Thinking about getting Core2Quad...

AtaruMoroboshi18

Senior member
Apr 1, 2005
552
1
81
I'm moving up from an outdated, but functional e4300 oc'ed from 1.8ghz to 2.7ghz. I'm looking for a Core2Quad for about $210 which would be good for gaming. I've updated a bunch of parts on my rig, went up to 2x2GB G.Skill RAM from 2x1GB G.Skill RAM. Upped from a Biostart T-Force P965 to an ASUS P5Q-Pro motherboard. Got an MSI 260 GTX from an EVGA 8800 GT and moved up to a smooth 19" widescreen monitor from a clunky 22" CRT. What would you guys recommend for a quad core for my rig? It's strictly for gaming, nothing else, I'm hoping to play games like ARMA 2 with decent settings, any suggestions?
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,086
310
126
If you don't use the sleep mode much or at all, you'd overclock your quad much further on a Gigabyte UD3R or P model. Mine runs at 500fsb with my Q9650. That board cost 114$ at the time, is now 109 or 104$ at new egg. My 279$ Asus Maximus II Formula board could only do 480fsb with my C2Q..

That is the board you wanna upgrade too :)
 

AtaruMoroboshi18

Senior member
Apr 1, 2005
552
1
81
Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
If you don't use the sleep mode much or at all, you'd overclock your quad much further on a Gigabyte UD3R or P model. Mine runs at 500fsb with my Q9650. That board cost 114$ at the time, is now 109 or 104$ at new egg. My 279$ Asus Maximus II Formula board could only do 480fsb with my C2Q..

That is the board you wanna upgrade too :)

Is there something wrong with my P5Q Pro? It seems like a fairly stable mobo to me with at least the potential for a decent OC.
 

arkcom

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2003
1,816
0
76
Originally posted by: AtaruMoroboshi18
Originally posted by: arkcom
Mwave has the q9550 for $210 shipped. (Click around a while and a $10 coupon will come up)

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/sku....asp?scriteria=BA24504

Is mWave.com a reputable seller? Also, would it be a good idea to go down to a lower c2q and then OC it?

Mwave is good in my experience. The q9400 is actually $220 on newegg and has half as much cache. For a gaming only pc you might think about the e8400.

I would not change motherboards, if you do that, you might as well move up to i7.
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,086
310
126
You'll never reach 4250Mhz with a Q9550... all I'm saying is its a great if not THEE best 775lga Quad Core overclocking mother board, hands down in the 775lga market.
 

AtaruMoroboshi18

Senior member
Apr 1, 2005
552
1
81
Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
You'll never reach 4250Mhz with a Q9550... all I'm saying is its a great if not THEE best 775lga Quad Core overclocking mother board, hands down in the 775lga market.

Wow, I don't think I'll need an overclock that big. Will I even see any benefits in games from going up so high with an OC?
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,086
310
126
In UT3 I did. My sys; Q9650 8x500fsb, Gigabyte UD3R 4Gb (not 8, 8 would be more of a challenge at 500fsb & 4Ghz) EDIT: custom h20 cooling btw - i'd never would of survived a 9hr prime test at 1.425v core (older chip)

Other games Im not so sure. I didn't notice it with COD:WAW (i should reinstall that... hmmm)
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: AtaruMoroboshi18
Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
You'll never reach 4250Mhz with a Q9550... all I'm saying is its a great if not THEE best 775lga Quad Core overclocking mother board, hands down in the 775lga market.

Wow, I don't think I'll need an overclock that big. Will I even see any benefits in games from going up so high with an OC?

not with a single GPU in most games

my q9550s is at 4.0GHz [formerly on an ASUS P5e deluxe] and now on a ASUS Rampage
- somewhere around 3.6 GHz is diminishing returns on your CPU overclock for a GTX 260 class card
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,086
310
126
O don't get me wrong, my Maximus II Formula could do 450fsb and with my 9650 or 9 multiplier, i could easily do 4ghz too...
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
there are quite a few lower cost quads in the fs/ft section if you want to go that route to save $, otherwise it might be wise to wait for i7 prices to fall or i5 to launch and make a major upgrade.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
15,699
1,448
126
Originally posted by: jaredpace
q9550 or q9650

"To wait or not to wait . . . that is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to enter sleep-state, or bear wallet-fulls of cash against a sea of troubles. . . . "

With all the existing parts he has, he could probably squeeze out enough performance from a Wolfie or Yorkie to make it seem worth his while.

But this . . . . is da bidnis . . . . we're in . . . .

Personally, I'd probably spring for the Q9550, E8400 or even Q9650 with cash burning a hole in my pocket . . . . . and then start thinking about I7 or I5 next year. And who knows what follows those two CPU-lines and socket designs? Huh?
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,086
310
126
A 9650 would be impractical. Most Yorkfield quads will not do 4.5Ghz let alone on air. With his mobo, he'll hit the limit with the fsb about the same time he'll hit the cpu limit.
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,303
4
81
As the OP has already upgraded to a P5Q Pro, i wouldn't advise taking the loss selling it just to get UD3R/P.

Get a Q9550, & you'll be able to do 3.6+ GHz, to 4 GHz, depending on luck + skill with OCing.
 

AtaruMoroboshi18

Senior member
Apr 1, 2005
552
1
81
Alright, a Q9550 seems to be the best quad core for my current setup. Now...what would be the best cpu cooling solution?
 

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,300
23
81
Originally posted by: n7
As the OP has already upgraded to a P5Q Pro, i wouldn't advise taking the loss selling it just to get UD3R/P.

Get a Q9550, & you'll be able to do 3.6+ GHz, to 4 GHz, depending on luck + skill with OCing.

This. You've already got a solid OC board, no reason to replace it.

Re: cooling - grab the Xigmatek S1283. Cheap and nearly the best air cooling available.
 

KingstonU

Golden Member
Dec 26, 2006
1,405
16
81
Originally posted by: Denithor

Re: cooling - grab the Xigmatek S1283. Cheap and nearly the best air cooling available.

+1 or the OCZ Vendetta 2 is also good, so whichever is cheaper as they are tos up in cooling eprformance, though the xigmatek comes with the bolt through kit and back braket making for better contact.

I got 3.6GHz on my 9550 C1 / P5Q Pro / Vendetta 2, newer E0 9550 get 3.8 easily.
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,086
310
126
Originally posted by: n7
As the OP has already upgraded to a P5Q Pro, i wouldn't advise taking the loss selling it just to get UD3R/P.

Get a Q9550, & you'll be able to do 3.6+ GHz, to 4 GHz, depending on luck + skill with OCing.

wooo wooo wait now, lets not call it a loss with a quad now heh :) we all know how well the UD3R & P boards overclock quad cores. cough 500fsb cough, sniff :D

haven't played UT3 in a while btw... diggin my new camcorders

EDITED for spelling mistakes