Upgrading CPU, But to What?

Hi Guys !

Im currently running on a BFG 680i SLI Motherboard and want to upgrade my processor from an E6750 2.66GHz (333 x 8).

As this is a 680i board supporting 1333FSB, it supports only Core 2 Duo 65nm (Conroe), Core 2 Duo 45nm (Wolfdale) and Core 2 Quad 65nm (Kentsfield).

From looking around I would assume my options are:

E6850 (3.0GHz, 4mb Cache, Dual Core, 1333FSB (333FSB x 9 Multiplyer)) (Conroe) - £145.00 - Ebuyer

E8400 (3.00GHz, 6mb Cache, Dual Core, 1333FSB (333FSB x 9 Multiplyer)) (Wolfdale) - 120.00 - Ebuyer
E8500 (3.16GHz, 6mb Cache, Dual Core, 1333FSB (333FSB x 9.5 Multiplyer)) (Wolfdale) - £142.00 - Ebuyer
E8600 (3.33GHz, 6mb Cache, Dual Core, 1333FSB (333FSB x 10 Multiplyer)) (Wolfdale) - £202.00 - Scan

Q6600 (2.40GHz, 8mb Cache, Quad Core, 1066FSB (266FSB x 9 Multiplyer)) (Kentsfield) - Discontinued?
Q6700 (2.66GHz, 8mb Cache, Quad Core, 1066FSB (266FSB x 10 Multiplyer)) (Kentsfield) - Discontinued?

QX6700 (2.66GHz, 8mb Cache, Quad Core, 1066FSB (266FSB x 10 Unlocked Multiplyer)) (Kentsfield) - £250.00 Ebay - New
QX6800 (2.93GHz, 8mb Cache, Quad Core, 1066FSB (266FSB x 11 Unlocked Multiplyer)) (Kentsfield) - £213.00 Ebay - Used
QX6850 (3.00Ghz, 8mb Cache, Quad Core, 1333FSB (333FSB x 9 Unlocked Multiplyer)) (Kentsfield) - £330.00 Ebay - New

It would appear that my options are ... well limited.

The E8400 is the same as the E6850, but with more Cache a lower die size and £25 cheeper.
The E8600 is just silly prices compared to the E8500
Q6600 and Q6700, well if I can't buy them, they won't run very fast.
QX6700 and QX6850 are silly prices for a last gen CPU (for this cost I might as well, start the upgrade to i7-920).
QX6800 I can't find new (or atleast from a reseller I have an account with), I don't think I will ever buy a CPU 2nd hand.

Are thier any options I have missed out?

Something I have not considered?

Because at the moment I would look like the E8500 is a chip that is not only good value per performance but will overclock to silly speeds.

Comments?

I do alot of gaming in 5040*1050 res,

upgrading to I7-920 is not an option, I'd be looking at £200 for m/b, £220 for CPU and £130 for Ram.

Well, I wouldn't even look at any of those dual cores if you want to upgrade because all you are buying is clock speed, just overclock it if you want a higher clock speed. Depends on what you are using it for if you need a quad core or not.

the m/b would need to support 3way SLi, do AMD offer such things?

If I were you, I'd roll out all of the other Dual Cores since it won't be much of an upgrade.

Well same. I am playing games a lot and Quad cores managed to catch my eyes better. Personally I've stopped on Q8400 but the quad ones you've chosen are good aswell.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130236

here is a three way SLI offering

put that with some ddr3 1600 mhz RAM, 955 BE, and ur GTX260 and u will be able to play amazing quality on games

.