What CPU should I get? Budget £170

[Freeman]

Currently I have had a look at the C2D E8400 for about £170 and quite like it.

I am going to be building this rig for gaming, photoshop, video and 3D work as well as browsing.

Should I be going for Quad core? And can you suggest anything better than what I currently have suggested for around the £170 mark?

Cheers.

 

[Freeman]

Ok fair enough so you lot are basically saying the E8400 is fine for games and so on and the Quad would probably be a little more suited for the video encoding and photoshop work. I take it that there's no huge difference between the two?

Just so you know I won't be overclocking at all.

I am however changing the heatsink from stock no matter what CPU I get. I know for a fact the Ninja scythe rev B is very good.

 

[Freeman]

So do you folks reckon the QX9775 will do the job? Shame my motherboard is socket 775 or else I would............................................NOT, OMG £900+ for just the CPU!!

Anyways, back to reality, so do you think the Q9300 would be my best choice considering my budget?

 

[Freeman]

Not the Q9300 then?

 

[Freeman]

Ok So I think I have enough opinions from people to go with the Quad core. As someone mentioned, nope there won't really be any priorities over 3D work, gaming or video work, I just need to know that if I want to do any of the 3 I can do it with the speed and power that I need.

Will the Tuniq be an ok heatsink for the CPU and more importantly will it fit into this setup ok? I know that the Scythe just about fits with the 8800gtx on the same mobo and case (brother has that setup) but it really is a very tight squeeze.

(ignore the CPU now, this is an oldish screenshot)