Q6600>Phenom II X6 ?

[spdfreak]

Currently I have a Q6600 (@2.8GHz) on a MSI P6N SLI board. I also have a MSI 785GM-E65 board that I got with a Phenom II X2 555 on a Fry's deal. So I'm thinking about dropping a X6 in it to replace the Q6600 as my main system. I have someone to buy the Q6600 system (MB, CPU, RAM, and Vid card) for 250.00. I'm just wondering if this is a big enough upgrade to warrant the time and hassle of switching. Probably an all day job to reload windows and all my programs. Cost is probably a wash if I sell the X2 555.
Also, the 785GM board has onboard video with 128MB of sideport memory. If I want to use the hybrid crossfire, will there be any problem using the 4200 onboard video which is dx10 and a 5770 which is dx11? Does the system use the onboard video for normal desktop stuff and only use the card for 3d stuff like games?

 

[soccerballtux]

Ph2 is ~q6600 ghz/ghz. So it would be like going from 4 cores to 6. If you overclocked, it would be much nicer. Which Ph2 x6? If you got the one that runs at 3ghz and turbos to 3.5ghz, that would be a nice upgrade.

 

[konakid7]

I'm think it's pretty incredible how cheaply AMD is offering 6 cores. It seems like we need to let software engineers catch up so we can actually use all the cores efficiently. I think that'd be a great upgrade from a Q6600, especially with the overclocking possibilities.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

I don't believe AMD supports Hybrid Xfire w/5770.

 

[spdfreak]

Ph2 is ~q6600 ghz/ghz. So it would be like going from 4 cores to 6. If you overclocked, it would be much nicer. Which Ph2 x6? If you got the one that runs at 3ghz and turbos to 3.5ghz, that would be a nice upgrade.

Yeah, that one is on sale at Fry's right now for 180.00. The board has 10 and 15% OC dip switches so it is stupid easy to OC. I'm guessing that the ddr2>ddr3 difference is negligible, but I will probably get a 5770 vid card which will be a big jump from the 9600 GSO 384MB card I have now. I don't game much so that is not a real issue, though. The only thing I do that requires any real power is converting recorded OTA HD TV to h.264 files.

 

[richierich1212]

Your Q6600 isn't even clocked that high. If you get a X6, put some heatsinks on the mosfets and you'll be able to clock the X6 pretty well. That's not a bad trade off since you'll actually be pocketing money in the end anyways.

 

[spdfreak]

I don't believe AMD supports Hybrid Xfire w/5770.

So I would have to get a 4xxx series card? I'd probably be better off with the 5770 since I would like to do eyefinity for some flight sims.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

So I would have to get a 4xxx series card? I'd probably be better off with the 5770 since I would like to do eyefinity for some flight sims.

I think the newest chipset - 880/890 - Xfire with low-end Radeon 5000's, but not 56xx and higher.

As cool of an idea as Hybrid Crossfire is, I just don't think it's implemented as well as most of us would like. It would be great if you could use integrated graphics for web-surfing caliber tasks, and then have a discrete GPU kick in for more demanding tasks. USing IGP to supplement a power GPU's performance doesn't work well, apparently.

 

[LoneNinja]

So I would have to get a 4xxx series card? I'd probably be better off with the 5770 since I would like to do eyefinity for some flight sims.

I don't have a complete list of what works in hybrid crossfire, but hybrid crossfire actually uses uses both the IGP and GPU together for both 2d/3d tasks, it doesn't disable the discrete card for 2d use and enable it for 3d use. Originally only low end cards like the 3450 was supported when hybrid crossfire launched with the 780G chipset featuring the 3200. I would assume it's still only supported by low end cards, unless things have dramatically changed.

 

[soccerballtux]

Your Q6600 isn't even clocked that high. If you get a X6, put some heatsinks on the mosfets and you'll be able to clock the X6 pretty well. That's not a bad trade off since you'll actually be pocketing money in the end anyways.

mosfets don't need heatsinks last I checked, since when were yours running 125C?

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

mosfets don't need heatsinks last I checked, since when were yours running 125C?

MOSFETS can get really hot. The resultant temp drops from adding heatsinks helps increase overclocking and stability.

 

[spdfreak]

MOSFETS can get really hot. The resultant temp drops from adding heatsinks helps increase overclocking and stability.

This board has a heatpipe cooling system on the mosfets and the sticker on the box says it is good up to 140W processors. I doubt I will OC it much since I will just use the stock HSF.

 

[spdfreak]

Well, I pulled the trigger and got a X6 1075T from Fry's for 180.00. Seems like a good deal. I may try using the dip switch OC method on the MB but I really want CnQ to still work along with any other power saving features. I will have to research whether the 10% OC by the dip switch method OC's the memory too.
Anyone know if there is any chance that I can put my boot drive from my Q6600 system (win7 64) in the new system and have any possibility of it working? I'm not looking fwd to the reinstall of all my programs/data. Fortunately all my HD video files are stored on other drives.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Well, I pulled the trigger and got a X6 1075T from Fry's for 180.00. Seems like a good deal. I may try using the dip switch OC method on the MB but I really want CnQ to still work along with any other power saving features. I will have to research whether the 10% OC by the dip switch method OC's the memory too.
Anyone know if there is any chance that I can put my boot drive from my Q6600 system (win7 64) in the new system and have any possibility of it working? I'm not looking fwd to the reinstall of all my programs/data. Fortunately all my HD video files are stored on other drives.

1075T for $180? Daaammnnn... :thumbsup:

Try uninstalling all your drivers, then make the HDD switch. Win7 is surprisingly accommodating.

 

[spdfreak]

1075T for $180? Daaammnnn... :thumbsup:

Try uninstalling all your drivers, then make the HDD switch. Win7 is surprisingly accommodating.

Yeah, Fry's has to be losing money on these deals... My brother went to pick it up since the store is right next to his office and he said they kind of gave him the run around about it (said it was 229.00) until he asked for a manager. Fry's is weird... kinda like a car dealership sometimes- they will honor an advertised price but only if you make them.

 

[soccerballtux]

MOSFETS can get really hot. The resultant temp drops from adding heatsinks helps increase overclocking and stability.

you simply repeated the baseless assertion that I was challenging. Can you explain *how* the cooling helps?

 

[soccerballtux]

Well, I pulled the trigger and got a X6 1075T from Fry's for 180.00. Seems like a good deal. I may try using the dip switch OC method on the MB but I really want CnQ to still work along with any other power saving features. I will have to research whether the 10% OC by the dip switch method OC's the memory too.
Anyone know if there is any chance that I can put my boot drive from my Q6600 system (win7 64) in the new system and have any possibility of it working? I'm not looking fwd to the reinstall of all my programs/data. Fortunately all my HD video files are stored on other drives.

uninstall your old drivers for the motherboard, mainly. Might work, might not. Depends.

 

[spdfreak]

I got the 1075T tonight and it looks like it uses the same HSF as the 1090T. So it should be good for some decent overclocking.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I'm think it's pretty incredible how cheaply AMD is offering 6 cores. It seems like we need to let software engineers catch up so we can actually use all the cores efficiently. I think that'd be a great upgrade from a Q6600, especially with the overclocking possibilities.

AMD has to offer 6 cores for cheap when Intel can actually beat them with 4 cores + HT, even in the heavily threaded apps.

For once Intel's $1000 "extreme" chips aren't just for overclocking epeen bragging rights, their six cores can actually offer 50% more performance than the next fastest chips on the market and are justifiable for use in workstations.

 

[Maximilian]

AMD has to offer 6 cores for cheap when Intel can actually beat them with 4 cores + HT, even in the heavily threaded apps.

For once Intel's $1000 "extreme" chips aren't just for overclocking epeen bragging rights, their six cores can actually offer 50% more performance than the next fastest chips on the market and are justifiable for use in workstations.

Funny how HT turned out, i remember it was pretty hopeless when it first debuted on the P4.

 

[darckhart]

hm which fry's? the only sale i see for my local one is the 1055T for 150$

 

[MrK6]

AMD has to offer 6 cores for cheap when Intel can actually beat them with 4 cores + HT, even in the heavily threaded apps.

For once Intel's $1000 "extreme" chips aren't just for overclocking epeen bragging rights, their six cores can actually offer 50% more performance than the next fastest chips on the market and are justifiable for use in workstations.

I'm not so sure about that last statement: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/146?vs=99 . I still prefer Intel chips because I like having the absolute fastest, but there's no denying the incredible performance/dollar AMD is offering right now.

 

[ModestGamer]

AMD has to offer 6 cores for cheap when Intel can actually beat them with 4 cores + HT, even in the heavily threaded apps.

For once Intel's $1000 "extreme" chips aren't just for overclocking epeen bragging rights, their six cores can actually offer 50% more performance than the next fastest chips on the market and are justifiable for use in workstations.

Depends on the compiler used to assemble the software. The ICC or Intel compiler will build very Intel optimized code that executes poorly on other cpu's.

http://blogs.amd.com/work/2010/01/2...-compilers-and-benchmarks-for-amd-processors/

http://s0.2mdn.net/1833838/Inquirer...08/intel-compiler-cripples-code-amd-via-chips

http://www.osnews.com/story/22683/Intel_Forced_to_Remove_Cripple_AMD_Function_from_Compiler_

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/0...mpiler-that-isnt-crippled-for-amd-processors/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_C++_Compiler

http://www.semiaccurate.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1790

 

[ModestGamer]

oh heres some diassembled code and the authors findings.

http://www.swallowtail.org/naughty-intel.shtml

 

[extra]

Well, since your 6600 is only at 2.8ghz, yeah, the phenom would be a big upgrade. Most of them will hit 4ghz-ish. If you want to use the stock cooler, you should be able to get 3.6ghz-ish I think. The stock cooler on the x6 models is pretty good, a little heatpipe design. ;-)