Hi guys,as you can see in my sig I´m running a core 2 quad q8300. I know that this is not the best CPU out there, esspecially whan it comes to FSX performance (I think even a singel core of the i7-2600k could send my whole CPU to hell!) . So came accross the idea of uprading my CPU rather then any other component. I know that everyone recomments the SB CPU´s but this is not an option for me, they´re just too expensive. I´ve made some reseach and came to the conclusion that switching to a SB platform will cost me more than 700€ or roughly 1000$ and this is just too much. Maybe someone can recommend me a better and not that expensive CPU out of the core 2 quad family. You know for what I´m searching? - High stock speed and easy overclockability. So I hope that someone can help me. (I won´t buy it now, just a thinking for the future.) P.S.: I will be away for about 24 hours, so dont´ be upset if I can´t answer right now.Steffen

Q9650, although you will pay top $ for them now. it will save you buying a new mb and ram though. If it was me I would save the money until you can afford a proper upgrade

If it was me I would save the money until you can afford a proper upgrade

I had a dual core, then the Q9550, i7 930 and now the i7 2600K. There just isn't a worthwhile incremental shortcut. Better just to save for a SB and do it right.Kind regards,

There just isn't a worthwhile incremental shortcut. Better just to save for a SB and do it right.

Very much so. The Q9XXXs are still very inflated in price. You could have a new 2600k for the price of a Q9650. Throw in a mother board and RAM and that's it. Cannibalize the older system and use it's parts or sell it and put that money towards the new hardware.Patience is the key! I did odd jobs for people to make extra cash for my build so it took about a month to afford a complete upgrade. I even repaired my pilot examiner's laptop for a fee (and a reduced examination fee)!Otherwise, the Q9650 is the most you can upgrade that system. Speaking of which, I can't even find the Q9550 on Newegg. That's the one I'd recommend if I had to choose between the Core2s.

I5 2500K.......................... 180€MSI P67-C45.................. 130€4GB DDR3 1600.............. 60€----------------------------------------TOTAL: 370€Sell your CPU + MOBO + RAM and you have it for 200 - 250€The only thing you could do apart of that is to get a C2Q, but that's gonna cost you anything from 130 to 300€ depending on the model, and it's not going to make a huge difference.

The only thing you could do apart of that is to get a C2Q, but that's gonna cost you anything from 130 to 300€ depending on the model, and it's not going to make a huge difference.

I would argue he'd barely see a difference at all!

I5 2500K.......................... 180€MSI P67-C45.................. 130€4GB DDR3 1600.............. 60€----------------------------------------TOTAL: 370€Sell your CPU + MOBO + RAM and you have it for 200 - 250€The only thing you could do apart of that is to get a C2Q, but that's gonna cost you anything from 130 to 300€ depending on the model, and it's not going to make a huge difference.

Thanks Dario, you saved my day! I myselfe made a kind of reseach and thought that swithching to SB is out of range for a little shoolboy like I am, but this changed everything. I will start to sell everything I can sell but not my system components (for now) cause my dad said that we have a volume for selling of arround 1000€ so I´ll gonna do this! Ebay is your friend!!! ;-) Maybe better that I give me a system which can satisfy me for quite a time then spending money from time to time and then encountering that it´s not what I´ve searched for. I personally had a core 2 extreme in mind to upgrade, but they might not as good as SB. What can I expect wehn I sell my "old" MOBO,CPU and RAM?To what value can the i5-2500k be oc´ed? Same as i7-2600k or a bit lower? If I get over 4 GHz everything will be well.BTW, what is the diffrence between a i5-2500k and an i5-2600k? Their prices are more then 100€ different.

The 2500K is the same thing as the 2600K, except for Hyperthreading (HT) basically. You don't need HT for FSX and with your new cooler you should be able to overclock the 2500K to 4.5GHz or maybe even more.

The 2500K is the same thing as the 2600K, except for Hyperthreading (HT) basically. You don't need HT for FSX and with your new cooler you should be able to overclock the 2500K to 4.5GHz or maybe even more.

WOW, 4,5 GHz are more than enough! It will let my fly FSX quite satisfying without thinking about my frames everythime I fly. And hyperthreading, who cares? I will defnitely do what you´ve said and get the i5-2500k, but this will take some time. Am I right that Intel has mastered the problems they had with the MOBO´s and they´re shipping again?

New mobos have already been shipped by all the major manufacturers. They should start popping up in stores over the next week or two. There are rumors that Asus mobos will be on Newegg today - but I'm not sure if there's any truth behind it. Apparently Gigabyte started with a clean slate and fixed all of the quirks from the B2 motherboards. I'm going to assume that other manufacturers did the same.

So I was right here, that´s nice!Another question popped up: Will my 420 W PSU be suffice for such a major upgrade or do I have to get a new PSU? Keep in mind that I´ll gonna oc the CPU.

Another question popped up: Will my 420 W PSU be suffice for such a major upgrade or do I have to get a new PSU? Keep in mind that I´ll gonna oc the CPU.

Hard to say with OC in mind. I googled it and it has two 12V rails for a combined 38A & 300W. That's supposed to be the minimum for a 260 but then again the 2500K and your C2Q have the same TDP (95W) so at least it should be ok at stock clocks.You can always try a mild OC and see how it goes until you save another 60€ for something like this http://www.alternate.de/html/solrSearch/toArticle.html?articleId=763734&query=antec+500&referer=detail&link=solrSearch%2Flisting.productDetails

New mobos have already been shipped by all the major manufacturers. They should start popping up in stores over the next week or two. There are rumors that Asus mobos will be on Newegg today - but I'm not sure if there's any truth behind it. Apparently Gigabyte started with a clean slate and fixed all of the quirks from the B2 motherboards. I'm going to assume that other manufacturers did the same.

Yep!!I got an email from newegg that they are shipping motherboards to people that bought them first. I am guessing they won't be listed yet on the website but are being shipped I think next week. Hoping to receive my new one by the end of next week.

Hard to say with OC in mind. I googled it and it has two 12V rails for a combined 38A & 300W. That's supposed to be the minimum for a 260 but then again the 2500K and your C2Q have the same TDP (95W) so at least it should be ok at stock clocks.You can always try a mild OC and see how it goes until you save another 60€ for something like this http://www.alternate....productDetails

Thanks, Dario. i will test it with my actual one a if this failes, I will get a 650w which is ok , or?P.S.: It will last some time till I can start to build the new system but it´ll gonna be fun to sell some unused things.

I'm pretty sure a 650 will be perfectly fine. As tempting as it is when you're starting a new system on a budget, don't cheap out on the PSU. Corsair and Seasonic are the only two brands I would buy personally. It never hurts to go a little larger than you need so you're not kicking yourself later when you buy that shiny new graphics card. Modular cables are also nice. If you want a solid power supply that will be with you for the next 5+ years, check out this one.