[magnesium]

First of all I apologize if this is a stupid question, but I haven't found a very clear answer anywhere.

If I buy a new motherboard, can I overclock my Intel Q6600 from an HP computer? ie, is the CPU from a retail computer different than if I buy a CPU by itself?

Mg

 

[Sircles]

yeah you can.

 

[TwoCables]

Fortunately, yeah: that CPU is likely no different from any other. So as long as you have decent cooling (not stock), a motherboard that overclocks well, a decent power supply to provide clean and stable power, then it should be alright!

 

[magnesium]

haha I think I am going to like overclock.net if all the replies are this fast!

OK so that is good to hear...could I get your opinion then on something. LGA775 boards are getting hard to find

but I have these 2.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128447
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128467

As far as I can tell they are the same, except the cheaper one has DDR3 and the other is DDR2. With my Q6600 will I get any signficant performance boost from DDR3? I'll have to buy new RAM if I get the DDR3 board, so I'm wondering if it is worth it.

 

[magnesium]

Oh and the P43 chip is fine for oc'ing right?

 

[TwoCables]

For overclocking, the P43 chipset isn't good. Try to get a P45 board (it's worth it if you want to overclock). Unfortunately, Newegg only has one P45 board in stock, and it's crap. :/ However, they also aren't interested in selling the best technology of yesteryear.

I recommend trying to find one of Gigabyte's EP45-UD3 series boards. The best EP45-UD3 board is the EP45-UD3P, but any of them will be much better than those two P43 boards.

Another option is the Biostar TPower i45. I know of a guy who has this board who's getting awesome results from it:

http://www.overclock.net/system.php?i=32292

As far as both he and I are concerned, this board gives my EP45-UD3P a run for its money! Although, I haven't talked with him for months.