Help in picking right mobo+cpu for OC'ing on a budget.

I'm thinking of building a cheap rig for playing Crysis.

I currently have a 8600GT lying around so might as well put it to some use.

Ok so I've zeroed in on the Core 2 CPU's...I've always been an AMD+ATI fanboy but budget always comes first.

My Options -
CPU -
Intel Pentium Dual Core E2140 - Rs.3,000
Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 - Rs. 3,800
Core 2 Duo E4300 - Rs. 4,800
Core 2 Duo E4400 - Rs. 5,300

Motherboard -
Biostar TP35D2-A7 (Intel P32 chipset) - Rs.4,600
Galaxy 650iLT (Nvidia chipset) - Rs.4,500

I've mentioned the costs as well..I'm from India.

I'm leaning towards the Pentium Dual Core E2140 CPU & Biostar TP35D2-A7 mobo.
I don't like Nvidia chipsets so it's a no-no for the Galaxy mobo.

I'll also have to get RAM..
1 GB DDR2 667MHz Kingston RAM costs me - Rs. 1,000

If I go with the E2140 CPU rather than the E2160 I save up Rs.800 which is enough to add another stick of 1 GB RAM.

My Budget is limited to Rs.10,000 or less (less is always better lol)

So In total Pentium Dual Core E2140 CPU + Biostar TP35D2-A7 motherboard + 2 GB RAM will cost me apprx. - Rs.9,600

Right now come my important questions -

Checking out the Biostar Motherboard review here -
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview [...] 173&page=3

It overclocks pretty well but it's paired with a E6750 CPU.

The E2140 CPU's review -
http://www.techspot.com/review/53- [...] page6.html

http://www.hothardware.com/article [...] or/?page=3

My Questions -
1. I cannot afford an aftermarket CPU cooler at the moment & I don't intend on purchasing one either. Reading the CPU review suggests that it can go upto 3 GHz with the stock cooler. I'm planning to hit 2.7 GHz.

2. In the motherboard review "PCStats" makes the memory run at DDR2 667MHz & reduces the CPU multiplier too 6x & then up's the FSB.

The E2140 has a multiplier of 8x.

Will I be able to reduce the multiplier for this CPU with the Biostar motherboard the same way "PCStats" did?

I suppose I don't have to tinker with the memory coz mine would run at 667MHz speeds on stock.

I'm assuming I would be able to hit 450 MHz FSB easily. So 450x6 = 2.7GHz

Will I be able to do all this with my current configuration or I need some aftermarket cooler & expensive RAM?


This next question doesn't matter but currently I'm running an Athlon X2 3600+ it's OC'ed too 2.5GHz but with it I'm using onboard X1200 graphics.

Should I just stick the 8600GT in this rig if going with the E2140 & OC'ing it won't make any significant difference?

I think the E2140 OC'ed to 2.7 GHz should give better performance compared to the X2 3600+ @ 2.5 GHz am I correct?

Another thing... I'm going with the Biostar mobo. is coz it supports the upcoming 45nm Quad Core CPU's & since AMD's Phenom processor performs poorly as of now I suppose it's time to switch to Intel.

If I go with this Intel config. now I would upgrade to a Quad Core 45nm processor or a Q6600 CPU in about a years time.

So what do y'all reckon stick with AMD & wait for the Phenom to do something or just go with Intel?

Thanks for the help.