Q6600 Vs E8500 for OC & Games

[Pleiades]

The Quad is wonderful value for money, but is it really worth it if you're only playing games and messing about, rather than doing anything particularly optimised for multi-threading? From what I've read so far, it appears dual cores will O/C better anyway, so am leaning in that direction at the moment...

But just the idea of 4 cpus, woohoo! Who would have thunk it possible only a few years ago...

BTW The cpu would be on an X38/48 mobo with TR IFX-14 or similar cooling. Would be using DDR2-800 and hoping for 3.6+ Ghz.

Of course the newer 45nm cpu runs cooler, uses less power and has SSE4, so I guess it would be the rational choice.

Anyone else in the same quandary?

Pardon any spelling /technical errors, am typing this at work at 5am (and I been here since 10pm night b4) so am bit tired...

[Biscuit]

i dont hink that the 45nm CPUs are as good for overclocking as you imagine. Yeah they can hit the high numbers but if you give them much more than stock volts it tends to shorten the lifespan quite considerably. If you are using DDR2 800 ram then that tends to be a bit of a bottleneck when using a 1333FSB CPU wheras the Q6600 has no problems at all with DDR2 800.

For games and 'messing about' i would say the the e8*** are better BUT bang for buck at the moment i would say go for the Q6600. They offer very good overclockability, a lot of people have had them up to 3.6 and i doubt you would even notice the difference between the two

[Hunain]

The e8500 would OC good and be cooler etc etc, but the 3.6 you want is do-able on the quad as well, and many people would recommend you get the quad..

[Webby]

Okay, first up I would say go for the quad you should be able to overclock it to 3.2GHz easily and a lot seem to go further some past 4GHz. In Games etc you are going to notice a lot more difference from the graphics card rather than the CPU speed once you pass 3GHz anyway.

Now if you are going with the E8500 then you are being perhaps slightly foolish £50 for an extra half a multiplier... The E8400 represents significantly better value for money. Looking at the E8400 at 400MHz you will be running at 3.6GHz (same speed as the Q6600), If you really want to push your E8400 which I wouldn't recommend if you need to increase the voltage then you would perhaps be better served with 1066MHz RAM (the Q6600 is unlikely to push past 4GHz - 445MHz FSB which should be easily achievable for 800MHz RAM) the extra RAM head room would enable you to go that bit further safe in the knowledge your memory isn't the limiting factor. It could even be worth moving down to the E8300 (multiplier 8.5) saving another ~£30 and using the extra on 1066 RAM, FSB for 3.6GHz would still only be 424 which should be easily doable with no voltage change (and on 800MHz RAM if you chose).

[EarlGrey]

Given that any Core2Duo at around 3GHz is going to be more than you need, then the question becomes what excites you more, then idea of max frequency or four cores?

Neither are necessary as you've said you're only playing games and messing about...

I think in the long run, if you plan to keep the PC for a couple of years (2 years seems reasonable to me...) then you'll get much more out of a quad core. New games will use more cores more frequently - take a look at Alan Wake if you're not convinced.

Get a q6600 in an X38 and you'll only be limited by the chip. A simple 400FSB will get you 3.6GHz, easy You will need lots of volts and good cooling though.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

is see4 worth teh extra pirce tag on teh q9450? besides that i heard that the q9450 is around 5% faster

[alexander]

I've just bought a Q6600 for £70 on Ebay so I'm quite happy.

Moving from an E6320!

[Biscuit]

I've just bought a Q6600 for £70 on Ebay so I'm quite happy.

Moving from an E6320!

Good purchase

[Blitzen]

I've just bought a Q6600 for £70 on Ebay so I'm quite happy.

Moving from an E6320!

Very good purchase.
Even for £150, i would take the quad over the Wolfdale EVERY day of the week.

[hse180]

I would leave all the Wolfdales alone as i see and hear all the problems people are having with them. Some are said to be lucky.

Q6600 easy choice, and may i say alexander "lucky so and so" Great buy.

[Pleiades]

Thanks for your input guys, was expecting more support for Wolfdale, maybe they're not all that much of an advance considering the much heralded new process shrink. Though bigger cache is always nice.

Webby: Wasn't set on 8500 too much, any 8 series would do really, so your suggestion of 8400 was good as it's about same price as Q6600. Oh cheaper actually, just checked! Hmmm, choices, choices...

[Webby]

Thanks for your input guys, was expecting more support for Wolfdale, maybe they're not all that much of an advance considering the much heralded new process shrink. Though bigger cache is always nice.

Webby: Wasn't set on 8500 too much, any 8 series would do really, so your suggestion of 8400 was good as it's about same price as Q6600. Oh cheaper actually, just checked! Hmmm, choices, choices...

Your the one who put 8500 in the title of the thread I would probably go with the 8300 if I was going down that route but I would be more likely to go for the Q6600.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

After the price cut i think it will be the best time to upgrade to a new quad core pc. the prices of a quad will fall quit abit and the q6700 will be affordable at around £150 so that should provide some head room for OCing to 3.6.

the price cut will happen sometime next month april so its worth it to wait a bit

[digital.jesus]

Hi Guys

If buying a Q6600 make sure its a G0 revision if you wish too overclock,I ended up with a soon to be rid off Q6600 B3 revision that wont go past 2.5,i now know the G0 s have SLACR wriiten on the box.


Hope this benefits anybody

Jon

[Thorsson]

Yeah, it has been pointed out before that this first generation of 45nm chips aren't all that. That often happens with the first generation of new tech. What Wolfdale has meant is that the price of some (IMO to be legendary) chips has come down. I mean, people are disappointed with ONLY a 25% OC...

[-iceblade^]

considering a Quad is capable of more than 25% easy, i would be disappointed too... I'd prefer the Quad... More reliable, fewer volts issues, and better in terms of futureproofing. Plus, for the most part, you can gain the same OC you can from a quad that you can from a Wolfie...

(basically, 3.6 is max stock volts ceiling for the Wolfie, and most Quads can probably hit 3.6)