***Kinda long...but detailed. Screenshots at the end***
Hello all,
This is my first post as an Intel CPU owner. I've always run AMD systems and found them to be relatively fast, very reliable and AFFORDABLE with an excellent price to performance ratio! I decided to take a walk on the wild side when I heard about the Intel 8000 series chips. I popped for an E8400 (near $100 more than my AMD 5600 chip cost) but worth it. Paired it with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard and ...
I basicaly re-used all components from my AMD system except installed the new Intel CPU and Gigabyte mobo. I had a slipstream disc prepared and files backed up just in case....but I lucked out and didn't need to re-install windows!! I found that quite amazing considering the differences in AMD vs Intel system Chipsets. Guess I got lucky!
Few minor questions/issues I'll probably pose for some of the Intel veterans out there but for the moment...I'm posting my system specs, Benchmarks and Temps.
**NOTE: Regarding system temps and accuracy***
I've heard about possible E8400 heating problems and some people reporting high temps or innacurate temp readings. I have NOT experienced either. The E8400 at stock 3.0Ghz runs 28-30C at idle and 38C loaded. At 4.0ghz it idles 40C and runs 54C max with Orthos Gromacs core stress test. Gigabyte Hardware monitor and Speedfan both agree on CPU and NB Chipset temps.
I'm running a Coolermaster Hyper TX-2 HS/FAN and have reversed my case cooling to intake rear and exhaust front. This way the rear exhaust fan (now intake fan) blows directly into my CPU Hs/Fan INSTEAD of pulling air away from it. I'm probably going to add a side or top exhaust fan as the front isn't really great for exhausting hot air. I also added a 2nd fan to the TX-2 HS as a puller to keep the AMD setup cooler and re-used the TX-2 Cooler for the E8400. The 2nd fan helps drops temps an additional 2-3C. I removed the thermal pad on the TX-2 and use Arctic Ceramique paste. It takes 20-30 heat/ cool cycles to achieve max efficiency but is keeping this chip cool right from the get go.
*** IMPORTANT WARNING REGARDING MOUNTING A COOLERMASTER HYPER TX-2 HS/FAN*** I used it with the AMD 5600 and it mounted easily HOWEVER reviews were correct regarding Intel pushpin mounting. I had to use an excessive amount of force to get them to lock. As with other reviews for this HS/FAN After it was mounted I looked at my board and IT WAS BOWED! This is a VERY GOOD cooler in use but Coolermasters Intel mounting system is apparently a bit out of spec. I plan to remove the board and remount the HS/FAN by either bending the mounting legs out and down a bit or simply change to small screws/nuts and insulating washers then just tighten it snug but NOT so my board bends. This HS/FAN IS WORTH THE MONEY if you make note of the mounting quirks and use small screws or bolts and nuts along with insulating washers to mount it.
System specs and Screenshots follow....
(this is not a gaming system so video card is basic but quite adequate)
Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional
I've used both Xp and vista and I'm not a big fan of either. I'll eventually be forced to upgrade to XPSP2 as newer Hardware is phasing out W2k support...such as Intel ICH9R southbridge chipset (If I get a raid board later), New digital TV cards etc... among others. For the moment...I'm stickin with W2K Pro. It may be full of security patches but is fastest of the 3 OS in my experience (boot time aside).
-Case- Antec Sonata II w case cooling reversed
-PSU - Antec Basiq 500
-CPU - Intel E8400 3.0ghz batch number Q745A741 - Retail Box
-HS/FAN Coolermaster Hyper TX-2 w/puller fan added & Arctic Ceramique paste
-Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-P35-D3SL
-RAM - ADATA Vitesta Extreme 800mhz dual ch pair 1ghz x 2
(default CL5 5-5-5-18 2T rated by ADATA to CL4 4-4-4-12 2T)
-Video Card - Gigabyte 7200GS 256DDR2 (512mb DDR2 when turbo-cache enabled.) VGA Clock/Mem 450-450-800
-Optical drive - ASUS 1814DRW-BLT 18x Sata DVD/RAM
-HDD0 - WD 80gb 7200/8mb IDE/ATA100 - mult partitions
-HDD1 - SG 200gb7200/8mb IDE/ATA100 - mult partitions
-Hauppage WinTv GO w remote. Not fancy but I can watch & rec tv
-Sound Card - Labway Yamaha 724 AC97 - (WHY? because I can't use the remote for my tv card thanks to Realtek 888 HD locking out Record mixer sliders! My Biostar Tforce AMD board was the same way and I contacted Realtek and they said thats how it is and they follow Microsoft HD audio specification. I bought a Diamond 7.1 HD card thinking it would be better and it has unlocked rec sliders but a locked out main Rec volume! Realtek HD Rec audio is also lower than AC97. Frustrating isn't a word for it. All this new tech and I have to resort to old audio cards to get Record usability! Back to old school it is...AC97 doesn't have fancy audio output but it also DOESN'T cripple the mixer either and has decent record levels. You'll find multiple threads on various forums with this same complaint regarding Realtek HD. All I can say is...GET WITH IT REALTEK/MSFT!)
Other than the audio issue (which is ALL mobos using Realtek HD) I'm diggin this new build!!
Cya on the forum.... Dave
Screenshots of Overclocks at 3384mhz - 3600mhz - 4004mhz
All benchmarks are at CL5 5-5-5-18 2T unless otherwise noted.
NOTE regarding Speedfan temps and voltages: Speedfan Vcore 1 is CPU volts to BOTH cores, Speedfan Vcore2 is actually NB Chipset volts. Speedfan temps...Temp1 is NB Chipset and Temp2 is CPU temp. Would be nice if speedfan let you name the sensors yourself...but...it is how it is.
Hello all,
This is my first post as an Intel CPU owner. I've always run AMD systems and found them to be relatively fast, very reliable and AFFORDABLE with an excellent price to performance ratio! I decided to take a walk on the wild side when I heard about the Intel 8000 series chips. I popped for an E8400 (near $100 more than my AMD 5600 chip cost) but worth it. Paired it with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard and ...
I basicaly re-used all components from my AMD system except installed the new Intel CPU and Gigabyte mobo. I had a slipstream disc prepared and files backed up just in case....but I lucked out and didn't need to re-install windows!! I found that quite amazing considering the differences in AMD vs Intel system Chipsets. Guess I got lucky!
Few minor questions/issues I'll probably pose for some of the Intel veterans out there but for the moment...I'm posting my system specs, Benchmarks and Temps.
**NOTE: Regarding system temps and accuracy***
I've heard about possible E8400 heating problems and some people reporting high temps or innacurate temp readings. I have NOT experienced either. The E8400 at stock 3.0Ghz runs 28-30C at idle and 38C loaded. At 4.0ghz it idles 40C and runs 54C max with Orthos Gromacs core stress test. Gigabyte Hardware monitor and Speedfan both agree on CPU and NB Chipset temps.
I'm running a Coolermaster Hyper TX-2 HS/FAN and have reversed my case cooling to intake rear and exhaust front. This way the rear exhaust fan (now intake fan) blows directly into my CPU Hs/Fan INSTEAD of pulling air away from it. I'm probably going to add a side or top exhaust fan as the front isn't really great for exhausting hot air. I also added a 2nd fan to the TX-2 HS as a puller to keep the AMD setup cooler and re-used the TX-2 Cooler for the E8400. The 2nd fan helps drops temps an additional 2-3C. I removed the thermal pad on the TX-2 and use Arctic Ceramique paste. It takes 20-30 heat/ cool cycles to achieve max efficiency but is keeping this chip cool right from the get go.
*** IMPORTANT WARNING REGARDING MOUNTING A COOLERMASTER HYPER TX-2 HS/FAN*** I used it with the AMD 5600 and it mounted easily HOWEVER reviews were correct regarding Intel pushpin mounting. I had to use an excessive amount of force to get them to lock. As with other reviews for this HS/FAN After it was mounted I looked at my board and IT WAS BOWED! This is a VERY GOOD cooler in use but Coolermasters Intel mounting system is apparently a bit out of spec. I plan to remove the board and remount the HS/FAN by either bending the mounting legs out and down a bit or simply change to small screws/nuts and insulating washers then just tighten it snug but NOT so my board bends. This HS/FAN IS WORTH THE MONEY if you make note of the mounting quirks and use small screws or bolts and nuts along with insulating washers to mount it.
System specs and Screenshots follow....
(this is not a gaming system so video card is basic but quite adequate)
Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional
I've used both Xp and vista and I'm not a big fan of either. I'll eventually be forced to upgrade to XPSP2 as newer Hardware is phasing out W2k support...such as Intel ICH9R southbridge chipset (If I get a raid board later), New digital TV cards etc... among others. For the moment...I'm stickin with W2K Pro. It may be full of security patches but is fastest of the 3 OS in my experience (boot time aside).
-Case- Antec Sonata II w case cooling reversed
-PSU - Antec Basiq 500
-CPU - Intel E8400 3.0ghz batch number Q745A741 - Retail Box
-HS/FAN Coolermaster Hyper TX-2 w/puller fan added & Arctic Ceramique paste
-Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-P35-D3SL
-RAM - ADATA Vitesta Extreme 800mhz dual ch pair 1ghz x 2
(default CL5 5-5-5-18 2T rated by ADATA to CL4 4-4-4-12 2T)
-Video Card - Gigabyte 7200GS 256DDR2 (512mb DDR2 when turbo-cache enabled.) VGA Clock/Mem 450-450-800
-Optical drive - ASUS 1814DRW-BLT 18x Sata DVD/RAM
-HDD0 - WD 80gb 7200/8mb IDE/ATA100 - mult partitions
-HDD1 - SG 200gb7200/8mb IDE/ATA100 - mult partitions
-Hauppage WinTv GO w remote. Not fancy but I can watch & rec tv
-Sound Card - Labway Yamaha 724 AC97 - (WHY? because I can't use the remote for my tv card thanks to Realtek 888 HD locking out Record mixer sliders! My Biostar Tforce AMD board was the same way and I contacted Realtek and they said thats how it is and they follow Microsoft HD audio specification. I bought a Diamond 7.1 HD card thinking it would be better and it has unlocked rec sliders but a locked out main Rec volume! Realtek HD Rec audio is also lower than AC97. Frustrating isn't a word for it. All this new tech and I have to resort to old audio cards to get Record usability! Back to old school it is...AC97 doesn't have fancy audio output but it also DOESN'T cripple the mixer either and has decent record levels. You'll find multiple threads on various forums with this same complaint regarding Realtek HD. All I can say is...GET WITH IT REALTEK/MSFT!)
Other than the audio issue (which is ALL mobos using Realtek HD) I'm diggin this new build!!
Cya on the forum.... Dave
Screenshots of Overclocks at 3384mhz - 3600mhz - 4004mhz
All benchmarks are at CL5 5-5-5-18 2T unless otherwise noted.
NOTE regarding Speedfan temps and voltages: Speedfan Vcore 1 is CPU volts to BOTH cores, Speedfan Vcore2 is actually NB Chipset volts. Speedfan temps...Temp1 is NB Chipset and Temp2 is CPU temp. Would be nice if speedfan let you name the sensors yourself...but...it is how it is.
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E8400 DS3L 4004Mhz Orthos Spdfan Web page1.jpg182.2 KB · Views: 2,048
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E8400 DS3L 4004Mhz CPUZ Spdfan Idling Web page2.jpg120.5 KB · Views: 1,620
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E8400 DS3L 3384Mhz CPUZ Spdfan CMark Web page3.jpg167 KB · Views: 1,495
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E8400 DS3L 3600Mhz CPUZ Spdfan CMark Web page4.jpg160.9 KB · Views: 1,457
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E8400 DS3L 4004Mhz CPUZ Cmark Spdfan Web page5.jpg143.8 KB · Views: 1,387
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