What is the most powerful CPU I could put in my Asus P5W DH Deluxe

PESolution · 2 Sep 2011 at 11:56

So I'm currently looking at a full new build - and have always assumed I need a new motherboard.

Im currently running a core2duo e6600 @2.88ghz (it wont clock any higher :s) on an Asus P5W DH Deluxe motherboard.

What is the latest CPU which I could replace the e6600 with and would it make a decent difference? Or would I be better going for a new mobo and i5 build?

I'd also be changing out my 8800gtx with a new high range card if this was feasable and the cpu wouldnt bottleneck it..

Thanks

Pes x

PESolution · 2 Sep 2011 at 11:57

Link to motherboard here: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_775/P5W_DH_Deluxe/

LtMatt · 2 Sep 2011 at 12:06

Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield

PESolution · 2 Sep 2011 at 12:10

Im looking for a ~£50 second hand chip for an upgrade, is this possible with anything that would be noticeable? And then if I was to get a decent graphics card would it be bottle necked by it?

Thanks

scrlk · 2 Sep 2011 at 12:14

Q6600?

Jegethy · 2 Sep 2011 at 12:14

mattbuck said:
Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield

At that price it's just stupid. For the cost of a QX9650, you could build an amazing i7 machine from scratch.

If I were you, if I had the money, I'd go for an i5 2500k upgrade. It'll work out better in the long run. You'll also need to buy DDR3 RAM, but that is cheap as chips these days anyway. I paid around £90 for 16GB.

PESolution · 2 Sep 2011 at 12:37

Thanks Ziggy - any specific motherboards you could recommend to go with an i5? Also I notice you have the h80, are they worth it over air?

Confused Stu · 2 Sep 2011 at 12:49

My step-son is still rocking a Q6600 in his P5W DH Deluxe and it's working fine. It is overclocked to 3GHz but won't go beyond that, where the same chip hit 3.4GHz easily in my old P5Q-E when I had it.

That said, although it will work I would echo what has already been said - rather than spend money upgrading that setup, I would say it's better to put the money towards a more modern setup. It will be worth it IMHO.

PESolution · 2 Sep 2011 at 12:57

Confused Sty - I remember looking into why my e6600 would overclock further and IIRC it turned out to be the northbridge on the motherboard overheating on P5W DH Deluxes. There are ways to mod it to allow for more clocking but i couldnt be a***d.

link here to asus moding for northbridge cooling: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums...-P5WDH-ready-for-Conroe-An-Illustrative-Guide

I guess you're right though, ill just get a new rig

Jegethy · 2 Sep 2011 at 14:45

PESolution said:
Thanks Ziggy - any specific motherboards you could recommend to go with an i5? Also I notice you have the h80, are they worth it over air?

The H80 is quite fiddly to fit, but it's a great cooler. I went with it due to not having enough room for a traditional heatsink cooler, and I don't regret it.

As for motherboard, I'm not really sure what is good these days. I have the Asus P8Z68-V which was recommended to me, however that was around 2 months ago and there may be a better alternative now.

Redmint · 2 Sep 2011 at 15:05

PESolution said:
Thanks Ziggy - any specific motherboards you could recommend to go with an i5? Also I notice you have the h80, are they worth it over air?

Tbh the H80s are nice but at £80 you could put some of that money towards other upgrades and get a decent air cooler for £25-30 instead. Even something like this is fine for 4.5-4.6 Ghz, maybe higher if you get a good chip.

LtMatt · 3 Sep 2011 at 13:19

Ziddy1232 said:
At that price it's just stupid. For the cost of a QX9650, you could build an amazing i7 machine from scratch.

If I were you, if I had the money, I'd go for an i5 2500k upgrade. It'll work out better in the long run. You'll also need to buy DDR3 RAM, but that is cheap as chips these days anyway. I paid around £90 for 16GB.

I agree, i was just answering his question though.

Buchanan0204 · 3 Sep 2011 at 15:18

Never mind with a new build. Get yourself a nice second hand Q6600 GO edition. Clock it too anything above 3.0Ghz. Stick in a 6950 and away you go!

I'm currently running mine at 3.6Ghz and have been for a long time. It's coupled with a 6970 and runs 90% of games with ease. I even play BF2 on 5760x1080 on medium-high settings at a very playable frame rate.

If you want to start encoding videos etc. Get a nice new chip. If you want a cheap upgrade get yourself a second hand 50 quid Q6600. Also if you don't already have 4GB of ram, look for some cheap DDR2 on the MM... there's plenty!