Conclusions: Intel Quad-Core And MSI P35 Neo2 Get Our Nod
In general, we can say that overclocking definitely pays off, regardless of whether you choose the dual-core or the quad-core CPU. Either one of these processors is capable of a 25% speed increase, which is noticeable even with everyday computing tasks. The increased energy costs that result from overclocking is not especially pronounced with Core 2 processors; their share in the system's overall power consumption is so small that overclocking always pays off. The question whether you should opt for a dual-core or quad-core processor is easily answered as well.
The quad-core can offer the user advantages even if applications offer "only" dual-core support, namely when background processes take up additional CPU time. Take anti-virus software scanning in the background, for example, or an archiving program that is extracting a file, which saps processor power from your main application. Tasks running in the background interfere much less with the main application when there are more cores at the system's disposal.
Even though the dual-core model is able to reach higher clock speeds, the quad-core wins in the final analysis thanks to multi-threaded software. If you have the extra $88 to spare for the Q6600, we recommend you choose it over its little brother. In our opinion, the dual-core version simply isn't worth it any more. The situation is even more dire for the E6850, which costs as much as the Q6600, making it an even tougher sell.
That brings us to our other recommendation: the motherboard. Gigabyte and MSI provided us with review samples, and both boards proved to be excellent overclockers and were able to help the processor reach high FSB speeds. Of the two, we recommend MSI's P35 Neo2-FR or P35 Neo2-FIR. Despite their low price, these boards come with a heatpipe solution, which is the better choice for an overclocking board. As an added benefit, the MSI boards allow you to create a Crossfire configuration and offer an indispensable CMOS-reset function, which resets the BIOS at the touch of a button without clearing your settings.
Our recommended combination: The MSI board with GEIL memory.
To complete our overclocking system, we also recommend the CNPS9700 LED cooler by Zalman and GEIL's Black Dragon GB22 GB6400V4DC memory modules.
