Q6600 vs E8400 ??

E

erebusting

New Member
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

vs

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

?
which should I get, I do not do any video editing/encoding at ALL...I just want to play games, be able to watch very good quality dvds/movies and surf the net/do homework etc (basics)....
What do you guys recommend?

Also here are some of my specs if needed:
680 psu
ECS pt890t-a Motherboard
BFG 9800 GTX 512mb Video Card
2GB 667mhz ram (but my motherboard only allows 533 mhz mode)
--I have another 2gb ram stick identical, yet its not installed
XP Pro 32 bit (I have legitamate versions of Vista, Vista 64 bit, as well as XP Pro 64 bit...if they would make a difference?)


Thanks All!...
Post your advice, experiences, ideas/theorys, or if you know a better processor for under $200.00....anything! ( I will be very grateful)

Thanks again, hope to hear from you all soon! =)
 
Stock most current games will run better with the E8400, but if you know how to OC etc then buy the Q6600.
Also more cores are going to be the future so you might want to consider how long you plan to keep the build.
 
I just figured out how to Overclock in my bios today...only messed with the Frequency not the voltage....

If I was to get the q6600, I was wondering how much I should set the freq to then ?-would I or SHOULD I change the voltage also?... (keep in mind, I would like to avoid using water cooling or any additional cooling.....I do have 5 fans in my case (1 large one for the heatsink, and one from the PSU..))

Thanks for the advice...
-keep em commin' , I need all the advice I can get right now....



Thanks All!
 
use the search function bud.
http://www.computerforum.com/141985-dual-core-vs-quad-core.html
http://www.computerforum.com/142074-will-games-really-use-all-4-cores.html
http://www.computerforum.com/141480-what-should-i-get.html
http://www.computerforum.com/137788-quad-core-vs-dual-core-gaming.html
those are all from the first pages

And i'd seriously just suggest getting a new motherboard also - the ram will be a bottleneck on either choice, and your motherboard only supports upto a 1066mhz fsb - the e8400 has a 1333mhz fsb.
nonetheless, i'd go with the q6600, i'm yet to hear of someone not satisfied with it, and it's overlclockability.
 
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well it's half the FSB, and it's just a little old? i do believe that four cores, with a 1066mhz bus, will be bottlenecked by ddr533, even 667 would see issues i believe.
 
Thanks though

Thanks for the advice, I do appreciate it.


damn, I wasnt trying to spend too much, lol...man it ALL started when I wanted to get a new GPU, then I researched and found that I would also need a new CPU (because of bottlenecking)....THEN from there, I hear that I might need a new MOTHERBOARD (because of bottlenecking) and then from there I will need NEW RAM (because of bottlenecking)....lol..
With all that Im basically building a new computer, which was not my intention, but I do understand that would get the best performance..just the money issue is killing me....

anyways
what should I do guys?...
how does this sound:

http://www.portatech.com/catalog/viewitem.asp?ID=25355&O=26139

with the default mobo and cpu....then get the CPU FAN only, ADD 4GB DDR2 - PC8500 / 1066MHz RAM,
and everything else I clicked " included in price"
for a total of $395.00
?

how does all that sound guys?


(gosh I went from discussing about 200$, to 300, to 400, now 5-600 -including the GPU I have ordered already...BFG 9800GTX 512mb and a 1tb drive I will order in the future) -lol...computers these days huh...-

-Sorry for the long post, I just get skeptical about these things and like to hear opinions of you all to reassure me what would be some of the best options in your opinions...

THANKS ALL! I really appreciate all the advice VERY VERY much! it is very helpful!
 
i love beating a dead horse. i don't know how many of these threads i see. anyways, for your usage, go for e8400. that mobo can't overclock for squat, so another reason to go for higher stock speed from the e8400.
 
you are reffering to my current mobo right..? well I was now considering upgrading the mother board as well...because as stated above even the E8400 has a 1333mhz fbs or something like that....and my motherboard would be bottlenecking it...so any good ideas of a cheap/good combo of motherboard/cpu/ram ? ..(under 400 ?)
...such as the one I posted above-is that one pretty decent?
 
If your debating between the two, its the Q6600 hands down. 4 cores @ 3GHZ+, cmon... I love my Q6600, I have a habit of leaving stuff open and with it I never get slowed down.
 
Something can slow a Q6600 down? LOL, I love mine really. I've had I don't know how many internet windows open with multiple tabs each. Also while having iTunes open while watchin a movie. It's awesome.
 
wow did you guys not see what his usage was? i don't get how you guys are recommending him to get a q6600. you do NOT need a quad to watch movies, do homework, or surf the net. it'll just consume more power, produce more heat from the 65nm q6600 vs 45nm e8400, run at slow clocks, and won't utilize the extra cores most of the time.

erebusting, if you're still dead set on getting a quad, then at least get a 45nm one
 
WhiteFireDragon said:
wow did you guys not see what his usage was? i don't get how you guys are recommending him to get a q6600. you do NOT need a quad to watch movies, do homework, or surf the net. it'll just consume more power, produce more heat from the 65nm q6600 vs 45nm e8400, run at slow clocks, and won't utilize the extra cores most of the time.

erebusting, if you're still dead set on getting a quad, then at least get a 45nm one
Click to expand...

If you mean that I should get a 45nm one because it runs cooler and less power, then I am not too worried about that.....because I wasnt trying to spend over 200$ for a cpu, and the ones under that would be like downgrading I think because for example the q8400 & q8300 both have only 4mb cache while the q6600 has 2x 4mb for example.....if I am missing something here please let me know....so you guys still say quad though? even for my usage??? (check above posts for my usages)..


Thanks all! you are all very helpful...

ps. should I add another 100 to get an i7?...would that be worth it?...I wouldnt want to spend over 200 for anything else though...idk, lets see what you guys throw at me...(figuratively speaking of course lol)...
 
erebusting said:
know....so you guys still say quad though? even for my usage??? (check above posts for my usages)..
Click to expand...

Well you said gaming right? Also E8400/500 has 6MB of L2 Cache not 4 :)

Its true most games don't support quad but GTA4 can use 3 cores and a few titles coming will have quad support. So if you want a more future proof set up get a Q6600 and get a good cooler and OC to 3.2ghz or higher. With luck you get a G0 and not a B3.


erebusting said:
ps. should I add another 100 to get an i7?...would that be worth it?...I wouldnt want to spend over 200 for anything else though...idk, lets see what you guys throw at me...(figuratively speaking of course lol)...
Click to expand...

You would have to upgrade your motherboard + memory in order to go I7. That will be a easy $300 upgrade.
Also I7 is power hungry atm and over priced so best to wait for the new versions of it next year.
 
could you possibly recommend a few good coolers?
(mind you that I do not want to use water coolers as they seem over $100...I would like to be able to get something around 50 if even possible?....I have alot of fans on my case already)

Thank you all! I think I am vearing towards the q6600 -future proof in a way, also I can OC it and I think I would be fine for a while, right? plus the quad cores would pick up the slack of other programs in the background of a game Even if the game does not support 4 cores...eventually they will support 4 cores anyway, right?...see how much I am learning from you all?! thanks guys!)

anyone know a good motherboard under $100 that supports socket 775, 1066 fsb and ddr2 1066 (without O.C.) ? I have come across this one:
BIOSTAR GF7050V-M7 ~$50.00 ...
any good?
 
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erebusting said:
If you mean that I should get a 45nm one because it runs cooler and less power, then I am not too worried about that.....because I wasnt trying to spend over 200$ for a cpu, and the ones under that would be like downgrading I think because for example the q8400 & q8300 both have only 4mb cache while the q6600 has 2x 4mb for example.....if I am missing something here please let me know....so you guys still say quad though? even for my usage??? (check above posts for my usages)..
Click to expand...

who said you'll be downgrading from a q6600 to another quad? have you considered the q9400? it's $180, which is about the same price or less than the current q6600. it has a faster stock speed, overclocks higher, runs cooler, and has a higher fsb than q6600 so how's this a downgrade?

i honestly think the "future proofing" thing that everyone always says is really BS. these chips get obsolete so fast that by the time you actually need the part and use it to its full potential, there's already much better ones out for cheaper. this future proofing thing is just an excuse to overkill on hardware, and later people will just end up upgrading to more overkill hardware again when better and cheaper things come out.
 
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