QX6700 or E8500

[mgncdarkangel]

Hi,

I am looking to upgrade my system.

Now i am going to be getting a GeForce 9800gx2, but im worried that my current core 2 duo E6600 @ 2.4GHz will bottle neck the GPU. So im wanting to upgrade the CPU as well.

Now ive looked around and i was set on a quad core, i was looking at:

Quad Core Extreme QX6700 @ 2.66GHz (around £580).

Ive recenty been on some benchmark sites and noticed the:

Core 2 Duo E8500 @ 3.16GHZ (around £190).

It is only just slower than the chip above, in fact on some applications its faster. So im undecided on which one to go for. Not to mention the fact the Core 2 Duo is a lot cheaper.

Any idea what i should go for.... this will be the last time i update my system for a lease 2 years!

I got the benchmark results from:

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html

DaRkAnG3L

 

[mgncdarkangel]

thanks for the replies.

i hadnt looked at the 45nm quads... lol

The Q9450 @ 2.66GHz, hmmmm, i like that one a lot more!

One more question:

Im also running a DFI LanParty UT ICFX3200-T2R, now the down side to this is its max ram is DDR2 6400 (800MHz),will this be a problem?

I already have 4GB Corsair TwinX XMS2 DHX, DDR2 PC2-6400(800) CAS 5-5-5-18

P.S The current E6600 is overclocked to 3.0GHz, using a Zalman CPU Flower cooler. Also the signature is quite old, hense it only shows 2GB ram!

Heres the new signature, its to big to use on overclockers:

http://www.darkang3l.co.uk/images/DaRkAnG3Lsig1.jpg

 

[mgncdarkangel]

At the end of the day i have £1000 toput towards an upgrade, and all i know is im getting the geforce 9800gx2. I would like to go for the Q9450!

Can you suggest a motherboard? and possibly DDR3 ram? with that budget? (i do like gigabyte, been trying dfi recently!)

If so ill get that and a new version of Vista 64bit Ultimate. (need another copy if i change MB)

Ive got a OEM version! Been told it has to be changed if my MB changes!

 

[mgncdarkangel]

http://weblog.infoworld.com/gripeline/archives/2007/05/motherboard_rep.html

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2087792,00.asp

"It's important that people understand the OEM EULA when it says that your OEM Vista (XP is the same) can not be transferred to a new computer, and a new (upgraded) motherboard is also considered a new computer,"

This says it all really!

 

[mgncdarkangel]

thanks guys ive taken your advise on the Q9450

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17855361