Tom's Hardware > Forum > Overclocking > CPUs > Which Core 2 Duo should I get?
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Seemike   01-30-2007 at 03:06:40 AM

I am building my first rig, forum-goers; it is a gaming rig, and the budget is $2000.

I have decided that I will be getting a Core 2 Duo model, but I have no earthly idea which one would be the best one to get, and this is entirely due to the fact that there is apparently variable overclocking prowess among the models. I noted that the E6300 has super crazy headroom, but does the E6600 I've been looking at have similar headroom over that? Also, does the E4300 overclock past the E6300?

Oh, and the motherboard is the eVGA 680i chipset model seen here:
http://www.evga.com/products/morei [...] cs&family=

For the record, Google hasn't been friendly in providing examples, so please post any information and/or advice you might have. Thanks!

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jsc   01-30-2007 at 03:53:33 AM
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I do not think so. Otherwise an E6700 would be able to reach 4 Ghz easily. In my case, I could reach 3.6 Ghz if I wanted to run the CPU at 1.525 volts. I chose not to.

Unless you are on a really tight budget, the sweet spot seems to be E6400 or E6600. Less than E6400 and you have to run the FSB to high. Greater than E6600 is a big price jump and without exotic cooling, the overclockability does not scale upward.

john

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Bache   01-30-2007 at 05:53:21 AM
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Quote :

I am building my first rig, forum-goers; it is a gaming rig, and the budget is $2000.

I have decided that I will be getting a Core 2 Duo model, but I have no earthly idea which one would be the best one to get, and this is entirely due to the fact that there is apparently variable overclocking prowess among the models. I noted that the E6300 has super crazy headroom, but does the E6600 I've been looking at have similar headroom over that? Also, does the E4300 overclock past the E6300?

Oh, and the motherboard is the eVGA 680i chipset model seen here:
http://www.evga.com/products/morei [...] cs&family=

For the record, Google hasn't been friendly in providing examples, so please post any information and/or advice you might have. Thanks!


I like the E4300.

Lower spec ram can be used for high OCing, and difference in gaming compared to E6300 minimal.

Don't forget about the E6320 out soon.

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Seemike   01-30-2007 at 03:44:50 PM
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Thanks ya'll, I think I'll be getting the ever-lauded E6600.
Also, thanks for giving your opinions and advice without calling me lazy! :D

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pinkcaddy   01-30-2007 at 06:01:03 PM
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Lazy...hahaha

Seriously, I would consider the E4300 over the E6600. It'll cost around half the price, but for OCing, it has the same multiplier. Three main differences between the two:

1 - E4300 has 2MB of cache while the 6600 has 4MB
2 - E4300 runs on a 200MHz bus while the 6600 runs at 266MHz
3 - E4300 does not have Intel's Virtualization technology

All things considered, you can OC the 4300 to 266MHz with stock cooling to bring it even keel with the 6600. From there, you'll need to consider cooling and memory speed, just as you would the 6600.

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Seemike   01-30-2007 at 07:15:30 PM
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Oh, OK, PinkCaddy. So I could then take it to the same speed attainable by the E6600 without any real stress and instability?
Does anyone second PinkCaddy's statement? It is critical that I know within a couple days (Most of my parts have $20-40 rebates that expire at the first of February).

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Bache   01-31-2007 at 07:10:42 AM
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Quote :

Oh, OK, PinkCaddy. So I could then take it to the same speed attainable by the E6600 without any real stress and instability?
Does anyone second PinkCaddy's statement? It is critical that I know within a couple days (Most of my parts have $20-40 rebates that expire at the first of February).


The statement is true, but stability depends on your other gear.

If money is of no problem, get the E6600.

But do you need all that extra power anyway.

You'll have to get a GC to match or you will be wasting all that money and performance.

Reply to Bache
Seemike   01-31-2007 at 03:59:27 PM
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Actually, I worry that the CPU doesn't match the graphics card I'm looking at: an eVGA 8800 GTS (right now it's about $350 on Newegg). Later on I'll upgrade it to an SLI setup. Thanks to a ton of rebates, my current butt-kicking parts list comes to about $1853 (with an E6600 and an 8800 and a good monitor).

Anyways, I think I'll get some great overclocking done with the Zalman CNPS9700 and the Thermaltake Armor w/ 250mm fan.

Crap...something just occured to me.
Would an Antec Truepower Trio 650w be able to handle this? Am I going to have to get some enormous PSU?

Reply to Seemike
Latta   01-31-2007 at 04:46:27 PM
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That power supply will handle the one graphics card but if you want to SLI it later on then you might want to consider a beefier PS whenever you do go out and grab the second vid card. Something with 750W or more with good amps on the 12v rails.

As for your $2000 gaming rig spare no expense when it comes to the CPU and VID card as those will be the two biggest things that impact gaming performance for you. So with your examples I'd go with the E6600 and I'd also advise getting the 8800 GTX if you can afford it.

Reply to Latta
Seemike   01-31-2007 at 05:01:15 PM
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Thanks for the PSU advice, but, sadly, there is no way I can get the 8800 GTX. Woe is me.

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