Best CPU for a single threaded, CPU intensive game?

[dargie25]

I have a particular game that I like to play called X3: Terran Conflict, its a bit unusual in that CPU is usually a far more limiting factor for performance on this game then the graphics card. It also doesn't help that the game is single threaded =/

I'm considering a CPU upgrade to try and squeeze the best performance out of a single thread, even if the resulting CPU is a duel core.

It doesn't really matter if it is AMD or Intel as long as the price isnt over 250 pounds. I know enough technically to build my own PC's but would appreciate some help choosing a CPU for this rather specific need lol.

Heres a quick overview of what I have at the moment:

Phenom II 3.7Ghz X4 B50 (over-clocked obviously)
4 Gb DDR2 800mhz in duel channel (Ill upgrade this along with motherboard at same time as CPU)
GTX 460 1Gb
1TB HDD
32GB SSD
850W Modular PSU

With my current CPU stable at 3.7, are there any CPU's under 250 pounds that would be worth upgrading to for a single threaded application?

Edit: oh I'm perfectly willing to over-clock, so maybe that factors in maybe not

 

[dargie25]

I can assure you everything is up to date anyone who owns this game will tell you how resource hungry it is, people with higher specification rigs than mine will still comment on the games own forum about how bad it can be when at peak load. However squeezing a hew hundred extra mhz out of the CPU definitely helps as I found when I first overclocked the x4 (really an x2 550 but cores unlocked and stable)

If as your all saying however that theirs really no more single threaded performance to be had out there i'll just have to live with it.

 

[dargie25]

I didn't say it ran badly, its only in certain situations large battles, huge swarms of missiles being fired ect. I'm not here to justify the game.