Best Overclocking CPU for Gaming

RichUK5

RichUK5

RichUK5

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28 Aug 2008
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Ive been poking about at parts for the last few weeks and think ive finally decided apart from one thing, A Decent Overclockable Dual core or Quad core.

Here are the CPUs I was considering, was aiming for a Budget of £200 tops for the CPU. Can't decide between Dual and Quad, thing that bugs me about the Q6600 is its been out a very long time now...

E8600 E0 Stepping: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-232-IN

Q6600 Garunteed to run at 3.3GHz http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-211-IN

Q9300 2.5GHz http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-201-IN

Q9550 2.83 GHz http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-203-IN

Was planning to cool it with the new(ish) Noctua U12P - also going to dual fan it. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-002-NC

Here's the rest of the build:

Abit IX38 QuadGT Intel X38
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-138-AB

2 Sets of Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 Dominator PC2-8500C5 TwinX (2x2GB) (To total 8GB - yes im aware of 32bit limitations)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-148-CS

HIS ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-100-HT

Wasn't looking to overclock the Graphics card, just the CPU. Should point out I have not really tried overclocking before.

Keeping the option open for a 2nd graphics card at some point, if I splash out on a 24"+ monitor sometime. Main reason I picked that motherboard is for good reviews and a pretty decent slot layout as regards double width graphics coolers.

Whole thing is going into a ThermalTake Armor+ Case, hence the replacement fans. Airflow > Bling

Other stuff I'm probably getting if anyone is interested:

3x http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-003-NC
2x http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-001-NC
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CM-006-GE
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=KB-069-LG
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GS-015-EV
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=KB-000-EV
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CM-006-GE

Would much appreciate any opinions + recommendations :)

Oh yeah, and my first post! :)
 
E8600 E0 would be best - given a decent mobo and ram. Allot of people are getting 4.2-4.5 on air!

In saying that, i love my QX9650 :)

The Rampage Formula would be perfect for your planned upgrade path as it performs very well in CF.

Ram looks good. I would buy either a TRU Extreme or Tunic depending on your clocking aspirations.
 
A high clocking dualie will see you fine for gaming, so e8600 is a good choice.

You have spec'd 8Gb of RAM if I understand your post correctly and also note your understanding of the 32bit limitation. So why splash the cash? Dual boot or future OS upgrade perhaps?

Also two mouse mats? Typo?

Oh, and welcome! :)
 
As said above - E8600 should see you with some good clock rates. My 6750 does 3.4ghz easy, so you should get a good bit more with the newer CPU
 
And here's me happily plodding along gaming with my Opteron 165 at 2.5Ghz on my DFI Ultra D.
May my Skt939 rig live long and prosper! ;)
 
Considering the £50 saving over the e8600 i'd personally go for an e8500 (possibly even the e8400 too) and spend the remining cash on a top end cooler.

That chip should see 4ghz easy under a tuniq tower or similar.

gt
 
Thanks for the feedback guys.

I was trying to find a benchmark between the Tuniq and the Noctua U12P in either single or dual fan config... but i sware, no benchmarks exist for the Tuniq. Anyone else manage to find one?

Also, as for Dual or Quad... I'm just trying to figure out if games will be using quads effectively before I'm looking at my next upgrade...

Just had a look at the motherboard you recommended beh.
Asus Rampage Formula Intel X48 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-268-AS

Slot layout looks nice, still gives me a 1x and a pci after crossfire, plus looking at the reviews it seems quite easy to overclock :) Think i'll go for it. A Tuniq would fit on it I take it?

Also, the two mousemats. One is a huge one to stay at home, and one is a portable one to use in other places. I think the 44cm by 35cm may be a little big to cart about...

Currently running a Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-9 which is more or less one of the first boards to come out with Socket 939 and PCI-E. It's 3 and a half years old now, and has had new everything. Upgraded it from a 3000+ to an x2 3800+. Should be quite an upgrade I'm doing!
 
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Yep - i love my rampage, it's so much better than my old P5K Premium which was considered a really nice board once upon a time :D
 
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