Best affordable overclocking CPU?

Ok I'm doing a little prebuild research and I want to get a moderatly priced (<$200) CPU that can overclock to at least 3.5 and run stable.

I don't mind having to buy a 3rd party heatsink/fan

Right now I'm leaning towards the E8400 as I've heard people have OC'd it to over 4.0, but I want to make sure I'm getting the best bang for my buck.


Also if anybody knows of a great mobo to pair with it let me know?

Thank You

 

Q6600 you'll def be able to get to 3.4 with little effort. And Possibly 3.5 with some effort. It is at right bout the ~$200 mark.

You'll also get two more cores at that speed to use, than the dual core(s) you had/are thinking about.

 

I was also considering the Q6600 as well, I'll keep that one in mind also.

 

I use my computer for gaming and non-intensive programs like firefox, limewire, and utorrent so what is better for my situation. Quad core running at 3.4Ghz or Dual Core running at 4Ghz? I dont think I'll need any extra core because I dont video render or anything.

 

Well, thats true. If you really don't

But if you use utorrent<--- chances are you unrar a lot of crap, and with a quad core you really tell the difference there too.
4.0 dual core or 3.4 quad core. The quad core is usually more favorable as it can game to (and well at 3.4).

 

I guess I forgot to add what I'm using the computer for.

My wife is an interior design student so she uses a lot of graphic intensive programs, 3dmax, photoshop, autocad...etc.

I don't play PC games but like the guy above I mostly use my pc for watching/downloading movies, listening/downloading MP3s, surfing the net, and maybe venturing into PC gaming.

 

Then you defiantly want a Quad core. Period. The Q6600 is around the ~$200 mark too. Quad cores power through in the things your wife will be using.

 

as long as I get the SLACR version its pretty easy to overclock no?

 

Yes. You will be hard pressed not to get that one, I don't know if there are B3 revisions floating around anymore or what.

But the Q6600 will OC to 3.15 on auto usually and goes to 3.4 with ease.

 

I've had good luck with my Q6600. 3.4GHz easy and it runs pretty cool with a Tuniq Tower.

 

I have an E6750 with a TRUE120 at 3.6... overclocks pretty well if you ask me

 

Yeah, the E6750 is also an excellent OCer. I have one as well and I've had it at 3.4GHz for almost a year with cool temps and zero stability problems. With an Arctic Freezer 7 Pro, it idles at 35*C and loads at 58*C. To take it to 3.6GHz required a voltage jump for me and an idle at 39*C. Too toasty for me.

The E6750 is generally the best of the first gen Core 2 Duos. The Q6600 is by far the best and most cost efficient of the quads, seeing as you can get one to ~3.4GHz and outperform a $1000 Extreme Quad.