Newbie: Question on CPU for my first build configuration

[phantan]

I am building my first PC - nervous but quite excited. I have bought the following components (and will use some others from my old PC):

1. Antec 900 case

2. Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply

3. Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

4. ASUS P5B Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P965 Express mobo

5. EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB

6. Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - PDC22G6400LLK (great price after rebate)

7. Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro

8. Windows Vista Ultimate OEM

QUESTION: What CPU should I buy? Wait for E4400 when it comes out next month... or should I buy the E4300 or even the E6300 now?

Someone told me that the 4300 will let me OC with cheaper 667 RAM, but because I have good 800 RAM, the 4300 will probably have my 800 RAM underclocked, whereas a 6300 will OC my RAM too.

I guess I am confused... I thought the E4300 or the E4400 would OC my good RAM (that is why I bought it). Can anyone explain this to me? Also, what CPU should I buy with my current components? Thanks for your feedback

 

[apt403]

That system is already pretty highend, I would just get an E6600. You'll be able to take full advantage of your ram, you'll get an extra 2mb of L2 cache, you wont bottleneck the 8800gts, and it'll oc higher then an E4300 or E6300. If the E6600 is out of your budget get an E4300, still will oc throught the roof, cheap, and you can change the FSB from 200 to 266 with a simple pin mod, turning it into an E6600 with half the cache.

 

[1Tanker]

I am building my first PC - nervous but quite excited. I have bought the following components (and will use some others from my old PC):

1. Antec 900 case

2. Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply

3. Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

4. ASUS P5B Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P965 Express mobo

5. EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB

6. Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - PDC22G6400LLK (great price after rebate)

7. Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro

8. Windows Vista Ultimate OEM

QUESTION: What CPU should I buy? Wait for E4400 when it comes out next month... or should I buy the E4300 or even the E6300 now?

Someone told me that the 4300 will let me OC with cheaper 667 RAM, but because I have good 800 RAM, the 4300 will probably have my 800 RAM underclocked, whereas a 6300 will OC my RAM too.

I guess I am confused... I thought the E4300 or the E4400 would OC my good RAM (that is why I bought it). Can anyone explain this to me? Also, what CPU should I buy with my current components? Thanks for your feedback

I would still get the E4300 or wait for the E4400. They may be "underusing" your DDR2-800 RAM, but by running it at less than 400MHz(333MHz for example), you should be able to run at tighter timings....giving nice performance. GL

 

[Lionhardt]

jack's proposal is right on.

 

[phantan]

Just got back now to read all the posts... good food for thought.

Thanks, Jack, I think I will rpobably run with your suggestion to go with the 4300 for now... and then upgrade later when prices are more reasonable.

Appreciate all the feedback. Have a great day!