What CPU should I buy on a £100 budget?

overclocking is not a linear ruturn...in other words if you OC a 3.0 Ghz cpu to 4.0Ghz you wont see a 30% return, you will realize about half that though, and that's a big performance increase. like the boys are sayin, its a great OC'er and you can get to 4ghz on air with the E8400. if your uncomfortable pushing it, do what klepto said, 3.6 is real easy to get to with the 8400, and will net a nice performance boost. you also do not need to run OC'ed all the time, just when gaming or doing something intense, so you can create an OC profile and just crank it up when needed. as far as heatsinks, the Xigmatek and the Vendetta are inexpensive and perform extremely well. I have the vendetta I, here's a screen of my temps OC'ed from 2.8ghz to 3.8Ghz. I posted in this thread,
http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic131988.html
Ritwik (the HSF King) has the Vendetta II so you can ask him about the big brother.

There Are Some Ifs But......

A P35 chipset may have an available update to use the E7X00 series C2D CPUs.

You would lose some cache but save some money.

The principal difference between the E8x00 series and the E7X00 is available cache, the ability to use virtualization and a faster FSB, (1066 vs 1333). Other than that, they're very similar.

So, for a price comparison here in the US @ Newegg, the E8400 (3.00Ghz) sells for $167.95 USD, and the E7500 (2.93Ghz) for $119.95. That's 48 USD, which I'm guessing is thirty something Quid.

The ancient Q6600 is far from the best option in either cost or performance for a gaming box.

Thanks for all the replys

Well hopefully my CPU will come today.... I dont really want to spend anymore money.. Because if I do build my new pc at christmas thats where I want the money.

At the moment... The only pc game Im currently playing is cod4. I use play crysis.. mirrors edge.. bioshock, far cry 2, race grid. etc.. But got bored of them xD

And I just want 125fps constent WHICH I am getting now kinda.. Im getting 80-125 with my new gfx card.. But it still lags hence the bottle necking.. Im hopein this is problem anyway. Please be the problem lol.

So if I get 125fps constent I wont overclock.

BUT... Im sure you all no GTA IV is a buggy game.. But I really want to play it.
It would be nice to play it now and not have to wait till my new pc.
I seen lower pc specs playin GTA IV with no lag on youtube. Benchmark on it got like 90 something cpu usage.. So hopeing this one will stop the lag? If it still lags or is slow.. Then I mite try an overclock.. I like the idea of an overclock profile Even tho I dont know how to make a profile sure I could find out. I heard it can get 3.4 with stock cooler ? But il let you know how it goes.

Thanks again sorry for long reply xD

Well, it seems that to play GTA 4 the first thing you'll have to upgrade is your OS. I think it'll require SP3.

Cpu Arrived

Yeah I just edit regedit so pc thinks it sp3 lol.. I will try GTA few days time or when Im bored...

Got new CPU today! And LOL! I hate installing cpu's just the fact of the little clips that u gotta click in.. anyway did da... BUT woah lucky escape started up pc.. Was making loud noise.. Got to load screen then me mind clicked.. Took pc apart again.. CPU cables was dangling down just tagging fan so lucky they didnt cut.. Got some erm tie backs anyway w.e der called so all good.. My game is good aswell... 125 CONSTENT! Can get 200 CONSTENT.. also when I look down or up I can get 333 .. (Bonus)

And I also go jump servers... I use to get like 400fps in jump servers even tho you dont need 400 xD.. With this Icpu aint tryed yet.. But will be better... I really hope It can play GTA IV.. Thanks for ya help.. I wont overclock but if GTA IV lags.. then I will.. Im sure one you no safest way xD

but woah lucky. If cables had cut.. I wudda smashed everything in this room lol.. then we would be buying new pc now not christmas xD

Thanks

Also.. the e8400 has strong cables :L lol they dont cut lol. Bonus :L
I cant hear my pc aswell ? Use to be hear it xD
10/10 for techspot and help and the new cpu

Its 39-44 Temp is that ok ? Just wondering proper curious u no , that wire stuff made me nearly die lol :L

hey Ancell,
is that temp idle or load ? if its idle ...whats the load temp? and what are you using to monitor temps?

HWMonitor ... I been on cod4.. Since my last post.. Just checked Temps... Max is 41 ... Min is 39.. aint moving from 39-41 now.. GPU tem is 36 max and 34 idle ...

Are these all ok ?

That's good temps. The GPU seems to be running real cool. How???

Also lemme know if GTA 4 works with that trick! LOL!

Lol I dno how it running that cool.. But this other temp on thing says 50 dont know what that is.. Not HDD, Cpu , or GPU... but dm.

Yeah thanks for letting me know this room gets so hot I have to have a fan xD

Yh I mite install it 2nite or 2morrow.. Just enoying installing GTA.. U gotta edit ur system to sp3.. Get patches xd Den windows live for games .. etc xD

Im scared to try.. Its so buggy gta even ppl with good pcs moan about it
Just want it be playable

Thx 4 help

Even under air conditioning my GPU idles at 51c (100% fan speed).

lol.. It is called Artic Cool xD

Hmm do you think my pc should be able play GTA IV? Loads of people play it youtube on lower system specs than mine Or there just lieing.

Im installing now but takes while sort it all out. So il post back later.

Arctic Cooling? Are you using a VGA cooler? Or some thermal paste?

And Ancell, change your system specs now.

Na sorry I ment IceQ Edition is my card.. I think that mite have something do with it ?

It says on the package.. Its fan also cools all the computer aswell not just its self. Its either a good card. Or my pc is cold lol. Na I aint got nothing added to it.. Just how it come .. I dont have side my case on. that could help a bit also. But this room is HOT so dout it.

Here link

http://www.hisdigital.com/un/product2-382.shtml

Well, enjoy your system.

Get back here when you're making your new rig.

Thx for all your help Il be back here later just installing GTA IV now

Btw my cpu hitting 50c while installing GTA IV.. then went back down to 40c... Wot temp is high for a cpu ? and is 50c ok?

K am all done...

Installed GTA IV sorted graphics out.. Low looks terrrible on that game so obv I put medium/high..

Erm well good news.. no lag all plays fine.. Im a person who worrys a bit if you aint noticed.

So the graphics are ok games buggy anyway deff with shadows and stuf..

Benchmark was:

50fps.. I dont know if thats good fps for GTA IV ? Il google around if no1 knows.
89% CPU was working at.
67% System Memory
71% Video Memory

Cpu Temp After. 53c
Gpu 43c
This the high temp I said earlier.. TMPINO I dont know what that is.. but it was at 58c.

Is this ok ? Are these temps something to worry about?

Check what temps the CPU reaches while gaming. For that you can use speedfan.

K cheerz il try speedfan in a bit... Just was on GTA IV... minimized while playing checked temps.. CPU was 50 gpu around 44 and TMPIN0 was 60 but dont know what that is.

Il test speedfan soon