max FSB for 45nm quads?

[VirtualLarry]

Title says it all. Looking for reports of highest achievable FSB (preferably on air, I guess, although if you want to add info about LN2, be my guest), for a 45nm quad-core.

I'm trying to get a handle on what is possible with these chips. (The cheaper ones with locked multis.)

I've read 450, but some actual reports would be nice. Looking forward to price cuts, eventually the Q9650 will drop in price enough to be affordable. (Probably next year.)

Looking to eventually max out a 45nm quad-core. Which means obtaining a chip with a high enough multi that it won't be FSB-limited. I'll probably go with that rather than a first-gen Nehalem rig. I'll wait for DDR3 4GB DIMMs to get cheaper.

 

[Cogman]

~ 500 is the maximum I have seen. Mostly it will be reported in motherboard reviews.. Umm don't have any sources, but I believe the last one I read was in an Asus P5Q review.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Title says it all. Looking for reports of highest achievable FSB (preferably on air, I guess, although if you want to add info about LN2, be my guest), for a 45nm quad-core.

Sorta off-topic, but regarding the comments of FSB versus CPU cooling method...my perception was that the FSB limitation for quads was more rooted in the internal workings of the Northbridge (the root of the FSB) so I assumed CPU cooling method does not really effect the FSB limitation.

So my question to you is - does the cooling method for the CPU actually effect the FSB limitations? I'm curious now that you've mentioned it.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, seeing as how the world record for FSB was set on an E8500 on LN2 (at 725MHz or so), it seems like added cooling would affect the FSB limit.

 

[ther00kie16]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Well, seeing as how the world record for FSB was set on an E8500 on LN2 (at 725MHz or so), it seems like added cooling would affect the FSB limit.

but you have to realize they use LN2 to cool everything including northbridge. they also only use 1 stick of memory and minimum required of everything so there's as few bottlenecks as possible.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Well, seeing as how the world record for FSB was set on an E8500 on LN2 (at 725MHz or so), it seems like added cooling would affect the FSB limit.

but you have to realize they use LN2 to cool everything including northbridge. they also only use 1 stick of memory and minimum required of everything so there's as few bottlenecks as possible.

Perfectly explained. :thumbsup:
In other words... It wasn't "real world" at all, simply an exotic experiment.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Well, seeing as how the world record for FSB was set on an E8500 on LN2 (at 725MHz or so), it seems like added cooling would affect the FSB limit.

but you have to realize they use LN2 to cool everything including northbridge. they also only use 1 stick of memory and minimum required of everything so there's as few bottlenecks as possible.

That is consistent with my expectations then. Sure if you change the cooling method of the NB you will change the FSB overclock limit. OK then, everything is as it has been in my version of reality Carry on!

 

[ther00kie16]

So that means you should get the Foxconn BlackOps MB that comes with 4 NB cooling solutions: passive, active air, water and LN2/DIce.

 

[nyker96]

I heard it's 450 give or take.

 

[aigomorla]

with good nb cooling and uber ram i was able to pull around 530 on a dual core.

On a quad the highest ive seen was 505, but it required an insane VTT.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
with good nb cooling and uber ram i was able to pull around 530 on a dual core.

On a quad the highest ive seen was 505, but it required an insane VTT.

What are the FSB settings on your quads?

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: Cogman
~ 500 is the maximum I have seen. Mostly it will be reported in motherboard reviews.. Umm don't have any sources, but I believe the last one I read was in an Asus P5Q review.

Well, the DQ6 is one of the best motherboards out there, and OCZ PC-8500 memory (tested at 509 on a C2D) will only be stable at 445 for me. 450 will boot, and thats about it. Maybe with a $300 motherboard and an X48 chipset you get 500 ??

I say 450 is the top IMO.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky

Originally posted by: aigomorla
with good nb cooling and uber ram i was able to pull around 530 on a dual core.

On a quad the highest ive seen was 505, but it required an insane VTT.

What are the FSB settings on your quads?

450 Q6600 ES
425 QX9650
415 Q6600
400 Q6600
375 X3220

MAX FSB as people said depends on a few things.

1. PSU. You need a rock stable PSU for high FSB and voltage oc.
2. NO CHEAP END BOARD. Sorry you dont see people going for WR using sub 120 dollar boards.
3. CPU <---- This is ALWAYS in the equation
4. Ram <--- where tons of newbies mess up.


You botch one of the 4 you wont get max fsb.

 

[Gillbot]

The most common I see is low end ram.

 

[Tempered81]

records gotta be like ~560mhz I'd guess.

most people will hit around 450-470mhz [if lucky]. I've seen ~730mhz on a dualcore
http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=378175
I'd say Mark & Aigo saying "425 to 450" is going to be the overclocker's average.

 

[ShadowFlareX]

Most quad core probably can hit 450MHz no problem, some can hit up to 470MHz.

My Q9450 hit 450MHz without much sweat, tried 463 but wouldn't even POST. Didn't try between 450 and 463, cause I''m darn happy I could hit 450MHz resulting 3.6GHz. When I got this Q9450, all I asked was 3.2GHz... thrilled that it can do 3.6GHz 24/7.

I know my luck, the past 10 years I've been receiving CPU/mobo/GPU that has either common or sub-par overclocking abilities. So I'm guessing my Q9450 is just a common Q9450.