How over clockable is the QX9770?

[Mad_Dog_McThaw]

Hi,

I'm looking at building a rig around a QX 9770 on an ASUS Striker Extreme II MoBo which will be watercooled. I was intrested if anyone has started something similar and any advice / setting that have worked for them.

Cheers

MDMT

 

[lamboman]

It will be very overclockable. Over 4GHz. But, if you haven't bought it already, don't go for it. Just get a QX9650 instead if you really want an EE chip.

 

[Mad_Dog_McThaw]

Thanks for the quick response.

So you think I'll get similar performance from the QX9650 when it's overclocked as an over clocked QX9770? It seems that there is more head room with the QX9650.

Thanks again for the response

MDMT

 

[Rastalovich]

I couldn`t justify the extra spendage, even tho the QX9650 costs a heck of alot, I`ve found it very adaptable to things like el-cheapo ram when required - maintaining the same outstanding performance.

Even spending on the QX9650, u have to justify it by knowing u must have the extreme multiplier. Otherwize I`d say a Q9450+ would be enough, considering the cost.

 

[Luigi]

Same, the extreme edition chips are really for the die hard overclockers, Unless you have to have the fastest, its not worth it.

 

[lamboman]

As I said, and the others have said, you need to decide whether you really want it or not. You sound like you are serious, and sound like you are going to be doing some serious, so it might be worth it.

As for the QX9650 vs the QX9770, they are basically the same chip, one running on a 1600MHz FSB, and one at 1333MHz. They both have unlocked multipliers, so there is no more headroom in the QX9770 over the QX9650.

 

[Mad_Dog_McThaw]

Thanks for the response. Based on this and the others I think I'll keep with the QX9770 on the ASUS Striker Extreme II MoBo which I think will give me enough options of getting a stable overclocked system put together. I'll keep you posted when we get into to build which, subject to GPU and Memerory delivery, should be aerly August.

Many thanks

MDMT

 

[lamboman]

Not meaning to sound rude, but we saying NOT to go with the QX9770. It is literally the same chip. There is NO difference.

I presume you are going SLI? If you are only going dual cards, I would recommend the 750i FTW board over the Striker. The higher end nVidia boards aren't great, and they are expensive. They are known for reliability issues, and not being great overclockers compared to their Intel competitors. The 750i board doesn't seem affected by this though. An X48/X38 board would be a better choice, and, although you would have to go ATI with that configuration, you would not have to live with the all-over-the-place reliability of the nVidias.

 

[Mad_Dog_McThaw]

Understood. I think it's back to the drawing board and start taking a look at an X48 rig as I was intending to dual or tri Sli.

 

[lamboman]

It really is up to you. If you want the absolute fastest in gaming performance, go for the nVidia board, but you might run into problems. Most people who do that just live with it, and wait for their replacement board. But, with ATI cards looking so good right now, being great value and very close to the nVidia cards in performance, I think that the ATI cards are the ones to go for. And, if the 4870X2 cards are decent performers like the single GPU cards out now, an ATI quad Crossfire setup could be stiff competition for the tri-SLI nVidia setups...

 

[Mad_Dog_McThaw]

the more you drillinto this more of a minefiled it becomes. I was thinking two ASUS pre overclocked GTX 280 Tops on the Stirker Extreme II but I read on one forum today about the Northbridge water cooling (which I'm planning to do) block failing!! I just had a sense that for sheer performance the 790i chip set great which limitis it to ASUS, XFX and eVGA. It seem if I want the maximum performance I have to sacrifice reliability

 

[Rastalovich]

It`s a shame, but with the current chipsets - they both perform `well`, but in terms of wanting the *best* for ur stuff, u have to look at the Intel chipsets for the cpu performance vS the SLI mobos... u thought about something like an X48/P45 xfire mobo ? Or u definately going nVidia ?

 

[Mad_Dog_McThaw]

In honesty I hadn't as the Ati GPU performance never realy seems to get close to that of the NVidia chips set, especialy with the new GTX 280's. Once a year I try and build an ultimate rig and would be intrested in what that might be in a ATi world.

 

[Rastalovich]

Hmmm. It`s very hard to comment on projects built on a yearly basis with the best stuff available.

All there is to say is that I`m sure 2x4870 cards have got to be outstanding performance. But as u say it`s questionable that 2x280 would be better - it`s very arguable cos neither camps are going to hold any gaming back or anything.

With the ATI of course u have the advantage of using the best Intel mobos on offer. That`s if they hold up under review.

Some1 here mentioned about buying 2x4870 for something ..

 

[Bungral]

Or buying 2x 4780 X2s in a few weeks. For pure performance they would more than likely do 2x 280s. Obviously can't say for sure though.

But again, this gives you the option of the Intel chipset.