Processor Confusion

[NBee]

Hi. Can someone help me with this?

I'm looking around at Pentium processors, to go with a Gigabyte GA-G31M ES2l motherboard. Why is it that this one:

Intel Pentium Dual Core E5400 2.7GHz 800FSB Socket 775 2MB

..is always cheaper than this one:

Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 2.6GHz Socket 775 800FSB 2MB

...as to me the spec tells me that the first one is slightly better?

Thanks, quick advice really appreciated!

[NBee]

Second question.

Would I gain much over either of these by going for the E6500 (2M Cache, 2.93 GHz, 1066 FSB)?

I'll be using 2Gb DDR2 800Mhz memory, if that has a bearing.

[glc]

Yes, you will always gain by increasing the FSB.

[NBee]

Thanks GLC. I guessed that, but the question was whether it would make much difference given the choice of mobo and ram.

Also, any answers to my first question please?

[rwest]

Given that the ram you chose is 800mhz, you won't reach 1066 speeds unless you overclock it.

If the 5400 is cheaper than the 5300, get the 5400.

[David M]

Sometimes price inversions are caused by a supplier lowering his price in order to get rid of old merchandise.

[glc]

Given that the ram you chose is 800mhz, you won't reach 1066 speeds unless you overclock it.

That's not how it works with Intel. At a 1:1 ratio, if the CPU is at 1066 the ram would be at 533. 800 speed ram will run just fine on that board. I don't recall what multipliers are available on the G31 chipset, but I'm pretty sure the ram will run at least 667 if not 800. The "auto" settings in the bios will take care of it fine.

Pricing is a nonissue. It happens frequently.

[NBee]

Thanks guys.

It's going to be 2 * 1Gb 800Mhz Ram, with the 5400 2.7Ghz CPU.

And from what you say, it looks like using 667 ram wouldn't have a detrimental effect, if there's a price gain to be made.

[glc]

If you are only going to use a 800 bus processor, correct. 667 ram would be fine.