NeOpHoRm :
Would I need a CPU cooler? doesnt the CPU come with a heatsink and fan? If I get a cooler, would the fan mount of it or toss the fan that comes with it? I thought pple are able to OC the G0 without additional cooling. And what cooler do you guys recommend?
And about the sound card - what do you mean by getting better performance from a sound card? I know using onboard sound will come from the CPU but I thought that with the current CPUs that should not be an issue. Would the sound card improve sound quality during games?
thanks again! I appreciate the input.
If you are going for overclock, getting a good CPU cooler is a very good idea. The fact that your CPU can be overclocked with a stock cooler doesn't mean that it should be! For example Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme will keep your CPU temperature @3Ghz lower then a stockcooler could @2.4Ghz (Stock) (Idle&Load alike) and that is very healthy for your Q6600. However that cooler can be difficult to install so you might want to consider Tuniq Tower 120 or Zalman CNPS9700 or 9500.. or consider some other userfriendly brand (make sure you know that your choice is a solid preformer or it would be a waste of money).
- Depending on model coolers come in different configuratons, sometimes just a heatsink (you have to buy a fan separatly) or a combo (fan included)
- Recomendations for a cooler are dead simple: *Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme if you want the best. (Order a fan as well as it comes without one)
*Tuniq Tower 120 if you want something more userfriendly.
Overall, overclocking with a stockcooler is illadvised and (in my opinion) plainly stupid...
About the sound card, It will improve the sound quality in games and otherwise. Depending on the game ofcourse.. some have a better support for X-Fi then others but it will not be a drammatic improvement and you will get use to it very soon. If you have the money you should defenetly get a X-Fi, you will not regret it, if not.. you'll be ok without it. In other words: It's not a waste of cash but it's not a must either.