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Best 45nm 775 Quad to overclock (ie not the Q6600)

spirits247

spirits247

spirits247

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29 Jan 2007
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I'm looking for the best 45nm quad core to overclock in my gaming rig - it has a MSI P45 Platinum motherboard.

Now the Q9450/9550/9650 12MB all seem to go for too high a price.

So what's the best option out of the remaining 45nm quads? Anyone offer their results with a given chip? Thanks. :)
 
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Already got one in another machine - a G0 with 1.325 VID and it doesn't clock well past 3.2Ghz, runs hot and uses more power than the newer 45nm chips.

Just fancied one of the newer processors to replace a E6850 which hits 3.6Ghz easily. Don't want to spend a massive amount, will be selling the E6850, but not ready to jump to a completely new setup yet either. That's why I don't want to shell out £140+ on the 12MB cache core2 quads.
 
I would say a good E0 stepping Q9550. Awesome chips!! Or if you can find a cheap enough one a Q9650 again brilliant. You have to remember though Skt 775 is dead so depending on your needs/budget a move to i5 or i7 may be better. Personally I have a q9650 and its superb for my needs, clocks well at stock volts 3.8 and has given me no problems so far.
 
ChrisLandin, psychas, I would love one of those but they are hard to get hold of under £150-60.

If those really are the chips worth having - ie an absolute advantage over the other 45nm quads - I may stretch to it.
 
Keep away from the qx6850 in my opinion. They run hot! I had one. I clock all my chips and base the oc on heat and that one was a pure mare!! I would say the q9550 is what your looking for. Thet are cheaper than a 9650 and I sold one a few weeks back for £125. it was a class chip. Hold your nerve and get one from the mm for £125 tops. honestly you wont regret it.
 
I'll need to post some more first before I get into the MM! But it looks like everyone recommends the 12MB cache quads.

Sukh, I really fancy the newer 45nm chips.

Are the 6MB ones just not worth it?
 
No problems, just suggestions,
I think the 6mb ones are a bit of a step back on the Q6600 (clocked high) and the like so generally are ignored I think?
 
You may be right, and thanks, I appreciate the suggestion Sukh. I guess cache counts for a lot in games, even though the newer 45nm are clock for clock faster than the 65nm.

I was one of the unlucky ones who got a G0 Q6600 VID 1.325 that just didn't take to overclocking too well. My E6850 was beating it in most games as it clocked much higher. Doesn't matter though - it's happily working away in my media PC in the front room. :)
 
My Q9400 is happy at 3.5Ghz and thats with a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 i have had it at 3.6Ghz but never tryed any higher since its only got 8x mutiplyer
 
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Yeh that VID is a bit on the higher end of the scale, when did you get it and what stepping? I'm guessing it is one of the later ones?
 
I to also have a Q6600 with a VID of 1.3250 :-/
I'm looking for a CPU, what would you suggest for a dual 5850 setup?
Sorry for hijacking the thread.
 
Sukh said:
Yeh that VID is a bit on the higher end of the scale, when did you get it and what stepping? I'm guessing it is one of the later ones?
Click to expand...

Can't remember off-hand, but yes it was one of the later chips, looks like SamLB has the same.

SamLB, if you don't want to upgrade your motherboard yet like me, the general conceses so far seems to be it's worth getting the 12MB cache quads, although they do go for a higher price.

I'll have to have a read around and see how the other cheaper 45nm quads compare. As mentioned in my OP and by Strepsils, I don't want to drop much money into this machine until I do a full upgrade.
 
Unfortunately prices have risen considerably now and the good 45nm quads (Q9550, Q9650) are getting increasingly harder to find. The lower cache versions are filling the price points that the 12mb ones used to fill.
 
What are the Q9450's like? They have 12MB cache and obviously the multiplyer is not ideal for above 3.2Ghz, but my board can hit high FSB fairly easily.
 
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