James^.^

I'm going to do my first build (for gaming) and i have a few questions...

1. Is the Q6600 Kentsfield Quad core better for gaming or the E8400 Wolfdale Duo core? I don't know exactly what makes a processor good, but if it helps the Kenstfield 2.4ghz and the Wolfdale is 3.0ghz.

2. Which one of these two processors is the best to choose when Overclocking?

3. How do you check if a motherboard and gpu are compatible?

4.There are really no obvious picks for motherboards since they all typically don't have perfect reviews so i picked out the XFX MB-N780-ISH9 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI Intel Motherboard , and they said that I'm going to have to "flash" the bios. Is there a better motherboard to choose?

5. (pertaining to "flashing" the bios) Will flashing the bios be hard? and will i need a floppy drive? (i heard on reviews that you need a floppy drive to do it)

__________________
System Specs
E8400 3.6ghz (Oc)
2x2gb ocz 1066mhz Ram
Hd4870
Biostar p45 Motherboard

just a noob

i have no idea why, you would have to flash the bios on such a recent board, but i believe you can do it with a cd or a flash drive, currently i believe the e8400 would be better for gaming but, you should be able to get the q6600 to 3.0ghz on stock voltage

__________________
FUGGER/K|ngp|n '08

James^.^

Thanks for the info, I'm guessing that when my mobo comes in it will be have the newest flash, Hopefully. I have heard that its not very fun to do seeing as you can totally screw up your mobo.

__________________
System Specs
E8400 3.6ghz (Oc)
2x2gb ocz 1066mhz Ram
Hd4870
Biostar p45 Motherboard

Kesava

if your only gaming and that is your sole intent then the E8400 will be better.
it will also overclock higher then the q6600.

__________________
Following my advice will harm your computer.
Cpu:Intel Q6600 2.4Ghz @ 3.4Ghz
Hsf:Zalman CNPS 9700 LED
Ram:Generic 2 Gb 800 Mhz
Gpu:XFX 8800 GT 512mb @ 700/1750/2000
Mobo:Gigabyte P31-DS3L
OS:OSX 10.5.2
3dMark06:13518
MSN=kesava8@hotmail.com
AIM=kesava8

Jhow

for a straight gaming machine the 8400 is better

__________________
AMD Athlon X2 5000+ (2.6ghz)
Ram 3GB DDR2
500GB Samsung Spinpoint/400GB Hitachi Deskstar
ECS 512MB Nvidia 9600GT
OCZ Gamexstream 700W

cohen

go for the Q6600, and post your GPU + Mobo and we will be able to tell you if they are compatible.

__________________

Kesava

the q6600 wont be as good for games or overclocking.
the e8400 can oc heaps.

__________________
Following my advice will harm your computer.
Cpu:Intel Q6600 2.4Ghz @ 3.4Ghz
Hsf:Zalman CNPS 9700 LED
Ram:Generic 2 Gb 800 Mhz
Gpu:XFX 8800 GT 512mb @ 700/1750/2000
Mobo:Gigabyte P31-DS3L
OS:OSX 10.5.2
3dMark06:13518
MSN=kesava8@hotmail.com
AIM=kesava8

[-0MEGA-]

I'd go for the E8400 as well. I've had both the Q6600 and the E8400, and I prefer the E8400 because it can overclock much higher with lower voltages, run cooler, and clock for clock the E8400 performs better.

__________________
Desktop // Laptop
Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.0GHz // Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz
Asus Rampage Formula X48 // Intel PM45
ATI 4870X2 2GB GDDR5 // 512MB GDDR3 9800M GTS
4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2 940 // 4GB DDR3 800
750GB SATAII w/32MB // 200GB SATAII 7200RPM
Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty
SilverStone 750W +12V@60A
3DMark06: 21391 // 9179

Respital

I have to agree with everyone.
Get the E8400.

__________________
/My Rig:/
/Case :/ Antec Sonata III
/Power Supply :/ Antec Earthquake 500W
/Motherboard :/ Gigabyte P35-DSR3
/Processor :/ Intel E6850@3.4Ghz
/Ram :/ Consair 2x 1 Gb 800mhz
/Video Card :/ Zotac 8800 GT

/3DMark06 Score :/ 11730

Cleric7x9

e8400 for gaming. and if you use the search button, you will see a hundred other threads asking the same question as you

__________________
CPU || e8400
RAM || 4GB corsair xms2 pc6400 800mhz
HDD || 2x WD Raptor 150GB 2x WD 500GB
MBO || EVGA 680i SE
GPU || Evga 8800GT Superclocked w/ Accelero
PSU || Silverstone 750 watt
Case|| Antec p182