Quad + DDR2 vs Dual + DDR3

Jiniix

Jiniix

Well-Known Member
I have two possible setups, and I can't figure out which is more powerful for gaming.

Option #1
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz @ 3.0GHz
Corsair ValueSelect DDR2-667 2x2GB @ 667MHz

Option #2
AMD Phenom II X2 555 BE 3.2GHz @ 4.2GHz
Kingston HyperX DDR3-1600 2x4GB @ 1333MHz

Both systems would use Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

I need some feedback here. Obviously the quad core is gonna be better overall, but is it gonna be held back by only having half the RAM, at half the speed?

Rest of the system is:
Coolermaster HAF 912
WD 2.5" 320GB from a laptop
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo
AMD HD 5770 1GB
Gigabyte GA-G31M-S2L / ASUS M4N68T

PS: I already have all the hardware, it's not a question of which to buy, it's a question of which to put in the HAF 912.
Games include: World of Warcraft, Battlefield 3, League of Legends, Smite, Minecraft, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and a few Source-engine games.
 
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I only have 2GB 667MHz and 1GB 800MHz sticks, and the Intel motherboard only has two RAM slots.
It's Priming right now the Q6600, running at 3.0GHz on stock volts. Been OK for 12 hours so far.
 
Yes if that is the SLACR revision, you can crank it up to 4.0GHz and it will keep up with many things even modern. The Q6600 was one of the best C2Q.

The 5770 will also OC well.
 
I think the HD 5770 1GB runs at 840MHz (I'm at work, can't check)
Should I be able to push it further? Runs pretty cool, think I got around 65C with Kombuster running for a few hours.
It's an HIS edition, and it doesn't have the same PCB as my Sapphire HD 5770s - so it might be non-reference, or the Sapphires might be :)
The HAF case will have better airflow than the case I tested it in.
I can't really add more memory to the C2Q setup, DDR2 RAM is very expensive.
A new kit of 8GB (2x4GB) costs around $385 (Yes, I can almost build a new entry-level PC for the price of 8GB DDR2 RAM), so I would have to find something used - which I am against when it comes to RAM.
Only alternative would be to find a new motherboard, supporting 4 dimms, or perhaps an X48 chipset supporting DDR3.
 
I overclocked my 5770 from 850 core to 960 I think. Memory also ran a similar overclock. It's still a pretty powerful card honestly and if you aren't wanting all eye candy it can still game just fine.
 
I did some swap-a-roo and came to this setup. We can all agree that it's superior to Option #1, right?

AMD Phenom II X2 555 BE @ 4.2GHz
ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe
Corsair ValueSelect DDR2-667 4x2GB (8GB total)
AMD HD 5770 1GB Crossfire

Option #1 only has two RAM slots and 1 PCIe slot.
 
I get that quad core is a big plus, but the Phenom actually has L3 cache.
As well as twice the RAM and... twice the GPU.
I will do some benchmarks for sure now, Q6600/4GB/HD5770 vs Phenom/8GB/2xHD5770.
My money is on the Phenom CFX setup.

Remember, this is pure gaming at 1920x1080 or 1680x1050.

I'm also using AMDs new 13.10 beta drivers, which improves Crossfire significantly.
Also has a new feature called Auto-tune, which auto overclocks your GPU. In 15 mins it took my 5770 from 850 to 940MHz, and I didn't let it finish. Can't wait for it to be released.
 
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The only LGA775 board I have are GA-G31M-S2L's, and they only have one PCIe
AMD board is M3A32-MVP Deluxe, which has 16x/16x or 8x/8x/8x/8x :)
 
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