The Mitch's new pc for i34

[Colonel Mitch]

okay so its not a full upgrade but lookin for some advice on new processor.

i dont wanna spend a fortune this time so im lookin around the 200 mark.

Im strewn between:

Q9450 - 1333fsb 12mb cache 2.66Ghz (Quad Core)

E8500 - 1333fsb 6mb cache 3.16Ghz (Dual Core)

Im seriously tempted as with my phase change cooling i can overclock the hell out of both of these, but as the multiplier on the quad is only 8, it is 9.5 on the dual which is already significantly faster. baring in mind i can increase the voltage to pretty much whatever and keep it cool im thinkin i could get better performance (in 3d mark at least) with the dual core.

the board im getting is the Asus maximus extreme, and yes that does mean ddr3 memory and crossfire.

i dont intend right now to get new gfx cards bt teh new 4870 1gb gddr5's are very tempting to crossfire.

anway post your thoughts - quickly:P

[Chalex4]

I really depends on what you use your computer for. If you are keen on doing a lot of multi-tasking and encoding/rendering, then the quad would be the one to go for. I have a quad core because I do a lot of video editing where I need rending to be as quick as it can.

If you don't do much of the above and just want superb performance in games then go for the E8500. One thing that does strike me as odd is that you already have the Q6700. What is your current clock on this? Clock for clock, a new penryn will be quicker, so a Q6700 @ 4GHz is likely to be the same as a Q9450 @ 3.6GHz. One thing to bear in mind is that the Penryn cores do NOT like high voltages (>1.5v) unlike the Q6600/Q6700 series. If I was wanting a new processor, I would just save my cash for a Nehalem in Q4 of this year where a new mobo will be needed as well!

[VoX]

Chalex, he's got a QX6700, not a Q6700.

[Chalex4]

Oh yeah, forgot about that. I think I am right in saying that the Q6700 is a G0 stepped processor, whereas the QX6700 isn't. The QX6700 of course has the unlocked multiplier, but the Q6700 wouldn't need it as much since I maintains lower temperatures. It all depends on what your current clock is really, so what is it ?

EDIT: are you getting the asus maximus extreme at the same time as the processor?

[VoX]

Read his system specs, if they are still up to date it's 4.5GHz. (No idea about the multiplier though.)

[Colonel Mitch]

my current clock is
BLUE SCREEN

ERROR***

A clock interrupt command was not recieved on a secondary processor within the allocated time interval

ERROR***

hence new processor:P

also the extreme is already ordered and tbh i just want to get a good 3dmark with the processor anything will do for my general use - im hoping to win an upgrade =]

one last thing in regards to voltages - remember most of the time the processor is at about -30 degrees C

[VoX]

Surely ridiculously low temps can damage a CPU, not as much as extreme heat, but it must do quite a bit.

[Colonel Mitch]

the lower the temperature the less the resistance which is good =]

the only thing is water vapor from the air freezes onto the coolerhead and processor and then it melts if you turn the pc off and the processor takes a bath inside the motherboard. xD

[Calneon]

*cough*more money than sense*cough*

[VoX]

How are you going to get it to i34 safely then??

[Midge]

what do you do to afford this?! seriously?!

[Colonel Mitch]

the phase chage cooler was second hand n (only lol) 200 quid. it doesnt cool when its not switched on so it can be transported normally:P

[Colonel Mitch]

okay another dilema - will a single 4870 1024mb gddr5 version be better than my 2 2900xts (1024mb gddr4 each)

the difference in clock speeds in only 7 mhz though the 4870 is a newer architecture, and the memory is a staggering 1.6ghz faster on the 4870. (2000mhz on 2900 3600mhz on 4870)

also this post is all about 3d mark not what im gunna use the computer for so please dont add more posts arbitrarily saying it depends what you what the computer for :P

[VoX]

You just wanna win free stuff .

[Calneon]

Wait, you're buying components JUST to get a high 3DMark score?

....

....

.... Oh hold on....

....

Waaaaait....

.... O.o ....

WHAT?