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Upgrade from E6300, which CPU?

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Joined
5 Nov 2005
Posts
61
I am looking to give my old system a bit of a boost with a new CPU but have been out of the loop for a while so need some advice on what to get?

Looking to spend around £150 on a new CPU but what to go for?

Playing BF2 bad co at the moment if that makes a difference.

Current spec

Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3 Intel P45 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-Bit
Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX (2x2GB)
 
Something like this will be a decent upgrade from a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo - especially in games that can make use of quad cores (like BF:BC2).

A Q9000 series quad core would perform better (especially the ones with 12MB L2 cache), however these are tough to get hold of new and are rather expensive.

It would also be worth looking for 2nd hand s775 quad cores. You may well be able to get something lovely like a Q9550 or Q9650 for within your budget if you go 2nd hand.


On another note, what GPU are you using? Perhaps this is limiting your performance more than your CPU.
 
I'd say a Q9550, but they have been increasing in price lately but you can probably get it cheaper secondhand
 
i'm a selling my media center cpu mobo n ram for what i paid for it lolz and getting me a core i5 750 xD
 
Q6600 can be had for around £80 second hand although as you have a P45 chipset i would be looking at a Q9000 series. P45 is the best chipset for clocking them.
 
I have a ATI X1800 GPU, which is probably holding me back also, and i may upgrade at the same time.

Thanks for the suggestions i'll take a look around.
 
I have a ATI X1800 GPU, which is probably holding me back also, and i may upgrade at the same time.

Thanks for the suggestions i'll take a look around.

look at getting a 2ed hand Ati 4850 for around £50ish (1Gig one if you can but a 512meg will do)
And any 2ed hand Q9*** for £90-120
 
I think you would be better off finding a decent q6600 or a Q9450 CPU. You can pick up a new q8300 processor under a £100 if you look through google.

The Q8300 process only has 4mb cache.
 
Don't pay that, it's too much for a several year old cpu.

+1

The Q6600 is a great chip, but it isn't worth the cost of a new i5 quad core.

I strongly suggest looking for a second hand "G0 Stepping" Q6600. You should be able to pick one of these up for less than £100. These chips are generally pretty bomb-proof, so as long as it arrives working you shouldn't have to worry about warranty or lack thereof.
 
Thanks for the tips, though i think i will stick with new and maybe go for a Q8400 or Q9000 if i can up the budget.
Avoid the Q8000 CPU. Their x7 multiplier make overclocking pants...trust me you wouldn't want to pair up a decent motherboard with a crap overclocking CPU. Grab either a Q6600 or Q9550 like others have suggested.
 
I would serisouly consider the Q9450 or Q9550 range as they are good cpu, I certainly would not pay 160 for a new Q6600 that a few yrs old.

I had a Q8200 before the I5 cpu and it was rubbish.
 
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