Upgrading my cpu

**Black Fox** · March 15, 2011, 07:43 PM

I currently have a E6400 cpu (overclocked to 2.7 with stock fan) and wanted to upgrade it to a Q6600 quad core (with a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro) is it worth the upgrade? or should i save for a better cpu? Is there anything i should watch out for? +rep for any help cheers

**snuggans** · March 15, 2011, 08:07 PM

have you looked at the new Sandy Bridge?

2500k http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072

2600k http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115070

the 2500k does not have hyperthreading, so its 4 cores act as 4 processes, while the 2600k does have hyperthreading and is able to have 8 processes. for gaming this is a trivial difference, but if you do cpu-intensive stuff like encoding, investing the extra 100 dollars on the 2600k might be worth it.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · March 15, 2011, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by snuggans

have you looked at the new Sandy Bridge?

2500k http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072

2600k http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115070

the 2500k does not have hyperthreading, so its 4 cores act as 4 processes, while the 2600k does have hyperthreading and is able to have 8 processes. for gaming this is a trivial difference, but if you do cpu-intensive stuff like encoding, investing the extra 100 dollars on the 2600k might be worth it.

I assume he doesn't plan on upgrading his motherboard, RAM, and OS which is what he would have to do to follow your suggestion.