CPU Recommendation For P5LD2

[bem]

I've got a Asus P5LD2 motherboard with 1G of Corsair Twin2X1024 5400C4 Ram and a P4 640 CPU. I'd like to try to get more performance out of the Asus so I'm looking into upgrading to a dual core processor. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a CPU upgrade for this MB and RAM. Thanks.

[batboy]

Although the 805 is the cheapest route, I'd recommend the 915, the Preslers are better, run cooler, and have more cache.

[bem]

Thanks batboy. I appreciate the input.
I've got about $200 to spend on upgrading this PC. I was wondering if a Pentium D 940 would be a good investment. It selling for about $183 right now. Or would I be foolish spending the $200 on the CPU at this point and just wait until I have enough for a serious rebuild.
I'm currently running Windows Vista. I've got a Gigabyte 6600GT video card with 128 MB and (2) 250G SATA drives.

[batboy]

I would not be inclined to spend much on outdated tech. I had a 940 (it's in my wife's system now). Some of the overclocked 920 systems here on the forum were matching my overclocked 940 in regard to speed and performance. Save a few bucks, get a lower end Presler and overclock it. Might find a good used Presler really cheap.

[dkizzy]

if you board supports it why don't you just get a C2D like a 4300 or something?

[batboy]

The Asus P5LD2 (i945 chipset) definitely does NOT support Core 2 Duo.

[bem]

Unfortunately, according to the Asus site the P5LD2 will support up to a Pentium D 960 but that's it. What do you guys think? Will I see a significant improvement in performance with a D 915 or a D 925 over my P4 640? I've got the P4 640 OC'd to about 3.6 but that's as far as I've gone.

[pscout]

Annother possible option ... I recently bought a couple of new 930's that were being sold off on ebay... they were btx format but they were sl95X spec # which is the c1 stepping. I was looking specifically for them since i was replacing a dead 920 and 930 which were both original steppings (b1 for the dead 930). I don't think the c1 930's ever made it to retail packages in ATX format ... i got my first ones as OEM. So I was pleasantly surpised to find them in sealed new retail packages in BTX format.

All my c1's oc easily to 4+ ghz on less than 1.4 VC but on p5wd2 flavours. One of them is folding at 4.5 ghz at 1.3875V but I would expect about 4.2 ghz at low volts based on my sample of 5. On my p5ld2's (i have 2 atm) they will not oc as well --- i wouldn't expect it to go over 4 ghz and you might have to be satisfied around 3.9 ... which is all mine will do.

When i was looking 3-4 weeks ago, I found some etailers selling them around 250 but i got mine for 135 us.

Since these have been out of production a while you won't likely find them easily new at retailers ... but there are still some new ones around.
You will also find a few used ones.

The b1 steppings are intel spec # sl94r ... they take a lot more volts to hit 4 ghz.
But unless your p5ld2 is better than mine are, you may not get 4 ghz clock anyway in which case a b1 for the right price (~$100) may be a decent choice.

I just searched ebay and didn't find any sl95x's atm ... so maybe the clearout of the new ones from the distribution channels is over? Maybe some more will appear? Or used pulls. Or they are just listed as 930's without the spec #.

You may find some out there without the spec # listed so ask before you bid cuz you don't want to spend as much on a b1 as yoiu would for a c1.

Good luck.

/edit ... on your question about will you notice a difference ... it depends on what you do with your rig. The larger cache and dual cores will help some things a lot. One other workloads you probably wouldn't see much if any difference.
For my folding use, it is like night and day ... i still have a few ht prescotts but not for long ... DC's will replace them.

Also, your ram should be fine ... the p5ld2 won't run the highest mem multiplier anyway at high cpu clocks ... and i have tried it with several types of very fast memory.

Do make sure you have your bios at least at 1103 which improved the ability to oc pressler's a lot.

[wannaoc]

I am also trying to upgrade my cpu and after reading your post pscout I went looking for the 930's but like you said didn't see any. I did find 935's on newegg, would those be similar to your recommendation? Why or why not, thanks.

[kyleslater]

The Asus P5LD2 (i945 chipset) definitely does NOT support Core 2 Duo.
Version 2.0 of the board does but the chance that he has that version is very slim. I have a P5LD2 with a 630 on it that I wished I could upgrade to Core 2. Anyway... The Pentium D 940 would be a nice choie... 65nm and such. Though Power.... You may need a huge powersupply for overclocking that. I know I needed more then 450 watts to run a 630 @ 4.0Ghz and an eVGA 7900 GT CO SC

You only got to 3.6 with that 640? wierd... That is not much of an overclock is it? correct me if I am wrong but stock on that is 3.2Ghz.. You will not notice a game performance increase at all with the 940. It will help windows though... and multitasking... And for the price it's not a bad option. Though for gaming performance... overclocking the 640 farther or getting a 641 that will overclock to like 4.5 or something might make sense... Ah whatever... Just get the 940... If for nothing other then to have the fun of putting a new part in :P