I received an E6300 quite a while ago, but finally got around to getting a board to go with it. This is the smallest C2D CPU and costs around $190 on NewEgg. The motherboard I am using is a new one from ASUS, the P5N-E SLI. This board is based on the new 650i chipset, and has some downsides but it is still fully capable of SLI. This board also retails for $140, also at NewEgg.
To me, this is a great value. $330 before taxes and shipping, for a killer CPU and board. Add in Corsairs N500 water cooling ($200) and you have the base to a killer overclocking rig, on a budget.
While the stock speed is 1.86GHz, this chip has far more potential, as long as the motherboard is going to handle a large amount of FSB. Which this one does. 79% overclock, anyone?
Paired with a really good GPU, you can set new personal records easy with 3D Mark.
I didn't find out the max overclock with the stock cooler, simply because I ran into issues that I -thought- was the CPU, but turned out to be the motherboard. I'd imagine a stable overclock on air would be around 2.8GHz.
As for the motherboard itself, it's a solid contender, but has some brutal DDR2 issue right now. Currently, it's near impossible to go beyond DDR2-1000 speeds, and if you are lucky enough to get there, it will be with 5-5-5 timings. Appalling. But, a new BIOS is in the works apparently, that should remedy this.
As it stands though, it's a budget CPU and budget board. Throw in some budget ram, and you have a fantastic overclocking machine for $500~. As long as those DDR2 issues get sorted out, anyway. It doesn't take a phat wallet to get killer performance anymore.
To me, this is a great value. $330 before taxes and shipping, for a killer CPU and board. Add in Corsairs N500 water cooling ($200) and you have the base to a killer overclocking rig, on a budget.
While the stock speed is 1.86GHz, this chip has far more potential, as long as the motherboard is going to handle a large amount of FSB. Which this one does. 79% overclock, anyone?
Paired with a really good GPU, you can set new personal records easy with 3D Mark.
I didn't find out the max overclock with the stock cooler, simply because I ran into issues that I -thought- was the CPU, but turned out to be the motherboard. I'd imagine a stable overclock on air would be around 2.8GHz.
As for the motherboard itself, it's a solid contender, but has some brutal DDR2 issue right now. Currently, it's near impossible to go beyond DDR2-1000 speeds, and if you are lucky enough to get there, it will be with 5-5-5 timings. Appalling. But, a new BIOS is in the works apparently, that should remedy this.
As it stands though, it's a budget CPU and budget board. Throw in some budget ram, and you have a fantastic overclocking machine for $500~. As long as those DDR2 issues get sorted out, anyway. It doesn't take a phat wallet to get killer performance anymore.
