I might downgrade? Q6600 vs i3 platform?

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I have two rigs.

1. Is a i7 platform oc'ed, gtx280, etc... Power consumption not an issue because it's built to game and it's not on much.
2. Is a Q6600, p45, 8800 gtx. This is the one I'm wondering about though. This is my wife's computer and it is only used to record her tv shows, watch blu rays, and surf the net. I'm thinking the q6600 and 8800gtx are too much for this. This computer stays on quite a bit because of recording tv. I'm thinking of maybe selling off the Q6600, 8800gtx, p45 mobo, ddr2 ram and getting her an i3 platform with no video card and using the gpu on die for playing the blu rays and HDTV. Am I looking at significant power savings? Would it offset the cost of the new platform or is the difference so insignificant I'm better off keeping the q6600?

 

[Arkaign]

Sell it, but I wouldn't worry about getting an i3 + ddr3/etc just for what you describe. If you ebay the stuff you should just grab an Athlon II 240 + this board :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128408

It has onboard HDMI and will run 1080p like mad. Total cost will only be about $110 board AND retail chip, which means you should make money on the deal. You can also undervolt the 240 at stock speeds, and indeed a 45nm 65w Athlon II @ stock 2.8ghz will pull a ton less power than the Q6600.

I love the Q6xxx/9xxx series, but if you're totally not using it for anything big, yeah sell it to someone who will, and you'll probably make $100 or more cash in pocket for now, and then be using 100-150w less power with a A2/760G hdmi platform.

The i3 I don't recommend for you due to the high cost of CPU/mobo. The end result would probably be decent along with similar power savings, but for a non gamer/overclock system it makes no sense to spend all that extra $ compared to the combo above.

 

[AzN]

i3

 

[Arkaign]

i3

Why would he pay $100 premium over the Athlon 2 for a TV box? The i3 is indeed faster, and overclocks like mad, but that will just suck more power for no reason at all. The 2.8ghz Regor is more than overkill for a HTPC, unless you're encoding *constantly*, which wasn't specified in the OP.

On the egg, the cheapest i3 + HDMI mobo is :

the i3 530 @ $125

and

Biostar (bleh) H55 HD mobo @ $75

So about $100 more. OP already has a beastly i7 for more serious duties.

 

[Adul]

Sell it, but I wouldn't worry about getting an i3 + ddr3/etc just for what you describe. If you ebay the stuff you should just grab an Athlon II 240 + this board :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128408

It has onboard HDMI and will run 1080p like mad. Total cost will only be about $110 board AND retail chip, which means you should make money on the deal. You can also undervolt the 240 at stock speeds, and indeed a 45nm 65w Athlon II @ stock 2.8ghz will pull a ton less power than the Q6600.

I love the Q6xxx/9xxx series, but if you're totally not using it for anything big, yeah sell it to someone who will, and you'll probably make $100 or more cash in pocket for now, and then be using 100-150w less power with a A2/760G hdmi platform.

The i3 I don't recommend for you due to the high cost of CPU/mobo. The end result would probably be decent along with similar power savings, but for a non gamer/overclock system it makes no sense to spend all that extra $ compared to the combo above.

i'd have to agree with this as the best route to go.

 

[zagood]

I'd agree as well. Short-term, underclock the CPU and GPU.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I have a Q9550 server, with 7 1TB 7200RPM drives in it, running 24/7 and it only costs me $8.75~~ a month, roughly...I can't imagine yours costing much more then that. Savings might be 3-4$ a month, depending where you live.

 

[Arkaign]

I have a Q9550 server, with 7 1TB 7200RPM drives in it, running 24/7 and it only costs me $8.75~~ a month, roughly...I can't imagine yours costing much more then that. Savings might be 3-4$ a month, depending where you live.

That's true, but electricity rates can vary a lot, and there's also a question of heat/noise.

OP can pocket $100+ cash today (even after buying the replacement cpu/mobo) if he sells what he's got and buys a Regor for TV duty.

That's basically expecting (basic minimums after checking ebay closed auctions) :

$130+ from the cpu
$70 from the gpu
$40 from the mobo

I'd do it just to have a simpler/quieter setup and to pocket the $$, the power savings going forward are just gravy.

And the OP will get that Q6600 into (hopefully) the hands of someone who will take advantage of it's still formidable capabilities. With an i7 already trucking along under his care, I can understand why he's considering letting it go.

 

[ViviTheMage]

You'd be surprised, my 7 disk server is silent....no one ever believes me, then when they come over, they ask where it is, and their staring right at it in my living room.

Nothing wrong with saving some power, and pocketing some cash if you don't need the extra oomphf.

Personally, i'd get an E2xxx, sell that Q6600, and video card.

 

[wwswimming]

I have two rigs.

1. Is a i7 platform oc'ed, gtx280, etc... Power consumption not an issue because it's built to game and it's not on much.
2. Is a Q6600, p45, 8800 gtx. This is the one I'm wondering about though. This is my wife's computer and it is only used to record her tv shows, watch blu rays, and surf the net. I'm thinking the q6600 and 8800gtx are too much for this. This computer stays on quite a bit because of recording tv. I'm thinking of maybe selling off the Q6600, 8800gtx, p45 mobo, ddr2 ram and getting her an i3 platform with no video card and using the gpu on die for playing the blu rays and HDTV. Am I looking at significant power savings? Would it offset the cost of the new platform or is the difference so insignificant I'm better off keeping the q6600?

the Q6600 has become a valuable processor. $300.

i suggest parting out the Q6600 and/or the motherboard. then maybe getting one of those dual core AMD Athlon 2 "Regor" CPU's, with the Gigabyte MA785GM-US2H motherboard. Newegg had combo's for about $120.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.357497

now the combo deal isn't so good, $130. i have the Athlon 2 245, it overclocks 30% easy, it runs at about 3.7 GHz. that's comparable to the i3/i5 dual cores but a lot cheaper.

the Regor is about 65 watts. it has decent on-board video. i don't know about the 8800GTX, they consume some watts too, but maybe you need the video horsepower.

 

[21stHermit]

Am I looking at significant power savings? Would it offset the cost of the new platform or is the difference so insignificant

What is the idle power of your current Q6600 rig? Do you have a Kill-A-Watt?

My i3-530 idles at 34W, so a reference. You can go lower with the Intel H55 MB, I have a Gigabyte MB.

Unless you have super high electricity cost it is unlikely you'll get a payback on the cost of a new i3 rig.

 

[pjkenned]

If you have a Fry's near you, the i3-530 combos are in the $150 range as a FYI. I'm a big fan of the i3/i5's because they actually encode x264 for me as fast as my Q6600: http://www.servethehome.com/?p=296 yet idle with lower power consumption than my Atom N330/ION

 

[happy medium]

Sell the q6600 for 150$+ and buy this slightly used e5300 for 45$.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2058573

Sell the 8800gtx for 85$ and grab a 4350 for 25$ AR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121310

You painlessly replace 2 components and pocket over 100$.

Screw that system overhaul crap.

 

[nyker96]

save up a bit, sell this and just get a i5 750.

 

[spitfire]

The idle power consumption on that is very high, especially with a 8800gtx.

For reference: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=3066&p=2
That is with a 8800gtx.

i3 or whatever route you choose will save enough electricity to be noticeable on your power bill!

 

[NoSoup4You]

i3 is the sexy choice.

 

[evident]

Sell the q6600 for 150$+ and buy this slightly used e5300 for 45$.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2058573

Sell the 8800gtx for 85$ and grab a 4350 for 25$ AR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121310

You painlessly replace 2 components and pocket over 100$.

Screw that system overhaul crap.

this seems like the least hassle and best choice to make.

 

[Markfw]

Sell the q6600 for 150$+ and buy this slightly used e5300 for 45$.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2058573

Sell the 8800gtx for 85$ and grab a 4350 for 25$ AR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121310

You painlessly replace 2 components and pocket over 100$.

Screw that system overhaul crap.

this seems like the least hassle and best choice to make.

I also agree here....

 

[LoneNinja]

I would say sell the Q6600 and 8800GTX, than get a budget low power radeon card and Pentium Dual Core. Much cheaper and easier than moving to an I3.

 

[Shmee]

out of curiosity, what is the VID on ur Q6600, and how well did it oc? Mine is a 1.25 G0, which isnt bad. It Oc's fairly nicely. currently at 3.5 at 1.4 vcore.

 

[alyarb]

i'm with happy medium et al. wolfdale undervolting beats i3.

 

[Axon]

All this seems like a hassle to save yourself maybe $80-$100...

 

[richierich1212]

All this seems like a hassle to save yourself maybe $80-$100...

How's it a hassle? And OP is looking at overall electricity usage over time.

 

[BD231]

If you really cared about power consumption she'd be using a laptop.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

You'd be surprised, my 7 disk server is silent....no one ever believes me, then when they come over, they ask where it is, and their staring right at it in my living room.

Nothing wrong with saving some power, and pocketing some cash if you don't need the extra oomphf.

Personally, i'd get an E2xxx, sell that Q6600, and video card.

Good to hear the server's running well. Now you just need to get some more TF2 on it

On topic though, I like the idea of used dual-core and low-end video card better.