is an extra 3MB L2 cache worth 23 dollars?

For Christmas I generally get a bit of money, and a processor upgrade is desperately needed. I am debating between this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115059

and this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

I dont plan to overclock or anything like that, and the rest of my rig is fairly strong (2GB DDR2 800 memory, 9800GT, Windows XP). Also, what is L2 cache and why would I want more?

the extra 3mb of l2 cache may not be worth it. but the 1333mhz fsb on e8400 is definetely worth it.

the extra 3mb of l2 cache may not be worth it. but the 1333mhz fsb on e8400 is definetely worth it.

onfire23

ahhh I looked over that. Thanks.

Why is it better, if you dont mind?

both are overpriced q8400 with 2,66ghz and 4mb l2 for 170 free shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115057NLahren

hmmmmm thanks

you think a quad core at 2.66 GHz is better than a recent dual core at 3.0+ GHz? How so?

*PS just curious, not doubting you

Get the Core i5 750. You can get one for $159.99 at MicroCenter (and I see you live in Northern California) and it will demolish both of those processors.

Get the Core i5 750. You can get one for $159.99 at MicroCenter (and I see you live in Northern California) and it will demolish both of those processors.

CStheGreat

i would need a new mobo, cant do that. I'd love to do a 60% rebuild using mostly new stuff, but my budget is under 350 bucks, my socket is 775, and I need to get a new HDand audio card as well

so essentially I am asking for the best socket 775 chip under or around 170 bucks

[QUOTE="CStheGreat"]

Get the Core i5 750. You can get one for $159.99 at MicroCenter (and I see you live in Northern California) and it will demolish both of those processors.

mrbojangles25

i would need a new mobo, cant do that. I'd love to do a 60% rebuild using mostly new stuff, but my budget is under 350 bucks, my socket is 775, and I need to get a new HDand audio card as well

so essentially I am asking for the best socket 775 chip under or around 170 bucks

what if u buy an i5 mobo with a really good onboard sound card instead of a new audio card for the current setup?

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

[QUOTE="CStheGreat"]

Get the Core i5 750. You can get one for $159.99 at MicroCenter (and I see you live in Northern California) and it will demolish both of those processors.

kungfool69

i would need a new mobo, cant do that. I'd love to do a 60% rebuild using mostly new stuff, but my budget is under 350 bucks, my socket is 775, and I need to get a new HDand audio card as well

so essentially I am asking for the best socket 775 chip under or around 170 bucks

what if u buy an i5 mobo with a really good onboard sound card instead of a new audio card for the current setup?

hmmm thats an interesting idea.

suggestions?

*do I have to have DDR3 memory with those mobos?

[QUOTE="NLahren"]both are overpriced q8400 with 2,66ghz and 4mb l2 for 170 free shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115057mrbojangles25

hmmmmm thanks

you think a quad core at 2.66 GHz is better than a recent dual core at 3.0+ GHz? How so?

*PS just curious, not doubting you

[QUOTE="NLahren"]both are overpriced q8400 with 2,66ghz and 4mb l2 for 170 free shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115057mrbojangles25

hmmmmm thanks

you think a quad core at 2.66 GHz is better than a recent dual core at 3.0+ GHz? How so?

*PS just curious, not doubting you

you can oc it to 3.0-3.2ghz and its better for the future as more games take advantage of 4 cores and do so more efficiently it will actually age better then a E8400 as you can overclock it to 4.0-4.2ghz but thats it no 2 extra unused cores that have untapped potential.

glitchspot wont let me link it :(

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,698761/Dragon-Age-Origins-CPU-benchmarks-75-percent-boost-for-quad-cores/Practice/

[QUOTE="CStheGreat"]

Get the Core i5 750. You can get one for $159.99 at MicroCenter (and I see you live in Northern California) and it will demolish both of those processors.

mrbojangles25

i would need a new mobo, cant do that. I'd love to do a 60% rebuild using mostly new stuff, but my budget is under 350 bucks, my socket is 775, and I need to get a new HDand audio card as well

so essentially I am asking for the best socket 775 chip under or around 170 bucks

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

[QUOTE="CStheGreat"]

Get the Core i5 750. You can get one for $159.99 at MicroCenter (and I see you live in Northern California) and it will demolish both of those processors.

NamelessPlayer

i would need a new mobo, cant do that. I'd love to do a 60% rebuild using mostly new stuff, but my budget is under 350 bucks, my socket is 775, and I need to get a new HDand audio card as well

so essentially I am asking for the best socket 775 chip under or around 170 bucks

my hard drive is 250GB. Yes...250GB. Eitherway, I was planning on doing a nice clean reformat come this holdiay season, figured I might as well get a new hard drive.

and i have no sound card :(