Quad is still the better choice for video editing & 3D modeling as long as the software makes use of the cores. The CPU prices converted to USD are $270 & $335. There's a $65 difference. In North America, the Q6600 sells for about the same as the one in your country. That's regular price. However, the E8400 is gouged to ~$250, to be dropped back to $220-ish.
In a nutshell, go with G0. No jokes. Q6600 stepping G0 or B3.
If you plan to keep the pc for a year or longer, go with a premium X38/X48 motherboard like ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA, P5E, etc. If you plan to upgrade to Nelahem, pick up a budget P35 board like DS3L/P5K.
Throw in any 2X1GB DDR2 800MHZ ram deal.
Message edited by akhilles on 03-24-2008 at 01:14:22 PM
from reading these forums, It looks like intel base mobos don't OC as well as nvidia based mobos.
you may be able to reuse your PSU with the E8400. The q6600 draws more power, so its less likle to work propperly. either way, your on the edge. sometime cheap PSUs fail catostoficaly and take other components with them. I'd upgrade the PSU and get a cheaper MoBo myself.
If your considering SLI (what is your screen resolution?). definatly upgrade the PSU.
For me, there isn't enough improvement going from you dual core to another dual core (but I'm cheap). if you'd actualy use all 4 cores, get the quad.
As much as i'd like to nod and pretend to know what has been recommended, i'll ask quite frankly. What does "In a nutshell, go with G0. No jokes. Q6600 stepping G0 or B3." imply?/mean? ;p
@groo - Intel based mobos generally overclock better than nvidia based mobos.
G0 is the latest stepping for the Q6600. It uses slightly less power and has better thermals than the previous B3 stepping meaning it will generally overclock a bit better.
Go with DDR2 ram not DDR3. Based on your motherboard choices it looks like you're considering DDR3 but I wouldn't use that right now. It's too expensive for very little benefit. I'd grab a 2x2gb kit of DDR2 800 to go with the upgrade.
