CPU for the middle class students :)

For that price range AMD's kicking Intel to the curb. only further than that range does Intel start getting better, otherwise the X2 Athlons are still on top. Unless you have an Intel Core 2 Duo board already, then that's a different story.

I am assuming a e6600 is a newer version?

By the way, my cpu im building will be light gaming with all the other bells and whistles a college student uses

EDIT: actually just checked the release date, aug of last year, at like 400$ or something, so it looks pretty reliable and concrete, ill try to save for it, thanks guys!

lol, i get CPU confused with Computer sometimes....honest mistake

(did u really think i was attempting such a feat? or pulling a newbies leg?)

If you really want to build your own computer, do a little research and learn what the components are, what they do, and how to put them all together. A CPU is a Central Processing Unit a PC is a Personal Computer, You might want to skip the "light gaming" your first few years of collage and devote your time to your studies.

Based on the knowledge you have shown here, any processor in your price range will work just fine for your needs.

Better yet get a dell with the full service warranty, you might need it.

You forget to mention the fsb is quad pumped...................................aw hell..........................why confuse the OP any more than he already is?

Don't be a tard now... I've already built one of my own computers and a friends with a water-cooling system. I just have never ordered the parts. My dad usualyl helps me, as he has built more computers than you may ever build. But, of course, you know me?

Seriously, you need to stop the bashing, i never asked for help from losers who can't behave on the internet. (Aka Trolls- people who make themselves feel BIG by acting it on the net)

Thanks for everyone who helped though! I'm probably going to save for a E6600, go out a little less (study more, lmao)

Don't worry about GD; the main box housing the processor, RAM, etc, IS sometimes called a CPU. However, you should look up "troll", as it has a different meaning than the one you listed.

In any case, I'd consider the e4300 (and even overclocking it somewhat). You'll find that the FSB speed doesn't matter nearly as much as the core's clock (up to a certain point). As long as you get a decent MB, you'll be able to upgrade to a better processor than the e6600 down the line for not a lot of money. Intel is in the process of releasing a new MB chipset that looks quite good. Among other things, it may be able to boost the effective memory performance of the system versus older chipsets even with the same speed memory. MBs using the chipset are supposed to be available in roughly 2 weeks' time; if you go this route, get a DDR2 RAM version of the MB.

Thanks, GD. Here's the link for the article on memory performance: http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2989

See anything on X38 yet?