Upgrade from Q6600

[AndrewDrinnan]

I need your expertise...Please

I am in the mood for an upgrade and i dont usually have the chance since i have kids to feed.

I am fed up with my Q6600, if you read my thread http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=27556 you will see why.

Basically I have some money to spend and i was going to get myself a laptop but i am weighing up the option of upgrading my PC.

I NEED! to get a new case and i fancy the Antec 900. But I'm having trouble with the processor choice.

I would like to get the Q9550 but i have seen 2 versions of it on www.scan.co.uk

The cheaper Q9550 BX80569Q9550A

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Inte...S775-283-GHz-1333MHz-12MB-L2-Cache-85x-Retail

Or the slightly more expensive Q9550S Energy efficient BX80569Q9550S

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Inte...75-2833GHz-1333MHz-FSB-6MB-x2-L2-Cache-Retail

???

Does anybody know which 1 is usually better for overclocking? They almost have the same specs apart from the Q9550S obviously has the lower wattage rating since its the energy efficient version.

The 'S' does have a higher max temp too, of 5C. Does that mean anything in regards to overclocking?

I would rather get the cheaper version ofcourse but if the S will overclock better, i'd pay that bit extra.

Core i7 isnt an option here as i dont have the cash to buy a new cpu, motherboard and memory.

Thank you in advance for any advice given to me

 

[mayhem]

erm if you not going core I7 Then just stick with the q6600.

Dont even bother upgrading. Just because it over clocks more your just throwing money down the drain. Your Q6600 can cope with any thing right now so why waste money ..

My advice. Keep what you have. Save up more and then build a new rig later on.

 

[Lynx]

erm if you not going core I7 Then just stick with the q6600.

Dont even bother upgrading. Just because it over clocks more your just throwing money down the drain. Your Q6600 can cope with any thing right now so why waste money ..

My advice. Keep what you have. Save up more and then build a new rig later on.

+1

i upgraded from a Q6600 to a E8600 and there's no point, it could handle everything i threw at it anyway..

 

[rapidman17]

erm if you not going core I7 Then just stick with the q6600.

Dont even bother upgrading. Just because it over clocks more your just throwing money down the drain. Your Q6600 can cope with any thing right now so why waste money ..

My advice. Keep what you have. Save up more and then build a new rig later on.

Best advice really...ocing the q6600 is the best option atm....

 

[Toxcity]

I think the Q6600 is a fantastic chip and as people have already said, you would be wasting your money. The Q6600 can easily get to 4Ghz (Watercooled) and about 3.6Ghz on air.

 

[PCTwin]

Buy a new case by all means, but instead of a processor, go SLI with another GFX.

 

[mayhem]

Buy a new case by all means, but instead of a processor, go SLI with another GFX.

Why go Sli he has no need to. Sli is just a gimmick and mainly only good for certain games or situation or bragging rights.

If he was building a folding rig then yeh sli but since hes only talking about over clocking its a waste of money again and all so pointless.

Personly i only recommend SLI for

1) People who like to show off how much money they have!

2) People running games at high res on a decent screen and want the best out there system who have plenty of money to spend and btw ATI cards are better for gaming with duel cards.

3) When folding (then use Nvidia sli)

Sli is well over rated and is still not perfect and never will be. But given the right conditions it will flourish but that is not what this tread is about.

 

[noobieocer]

i trade ya my antec 900 for the q6600 XD

tbh i got a e2160 @ 3.7ghz and 8800gt 512mb and its fine for everything i do. i really dont see any point in upgrading or getting a quad or even a i7 unless i do folding or buy a really high res monitor. currently im gamming on 1680x1050 res and its coping fine.

but then again im seriouse if you getting rid of it and you want my antec 900 i swap it scince im working on my project bumblebee, and my antec 900 sooner or later will become useless and if i can get rid of it for something that will upgrade then i do it

btw its in very good condition, comes with 2 ac rayan dust filters in front intakes, stock fans and no scratches. well some tiny invisible scratches that came from wear and tear, owned for 1 year and will give a good clean before you take it.

 

[PCTwin]

What's the overclock for then. better gaming or bragging rights.

 

[Rastalovich]

Get a laptop

And how's that 1920x1080 resolution look on the ASUS ?

 

[mayhem]

Over clock doesn't improve gaming that much any more as games are becoming less depend on cpu and more dependent on GPU speed and ram.

As for me a cpu over clock does improve the type of gaming i do such as emulation as this is less dependant on GPU and more dependant of CPU. Nothing at all to do with bragging rights. More to do with getting the right FPS and calculations working correctly under various loads ...

Water cooling is a hobbie and they main underlying factors are about getting to most out of the equipment you own with the least over all cost.

Yes it can all so be about bragging rights if you going for world records or building a Custom built rig but basic over clocking has nothing to do with that at all. When talking about standard over clocking braging rights never come into it as you'll never get there on water cooling alone you'll need LN2 if you need that ...

 

[Bungral]

Tox man... 4GHz aint easy on water with a Q6600... Ya need a decent chip for that. I had a Q6600 briefly that couldn't get there stable at all and my full time Q6700 could only manage 3.8GHz 24/7 stable.

That was on a single block loop high end water.

I think the Q6600 is a fantastic chip and as people have already said, you would be wasting your money. The Q6600 can easily get to 4Ghz (Watercooled) and about 3.6Ghz on air.

 

[noobieocer]

As for me a cpu over clock does improve the type of gaming i do such as emulation as this is less dependant on GPU and more dependant of CPU.

always wondered what kinda games do you play? the old snes and gameboy games?

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E8600 @ 4500mhz - 10 x 450mhz

overkill =/ ?

noticed:

Case: Antec NineHundred

Cooling: PA120.3

how did you get that in there!? or is it external?

 

[mayhem]

check out my project thread under c-macc's 2. this is going off topic fast lol ...

 

[Bungral]

Yes mate it is external.. Here is a link to a hi res pic: Linky

As for overkill... Is there such a thing? I only got rid of my Q6700 so I could overclock the nuts off an E8600 before moving to i7 or i5 start of next year.

I will be looking for higher than that when it gets in the new mobo in this project here: Linky

Anyway yeah this has got a bit off topic.. back at OP: I wouldn't say it's worth swapping the CPU for anything else other than i5 / i7 unless you have some money to burn or just want a new toy to play with (like me). If you want it to last a while, the a Q9550 is def not worth the money over your Q6600

always wondered what kinda games do you play? the old snes and gameboy games?

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E8600 @ 4500mhz - 10 x 450mhz

overkill =/ ?

noticed:

Case: Antec NineHundred

Cooling: PA120.3

how did you get that in there!? or is it external?

 

[noobieocer]

o oops, i read cmacs post and then saw ur sig lol thought cmac used a dual core for snes games XD

 

[mayhem]

I use quad core q6600 go stepping and it over clocks to 3.4 on air and haven't got a clue on water as im still building up my kit. I have had it to 3.8 on air but it was not stable and there for no good. I have run at 3.6 ghz stable as well but i know over time there would be heat build up hence only running at 3.4 on air.

All so both my daughter's and son have q6600's abit over kill for them but again there all running at 3.4 on air as well.

When i bought all my cpu's there were all at scan for £99 inc so it was a worth while buy.

I all so have a E5200 running on air with freezer pro 7 running at 3.8ghz fine.

 

[AndrewDrinnan]

Get a laptop

And how's that 1920x1080 resolution look on the ASUS ?

Maybe i will keep the Q6600 and possibly go for sli since i like gaming at full rez. The monitor is quality, i couldnt fault it. Very good contrast ratio and not a single blur to be seen when playing fast action games. I think it was well worth the £150 price tag as i seen lots of more expensive screens that cost more. Plus it has built in speakers and hdmi so i can plug my ps3 straight into it.

 

[AndrewDrinnan]

The Q6600 can easily get to 4Ghz (Watercooled) and about 3.6Ghz on air.

I take it you didnt click the link to my previous topic about my Q6600 that seems like it came from the bottom of the bad batch bin.

Thanks everyone for their say, i will stick with the Q6600 and get an Antec 900. As far as the 2nd graphics card is concerned. I might just leave it at that

 

[Nathanial]

Stick with the Q6600-G0 i have been using mine since it was 1st ever released and have loved it since the only other cpu upgrade option i could recomend you is the INTEL E8600 but thats only worth it if your benching other than that I7 is your best bet if not wait around for I5.