• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Looking to spend under $100 for mobo and ram for a q6600 OC

A

Arkitech

Diamond Member
I'm trying to get another 6 months or so out of my rig before upgrading. I bought a Radeon 7770 a couple months ago to keep up with some of the newer games, however my cpu is at stock speed. I'd like to just OC the cpu to get better performance instead of doing a full blown upgrade right now. Any suggestions on a decent board and memory. Also are there any good cases for under $50, I need something roomy to work in. Currently using a Acer case, it's like working with a shoe box.
 
Also I should mention I'm catching up on a lot of old games. Witcher, Fallout 3, Skyrim.

Can I run those games at ultra with visual mods with the equipment I listed?
 
I can tell you from experience that there's a better way to go.. The Xeon X3230 is a drop in replacement for the Q6600. It runs at the same clock speed, but delivers a 20% performance improvement with no adjustments to bios. Just drop in and done! You can get them off ebay..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-...sor-/151192216672?pt=CPUs&hash=item2333c22460
Saves switching motherboards & ram and 20% IS noticable. It has allowed me to keep my Gateway FX8020 in service. X3230, 20% faster, has same 8mb of cache & uses 10% less power & makes less heat 🙂
 
Last edited:
Burpo said:
I can tell you from experience that there's a better way to go.. The Xeon X3230 is a drop in replacement for the Q6600. It runs at the same clock speed, but delivers a 20% performance improvement with no adjustments to bios. Just drop in and done! You can get them off ebay..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-...sor-/151192216672?pt=CPUs&hash=item2333c22460
Saves switching motherboards & ram and 20% IS noticable. It has allowed me to keep my Gateway FX8020 in service. X3230, 20% faster, has same 8mb of cache & uses 10% less power & makes less heat 🙂
Click to expand...

My mobo is on the way out though, I have several swollen caps. I figured since the board is dying might as well just upgrade with something that can be OC'd. Also my current board is limited to 4gb ddr2
 
If you have a Microcenter nearby, you may be able to get an i3 or low-end AMD FX/FM2 + motherboard combo for nearly the same price. Stock vs stock, both options are in a different league than your Q6600.

Drop your current chip on eBay for $50.

I say this despite having an overclocked Q6600 in my second machine.
 
DDR2 is ungodly expensive. The availability of good overclocking (read : P35 and better) S775 motherboards is also really thin. Most of the used ones have seen hard use for many many moons now, and new, well it's like a needle in a haystack. Honestly you're better off selling what you have and getting even a used i7 setup :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-...-km-/310833148661?pt=CPUs&hash=item485f1972f5

i7 920 $64 shipped

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASRock-X58-...365745954?pt=Motherboards&hash=item3cda9cc922

X58 Extreme 1366 Mobo $150 (but bid starts at $75, should be able to pick it up for cheapish)

Here on the FS/FT section you might be able to find another good combo as well.

Then pair with much cheaper DDR3 memory.

After you sell the Q6600, dying mobo (post it accurately and someone will buy it, those are EASY to fix with quality aftermarket caps and a soldering iron, I've fixed hundreds of mobos), and ram, you should be at or around $100ish.
 
I have a Q6600 mounted on a P35 chipset, and I can tell you that it makes very little difference whether it is clocked at 2.4GHz or 3.0 GHz. There is a flash game that barely runs on it. But it absolutely screams on my i5 even when my i5 is clocked down to 1.6GHz. Clearly there is more to a platform then clockspeed. So I cant recommend putting $100 into it when as others have stated you can get a modern i3 for not much more. And it will be much much faster.
 
Thanks for the suggestion guys, I think that's the route I'll likely go with.

I'm woefully uneducated with Intel's latest cpus, are there any guides that breakdown the cpus and the different numbers behind them? For example I have no idea what 32xx means behind the i3 or what the 920 means behind the i7.
 
Arkitech said:
I'm woefully uneducated with Intel's latest cpus, are there any guides that breakdown the cpus and the different numbers behind them? For example I have no idea what 32xx means behind the i3 or what the 920 means behind the i7.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you know the general difference between i3 and i7. Think of the i7-920 as a i7-1920. That way all models have the same size model number and you can then make more sense of it. That first number after the dash represents the generation number. An i7-920 is a 1st get i7. It really should have been called an i7-1920 if intel was interested in at least trying to make sense. An i3-3220 is a 3rd gen. The other numbers are mostly meaningless. Just look at gigahertz and keep in mind that each generation increase is worth about 200-300MHz worth of performance.
 
Some may prove me wrong, but the OP would have to search farther and wider with fewer available choices if he wanted to replace the motherboard for a Q6600. I'm sure there are LGA-775 boards available, but what kind? And for what price?

The Q6600 was released in its first stepping near the start of 2007. It's like the comedienne Wanda Sikes with her remark about the toolbox-endowments of old men: "Give it up! You had a good run with it for so many years . . . "

Frankly, I think you might find better prospects selling the Q6600 on EBay. Just my thinking . . .
 
BonzaiDuck said:
Some may prove me wrong, but the OP would have to search farther and wider with fewer available choices if he wanted to replace the motherboard for a Q6600. I'm sure there are LGA-775 boards available, but what kind? And for what price?

The Q6600 was released in its first stepping near the start of 2007. It's like the comedienne Wanda Sikes with her remark about the toolbox-endowments of old men: "Give it up! You had a good run with it for so many years . . . "

Frankly, I think you might find better prospects selling the Q6600 on EBay. Just my thinking . . .
Click to expand...

There are still many boards that should overclock that chip nicely but some are a little pricey considering. I have an ABIT IP35-E with an E8400 but that same board would run a Q6600 with no problems but it goes for around $60
 
i'm selling the ram from my Q6600 setup. i still have the mobo too. the ram and mobo oc'd the Q6600 I sold a full gigahertz. i could beat your budget.

this is my listing on Amazon. 100% satisfaction from my account.

i can't link up to my amazon seller account as per a mod. so pm me if you want it.


You can post links from other sites, but not when it promotes your own stuff.
Markfw900
Anandtech Moderator
 
Last edited:
Last month I sidelined a MSI P35 Platinum with a E6550 on it. It was working nice and am looking for a case to put it on and build a computer for my dad. 4GB of DDR2 too.

What I mean though, is the upgrade was a HELL of an upgrade. I never had a problem with the E6550, but an i5 with a SSD and a Z87 mobo? Worlds apart.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top