Need help picking a CPU for my Rig

[bushwickbill]

Hi all.
I am currently looking for a good idea for the most gaming performance I can get.

I just won two 1GB sticks of Corsair DDR3 1333Mhz Ram but my ASUS P5B MOBO does not support it.

So I think I will sell the DRR3 Ram along with my C2D E6400 and XEON 3070 to try and buy the Best CPU I can get.

So am I better off going with a C2D 8600 or E8400 instead of a Q6600 or Q6700?

My EVGA GTX 260 should be here any day so I will need a good CPU so it doesn't get bottle necked!

I know there are some very new C2D's that just came out, But not sure which ones my MOBO supports.

A quad would future proof my Rig a bit more than a C2D wouldn't it? Or should I just go with a really fast C2D?

Please keep in mind that I am running four 1GB sticks of G-Skill DDR2 800Mhz Ram so I can't run my FSB too high right?

A muti of 10 on a CPU would ideal for my Ram so I wouldn't have to Overclock my Ram too high.

I am not too up to date on all the newest Intel CPU's or which ones give the Best gaming performance.

I do have a Zalman CNPS 9500 to fit onto whichever CPU I get.

So can someone please tell me what CPU will give what kind of performance over the other?

I do know that a fast C2D will be better in games right now over a slower Quad, But can't
you Overclock a Q6600 or Q6700 into the 3.5Ghz area?

I know as the games become more CPU demanding, Having four Cores will help out more then.

But how much more? Thanx for any and all help.

I am not totally stuck on the getting a new CPU. But how well can a XEON 3070 Overclock to keep up with my New GTX 260, Compared to what I can sell it for along with my E6400 and buy a new one?

 

[o1die]

I would sell the xeon first, and see what offers you get for it. And I wouldn't put too much money into any cpu. Prices are starting to drop as Intel gets ready to switch to nehalem. Fry's has had the e7200 for $100 with board recently, and overclocked it's hard to beat for value. You might also consider keeping the ddr3 if you don't get any decent offers. More boards are going with it, including some p45's.

 

[myocardia]

I would definitely keep the Xeon, and sell the DDR3 (as you know, 2GB isn't enough for gaming) and the E6400, and buy a Tuniq Tower heatsink with part of the money you get from them. Those 3070's usually top out around 3.6-3.7 Ghz, as long as you can keep them cool, and that's plenty fast enough for a GTX260, unless you're gaming @ 1280x1024, with no AA.

 

[bushwickbill]

Thanx for the replies.
I have a Zalman CNPS 9500, Wouldn't that work almost as well as the Tuniq Tower?

And I have a ACER 24 inch LCD, So I usually game at 1920*1200 unless the FPS drop below 30 FPS which so far even with my 9800GTX is only Crysis!

What do those E7200 Overclock too? And are they 65nm, I think my ASUS P5B MOBO only supports 65nm CPU's.

You feel also that a faster C2D is going to be better than a slower C2Q?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: bushwickbill
Thanx for the replies.
I have a Zalman CNPS 9500, Wouldn't that work almost as well as the Tuniq Tower?

Nope, not even close. The Tuniq cools 6 degrees better than the Zalman 9700, so it's obviously no contest between it and the 9500.

And I have a ACER 24 inch LCD, So I usually game at 1920*1200 unless the FPS drop below 30 FPS which so far even with my 9800GTX is only Crysis!

You are aware that the GTX260 is just barely faster than a 9800GTX, unless you're running @ 2560x1600, aren't you (with most games, anyway)?

What do those E7200 Overclock too?

3.6-4.0 Ghz. Most average 3.7-3.8, it seems.

And are they 65nm,

No, they're 45nm.

You feel also that a faster C2D is going to be better than a slower C2Q?

In another year or so, you're most likely going to need a quad, but today your statement is correct, unless you're playing one of the games that benefit alot from a quad (Supreme Commander and M$'s Flight Simulator X). It doesn't make alot of difference to me, though, I've already got both.