Q1. The final choice is between getting a Q6600 and over-clocking it to 3.0 (maybe higher if i can safely do it) or getting an E8400 and doing the same...
Q2. IF the E8400 is better than the Q6600 for my specified reasons, will having only a dual core hold me back in the future?
I play on a 22" monitor at 1440x900. The max ill play is 1680x1050. I like to play max graphics if possible, as long as possible. I want this machine to last a good 3-4 years. I play mainly MMO's and the occasional FPS.
I have plans on playing Age of Conan as soon as i finish building this, and probably front lines a little bit later.
In the foreseeable future, ill be playing Warhammer online, stargate worlds, and just about any big name MMO that releases.
the rest of my computer is:
Motherboard: XFX MB-N780-ISH9 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813141005
- $220
Processor Heat-sink: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
- $37
Video Cards: 2x EVGA 512-P3-N807-AR GeForce 8800GT AKIMBO SuperClocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130335
- $450
Power Supply: COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-750-ACAA-A1 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 115/ 230 V Nemko, TUV, cUL, CE, BSMI, FCC, CCC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171024
- $120
Memory: OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227269
- $65
Hard-Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288
- $100
DvD Drive: ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135156
- $35
Case: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
- $85
Case Fans: 4x Antec 75003 120mm Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835129030
- $48
Other than these parts, im buying some thermal paste, and windows vista 64-bit home premium.
- $96
Q2. IF the E8400 is better than the Q6600 for my specified reasons, will having only a dual core hold me back in the future?
I play on a 22" monitor at 1440x900. The max ill play is 1680x1050. I like to play max graphics if possible, as long as possible. I want this machine to last a good 3-4 years. I play mainly MMO's and the occasional FPS.
I have plans on playing Age of Conan as soon as i finish building this, and probably front lines a little bit later.
In the foreseeable future, ill be playing Warhammer online, stargate worlds, and just about any big name MMO that releases.
the rest of my computer is:
Motherboard: XFX MB-N780-ISH9 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813141005
- $220
Processor Heat-sink: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
- $37
Video Cards: 2x EVGA 512-P3-N807-AR GeForce 8800GT AKIMBO SuperClocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130335
- $450
Power Supply: COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-750-ACAA-A1 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 115/ 230 V Nemko, TUV, cUL, CE, BSMI, FCC, CCC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171024
- $120
Memory: OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227269
- $65
Hard-Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288
- $100
DvD Drive: ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135156
- $35
Case: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
- $85
Case Fans: 4x Antec 75003 120mm Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835129030
- $48
Other than these parts, im buying some thermal paste, and windows vista 64-bit home premium.
- $96