverik-sg1]

Guys,

I am already in a thread with Boardy discussing the overclocking of the extreme edition CPU.

My RIG:

3.2 Pressie or EE

DFI Lanprty PRO875B Rev B1

OCZ GOLD PC4400EL 2.5 4-4-4-8

Galaxy 6800GT 415/1100

OCZ Powerstream 520w PSU

MachII R134a

1x Optrorite DVD Writer

2x 120GB SATA Drives

1x 120GB ATA133 Drive (boot disk)

I find myself in a dilemma:

The 3.2 at stock is faster then the pressie in everything, but I can overclock to 3.2 Pressie to 4.3Ghz (268FSB) but the 3.2ee maxxes out at 258FSB for benchmarking and 256FSB for solid 3d gaming (doom3/UT2004).

What this means is that at max overclock in both CPU's the only benchie that the Extreme wins is 3dmark2001se (score 27200 for EE versus 25400 Pressie using 6800GT 415/1150 hardly a country mile).

In 32m SuperPi my Pressie @ 4.3Ghz scores 26m19s and I know that is a world class score (try it for yourselves) my 3.2ee @ 4.1 scores 31m12s

It is unlikely that I will try a Vdroop mod, as my soldering skills are less than adequate (unless I can pay someone a reasonable fee to do it for me?).

So knowing I can get a higher FSB with Prescotts and that the extra RAM bandwidth really helps performance:

Do I sell the EE and the 3.2 and get me a 3.4 Prescott gambling that I will still break the 260FSB? I tried a Northwood 3.4 and that was rubbish at overclocking (maxxed out at 250FSB and was a poor performer compared to the 3.2Pressie @ 268FSB)

Why not go for a 3.4ee? Well I got my 3.2ee for less than half price on ebay, 3.4ee's are rare on ebay in s478 variety and I can't justify the cost to buy it new - In fact if I had that sort of cash I'd have a MACHII GT

 

[maverik-sg1]

Okay you guys,

I took a leap of faith and after the disappointment of the 3.2ee I went out and got me an SL7E6 3.4 Pressie.

On MachII cooling I got a 4.52Ghz overclock that thrashed out 29s SuperPi 1m and 26200 on 3dmark2001se.

Shortly after that the MOBO blew up - I think damage was done by compatability issues with the Extrem unit installed previously - The Pressie Just finished it off.

Extreme @ 4.1Ghz got 31s SuperPi 1m and 27200 on 3dmark2001se.

3.4 Pressie cost £200 new (which is what I paid for it) 3.2ee cost £621 new (I paid £300 from eBay).

In beat the office the Exreme scored 1.66 the Pressie scored 1.71 (not clean install or tweaked).

I am happy to score 1000 measley 3dmarks less to save myself money and invest it in something worthwhile (sold the Extreme on ebay for £315) - I want a Prommie 2 (the phase change cooler formerly known as MACHII GT) and all the mods available on my new DFI board - Determined to get 4.8Ghz out of the 3.4Pressie.

I just wish I had taken the time to learn how to solder!!!

It's starange coz this unit is plenty fast enough to run anything I throw at it with ease, I just love overclocking - but I believe in the bang per buck, unfortunately the Extreme Edition failed to impress me.

Any idea how much I should get for my MachII with silver Lian Li?

 

[HARRY]

hi mate i just wondered what the SL7E6 ment and how do u know this thanks

 

[Psykotik]

SL7E6 is a stepping code on the processor, and it's relevant as there are certain processors that tend to be better at clocking than others.

I need a new Prescott now, I had the opposite: I blew my D0 up but my mobo is fine

 

[HARRY]

whats good stepping then and were can i get cpus that tell u the stepping if u know what i mean

 

[maverik-sg1]

Most Prescotts in 3.4 variety are rare.

I got mine from overclockers in stoke (OEM for £200 but they had stock).

I drove up to the trade counter ordered one and checked the CPU before I purchased. SL7E6 is the D0 stepping and has an improved thermal control over the original C0 stepping, proven to be a great overclocker too

Most places that do not have stock now will have the new E0 stepping available in a week or two and will probably be cheaper than what I paid for this unit - bare in mind though that the E0 unit is an unknown for overclocking potential and it could be great, or not.

If you bid on an auction you can always ask the seller to confirm before you bid.

Hope this helps.

Mav

 

[HARRY]

yep it does matey thanks