CPU upgrade on a budget?

[throdgrain]

Bit skint at the moment, but I've had my current cpu for about 3 years, and wonder if an upgrade may be in order?

I've noticed the E6500 for £61.99, which looks like a bargain to me, but is it worth doing ?

My current cpu is sometimes overclocked to 2.8 or 3.0, and sometimes its stock. It annoys me because the room I have my pc in is a really hot room, and in the summer temperatures get a bit mad even with an Artic Cooling fan, so then I turn it back to stock speed.

So, I assume the E6500 will fit my motherboard, is it worth doing do you think? Presumeably it will overclock a bit more too?

 

[cmndr_andi]

The E6500 does use the 45nm process, but as a PDC it has less cache than your E6600 - so clock-for-clock there won't be much performance increase. However, as you say - the E6500 will indeed overclock a good bit higher than your current CPU, personally I would aim for 3.8-4GHz.

According to the ASUS prodcut page for your motherboard - the E6500 is supported, as are all other 45nm Core 2 based chips (including quad cores).

Personally, I would suggest not upgrading to the E6500 - it will be a bit faster but the difference is going to be rather marginal. Probably not the best investment of £60+. If I were you, i'd invest in an improved cooler and clock the E6600 as far as you can. The E6600, even today is a great chip and 3.6GHz overclock should be your target.

 

[throdgrain]

Wow thats amazing. I always get scared when I overclock though! I dont like it when I turn on the pc and it starts, then stops for a second, then runs as normal. It always makes me think its going to blow up lol

However, don't ask for advice and then not listen is a good motto, so thanks for that. Is there anything else I can do? I normally buy stuff in bundles, you know, cpu mobo and ram. I appreciate this would be way more expensive, but what's the lastest bargain to be had? Or is my venerable E6600 still the way to go?