x2 4600 bottleneck

th3ha1og0d

New Member
Just picked up my new video card, 8800GT. My current processor has served me well (check sig) but I want to upgrade to an Intel q6600 and get a new motherboard...because

A) Current processor with my 8800GT at 700 core /1684 shader /2006 mem only gets around 8500-8600 in 3dmark06...I've seen people easily get in the low teens with the same card. Seems like the x2 4600 is a major bottleneck with my 8800.

Also, is 700/1684/2006 a decent overclock for an 8800gt or should I be seeing higher numbers?

B) This upgrade will require a new motherboard...any suggestions? I want it to be SLI but not super expensive, are there any good ones at the $150 price point? Also I've considered just dropping in an x2 6400 but it just doesn't make too much sense considering it almost costs the same as a q6600, only real advantage here is that I wouldn't have to get a new mobo.

So basically the q6600 runs $209 @ tigerdirect.ca and it's definitely a solid processor, so all that is left is selecting a decent hsf and mobo.

Also it is really cool how all of this developed from a simple HP desktop computer, I gutted it and put in an Apevia case, swapped out the psu, added my 7900 and now the 8800. I bought it refurbished dirt cheap a little over a year ago and I just boosted the heck out of it...Fun stuff :)
 
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Either processor will handle the 8800gt well.I had the same problem my old cpu which was a Pentium d 940.it was bottlenecking the heck out of my 8800gt.Until a snapped in the Pentium d 965,and now everything is ok! :D Try Newegg there a lot of good motherboards to choose.Either Cpu will do the job by a lot!
 
I know how ya feel..my 5000+ was bottlenecking my whole system...every things runs much better with just a simple cpu upgrade..it was a good cpu but not with my board or gpu...If your going to upgrade to intel hardware i would get the E7200 or E8400 thats if your gaming..Q6600 for other things like photoshop editing..multitask (all three are good cpu's).:D or the AMD (Fanboy) in me wants to say x3 or x4 phenom lol ill be back later gotta go play some games on my secret Intel rig in the basement heh
 
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Either processor will handle the 8800gt well.I had the same problem my old cpu which was a Pentium d 940.it was bottlenecking the heck out of my 8800gt.Until a snapped in the Pentium d 965,and now everything is ok! :D Try Newegg there a lot of good motherboards to choose.Either Cpu will do the job by a lot!

Newegg doesn't ship to Canada.
 
I found an e8400 on tigerdirect.ca, and @ 189.99 including a fan that is a very attractive processor. The q6600 I was looking at with fan was $280, so I save alot of money to be used on other things, not to mention that the e8400 runs cooler etc. So right now I am thinking that for $189 e8400 > $280 q6600.
 
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