CPU advice

Is core 2 Quad q6600 a big improvement over Intel Core 2 Duo E4300?

I wouldn't say it's a HUGE improvement, but it is a better processor. It's a quad core, that overclocks fairly well. If you can't afford to swap out to a new motherboard/socket, and can find a q6600 for a decent price, then it could be worth it depending on what you're using your computer for. But overall, you're most likely only going to see modest gains in performance.

http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Core2-Quad-Q6600-vs-Intel-Core2-Duo-E4300

Yes, it's a big improvement

Just out of curiosity, what's your reason for wanting to upgrade? Are you wanting to play a few modern games, just finding your computer sluggish, etc? If it's gaming, maybe adding a bit more RAM, or buying a newer video card are paths you could look into. You wouldn't have to buy the latest and greatest video card, but a lower end card could help you out much more than upgrading the cpu. If you want, list your computers specs and parts, let us know what you're after and maybe we can make a recommendation or two.

Or, if you just wanted to ask about the cpu, I'm sure others will follow shortly with comments and opinions.

it is for playing some modern games.

These are my specs: 3 gb RAM Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 ATI radeon HD 4670

You'll want to invest some money (400-500$) to play modern games.

Could i run skyrim low to medium settings if i buy the q6600 and overclock it to 3.2+?

As an owner of Q6600 while playing skyrim, I can say that you can play Skyrim with good FPS (sometimes 60) at high settings, while the Q6600 being at stock clocks (2,4Ghz).

At 3,2Ghz, Q6600 would have absolutely no problem playing Skyrim.

The problem is that I got a very good GPU (GTX570). You need also a better GPU.

R7 265, R9 270 and GTX660 will be able to play skyrim at high settings or more. Maybe even 260X or GTX750(ti).

Also about your RAM, how can it be 3GB? Do you have x86 Windows?

edit: What's your monitor's resolution (this will answer if your GPU is capable of delivering playable FPS at medium settings)?

Skyrim is poorly optimized and very CPU dependent.Don't expect a smooth experience with such a processor.

My advice: save up for an entire new build.

i have x86 windows and my monitor resolution is 1960x1080

Oh, then you might have 4GB RAM...

Anyway, your GPU equals to HD5570.

As you can see here you will be able to play at medium settings with 36FPS, with a minimum of 31FPS.

While this is not abysmal, its also not decent.

You might need to lower your settings a little more. Maybe lowering AF to 4 or to 2, will give you enough FPS to go beyond 40FPS.

HD4670 is not a card for 1080p....

Q6600 will be a great improvement from your 1,8GHz dual core, even at stock settings. If you find it cheap enough ~$70, its a great upgrade.

If you o/c it as well you might have a four times better CPU...

If you want to spend some more for GPU, I would say go with GTX750 as well at ~$100 which will require no additional GPU (6pin molex) power (it will spend less power than your HD4670 while it will be three or four times or more powerful, as you can see at this chart GTX750 is even more powerful than GTX460 1GB).

My motherboard is EP35-DS3L and i think that q6600 is the best cpu that is compatible with it. How much would it cost me to buy a motherboard that would be compatible with better cpus?

I'm curious, at what cost you could get a Q6600?

65 dollars

For a refurbished one.

If I was given the choice to pick I'd say no deal.

You can buy AMD 760K rated at 3.8Ghz for 80$ and a MOBO for about 30$ and those a brand new with warranty

I'm saying this because you might end up with either dead old MOBO or dead 2nd handed tech in a year or so (sometimes it's better to spend little more and have not to worry instead of possible throw money into the trash)

Actually you can go higher if you want with this motherboard.

You can see here that you can go up to QX9770 (Yorkfield/Wolfdale for duals).

There might be better CPUs if you are willingly to search a bit.

But its okey with Q6600 since if you o/c it at 3,2GHz it will be a really good CPU.

Q6600 (Kentsfield/Conroe for duals) was an amazing CPU which even now, AMD struggles to reach at performance per core per GHz (FXs even the new ones can reach PII X4 980 at performance per Core when they are clocked 200Mhz higher).

Its only disadvantage was the low clock (2,4Ghz), but since you will o/c, it will reach great lvl of performance.

So should i buy a second hand q6600 or a AMD 760k and a new motherboard and which one is better for gaming?

With both at stock settings AMD 760K will be better by around 20%.

But the cost is too big. You need apart from the CPU, a mobo and DDR3 RAM as well which will make a total of $167 minimum, while a used Yorkfield Q9450 2,66GHz (more powerful than Q6600) costs $69.

With the $100 price difference you can buy a GTX750.

Q9450 with GTX750 vs A760K with HD4670.... The first system will have 2x-3x times better frame rates....

I think you got the Idea.

If you plan on going for a new PC then go for the A760K and new GPU etc etc

If you plan just to spend a few $$ for upgrade, go for Q9450 or Q6600.

I played Skyrim fine with Athlon II X3 3.3GHz, 4GB RAM and 4670 512MB at 1080p. I don't remember how many fps but it was smooth enough not to bother me. If you can get Q6600 to 3.3GHz it will perform better than the tripple core Athlon. And like the others said, FM2 is probably a better choice in the long run, but it needs more investing. Same goes for AM3+ and 1155/1150, respectively.