What should I do with this X6800?

[pwnerx]

My CPU-Z validated system
Antec 300, Xigmatek 1263, MX-2.

This system is two years old. I'm using an engineering sample that a friend gifted to me. This week I wanted to overclock my processor just so I didn't feel so left behind after seeing how godly the E8400 E0s were.

The 1st problem is that my X6800 is already hitting a temp wall at 3.16Ghz on stock vcore. My CPU idles at 43-45c and loads at ~63c. X6800's max core temp is 70c and starts throttling at 65c. Avg room temp is 30-33c. The 2nd problem is that my mobo and RAM suck. My mobo has a 350 FSB limit because anything over that forces me to raise PCI-E frequency above 105 which I don't think is safe.

I was thinking about selling the X6800 for ~$200 on eBay and picking up a E7500 for $120, thus making $80 in the process. Since the E7500 has high 11 multiplier, maybe I can do 11x350=3.85Ghz if it doesn't hit a temp wall. The E7500 is 45nm vs 65nm, has a TDP of 65W vs 75W, and has a max core temp of 84c vs 70c. I've thought about switching to Q9550 or E8400 but with my mobo's 350 FSB limit, I won't be able to overclock since the multipliers are too low.

So do you guys think I should swap the X6800 for E7500? Would a higher clock make up for 1mb cache difference? Will I see an improvement with a higher clocked E7500? Are there better alternatives? I prefer not to spend much(or any) money to swap out my mobo or ram, and I'm looking for a solution that will last 2 more years until Intel releases Ivy Bridge.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

If you can get those prices, then yes an E7500 would be a great upgrade. The extra clock speed would also mitigate and negate the loss in L2 cache size such that an E7500 at 3.8 GHz would easily best an X6800 at 3.1 GHz. The Wolfdale Core 2's also have a few tweaks which make it slightly more efficient per clock than the Conroes.

The lower temps and power savings are just icing on the cake. This is pretty much a no-brainer desion, IMO, if you can get the E7500 and actually make money in the transition. You'll also save a bit of money with the power savings.

It would be helpful, though, if you told us what applications you are looking to gain performance in. If it's gaming, then I would suggest you pony up for a Q9550 (or an E8400). The extra cache and extra cores (not in the E8400's case) would definitely give you a boost in performance even though you wouldn't be able to overclock it as high as you want. If you want it for media creation applications, then the quad core would definitely give you a big boost, although the E7xxx and E8xxx chips would also do this since they have a more instruction set(s) which make it more efficient than the E6xxx series for such applications (like video editing). You can check out Anandtech's bench (beta) to compare an E6850 to an E7500 or E8400 or Q9550 to see what kind of gain you would see.

Also I thought the X6800 had an unlocked multiplier; is this not the case with an engineering sample? You should be able to overclock via the multiplier on your chip, right?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: pwnerx
Avg room temp is 30-33c.

You need an air conditioner, not another CPU. There's nothing wrong with your CPU, besides the fact that you're trying to overclock it in a 91°F room.

 

[pwnerx]

Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
It would be helpful, though, if you told us what applications you are looking to gain performance in.

Web surfing + music + torrent + light programming + gaming @ 1920x1200 + occasional video encoding. A high-clocked dual core is sufficient for my current needs, but how much performance would I gain from a Q9550 when I move to Windows 7?

Originally posted by: cusideabelincoln
Also I thought the X6800 had an unlocked multiplier; is this not the case with an engineering sample? You should be able to overclock via the multiplier on your chip, right?

The X6800 is unlocked, but as myocardia mentioned, it's hot as hell in my room so basically any 65nm CPU I use will reach its maximum temperature threshold at stock voltage, which means I can't overclock 65nm >.> I'm hoping with a 45nm, I'll reach my mobo's 350FSB limit before the CPU's temperature limit.

Edit: I did some research and found out that Gigabyte P31s can't go over 340FSB unless PCI-e frequency is raised above 100. Apparently when going above 340FSB, PCI-e frequency must be set at FSB/3.33 in order to POST.

If you were me, which would you choose (for the next 2 years):

1. Keep the X6800 @ 3.16Ghz
2. Sell X6800 for $200, buy a E7500 for $120, and hopefully OC 11x340 = 3.74Ghz
3. Sell X6800 for $200, buy a E8400 for $160, and run at 9x340 = 3.06Ghz
4. Sell X6800 for $200, but a Q9550 for $220, and run at 8.5x340 = 2.89Ghz
5. Some other free/non-expensive alternative

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Ummm... option 3 would definitely be the best. If you really get $200 of your current processor, the Q9550 is worth the little extra money and IMO would easily last two years. Although options 2 or 3 would be equally as good as you would actually get money back and get slightly better performance, a cooler processor, and lower power requirements.

As for option 5, you could get one of the other Intel Quad Cores, like the Q8400 or Q9400. You would lose a little bit of performance in not-very-well-multithreaded applications, but you would get a big boost in apps that scale beyond two cores. You can see what it would be like to get a Q8400 compared to the performance of a stock E6850: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=89&p2=59

 

[M1A]

get another MB and sell your old one. Then go from their.

 

[Gillbot]

Get a better cooler and an air conditioner. My x6800 will do 4GHz and more before it gets close to a temp wall but i'm watercooled but my ambients are around 20°C.

 

[pwnerx]

AC isn't an option for me since it'll jack up my electricity bills maybe $1000 per year >.> It's hot 24/7/365 with avg of ~77f in winter months. Anyways, how much heat does a 45nm quad put out vs a 65nm dual? Q9550 has a TDP of 95W and X6800 is 75W, but what does this mean? What temperatures are people getting with a Q9550 E0 OCed to 4Ghz? If a 4Ghz Q9550 won't reach its temperature limit in my ~33c room, then I'd consider selling my cpu+mobo+ram and doling out ~$175 for a P45+Q9550+2x2gb 1066. In 2012, that system should be in midrange vs low-end if I go the E7500 route. Also, would my Earthwatts 500 provide enough juice for a quad?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: pwnerx
It's hot 24/7/365 with avg of ~77f in winter months.

Wow, have you considered moving out of hell?

Anyways, how much heat does a 45nm quad put out vs a 65nm dual?

Assuming they are the same clock speed, and the same amount of cores, ~80-85% as much heat as the 65nm variant.<<--- That's my guess, from owning both.

Q9550 has a TDP of 95W and X6800 is 75W, but what does this mean?

It means unless you buy an air conditioner, or start watercooling your CPU, you won't be able to have a quadcore, unless you underclock a slower one. TDP= the amount of heat that must be dissipated by your CPU cooler.

edit: BTW, you should read this article. You may very well not have your heatsink installed properly.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Yes, your Earthwatts 500W would handle the quad.

 

[faxon]

sell the CPU and get a Q9550, but then overclock it to 3.8GHz and beyond. these E0 quads usually do 3.6ghz on stock voltages or there abouts. my Q9650 did 4 on 1.296v lol