Which Quad Core should I get?

[TonyStark]

Gonna buy a quad core intel processor for my new build, is the Q6600 a wise choice? They are pretty cheap these days and are great overclockers. All I care about is overclock, and performance (in games). Mostly I use my machine for browsing, trading/investing etc. Games are the only thing that will stress my system.

So, should I get the Q6600 or some other Quad core?

[calvary1980]

they are terrible overclockers.

- Christine

[hat]

Newest batches don't get far beyond 3.6GHz.

[JrRacinFan]

If your really truly hipped on going quad, up it to a Q6700. ;)

[Kursah]

Well a Q6600 @ 3.6 is nothing to scoff at for gaming...really a stock Q6600 right now is fine for any game out there for the most part...the video power on the other hand...

My Q6600 hits 3.6 but takes 1.45v to get there...it's from a March batch. I game a lot and I know it's more CPU speed than I need to game.

:toast:

[BarbaricSoul]

q9450 if you can, if not, a q6700

the q6600 is a good performing quad though.

[BarbaricSoul]

Newest batches don't get far beyond 3.6GHz.

when did they go farther(on air I'm talking about.)

[calvary1980]

early-mid 2007. you won't reach 3.6Ghz, the one in my specs was 1 of 10+ quality batches.

- Christine

[OzzmanFloyd120]

Go with the Q6600, you won't notice any difference between 3.6ghz and 4ghz.

[dark2099]

If you are going to game, then anything more than dual core isn't truly going to help since no games can truly use the full power of a quad core.

[ShadowFold]

Get a E8400 till Nahalem or maybe AMD's Am3 stuff if they dont suck.

[OzzmanFloyd120]

Get a E8400 till Nahalem or maybe AMD's Am3 stuff if they dont suck.

That's if he has a budget that's open to $2000+

[TonyStark]

3.4GHz is plenty. The rest of the system will include X38 and probably HD4870's in xfire.


That's if he has a budget that's open to $2000+

Definitely not. :)

[Paulieg]

My suggestion...If you are going to get a Q6600, do some research on the good batches, and try to pick one up used. I picked up 3 Q6600's with March 08 pack dates, and NONE of them would clock over 3.4. One of them took 1.45v to get past 3.3ghz. :eek::mad:

[Viscarious]

Even if you left it at the stock speeds, you wont use all its power unless you run stuff like CAD or 3Dsmax.

Also, name 1 game that uses four cores.

[Paulieg]

Supreme Commander?? Not sure, as I don't game that much.

[Psychoholic]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2quad-q6600_8.html#sect0


Quad core helps more than people think.. even if games run 2 processes, there are background processes that can be run on the other two cores while you're gaming.

[Paulieg]

If your really truly hipped on going quad, up it to a Q6700. ;)

The new batches of Q6700's are just as bad as the Q6600's...and you pay more for them.

[JrRacinFan]

The new batches of Q6700's are just as bad as the Q6600's...and you pay more for them.

O rly? I've heard nothing but good things, but I can only take your word for it bro.

[TonyStark]

For the Q6600, the G0 stepping was the one that overclocks better right?


Q9450 looks alright and is in my price range. These guys clocked it to 3.2GHz on 1.175 volts:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/intel_q9450/3.htm

[Firedomain]

i wonder what cooling there using for that....
i have a q6600 G0 on stock & it runs superbly....
mainly used it for gamign & loved it... + with there cheaper price now its still a good bargain...

[Judas]

I would go for a an E8400 that is if you do have the "benching sickness" other wise for gaming you would not see an difference using a quad over an E8400

[Firedomain]

with the talk about 8 & 16 cores i'd expect game designers to sooner or later utilize multiple cores a lot better... will b good 2 1day have 16cores.......

[UnkAsn93]

I like the Q6600

They're kentsfield, right?

[Kei]

Get a E8400 till Nahalem or maybe AMD's Am3 stuff if they dont suck.

I completely agree that your money is far better spent on an E8400 or if you want just a little more speed to feel better then E8500. A quad core system for you would be a complete waste judging by your use.

I built a quad core for a reason as I'll use all four cores and am looking to get another 4Gigs of memory as I'm really hurting with just 2Gigs right now. Even though I have a quad core I don't use all four cores everyday all day...including games. When I'm not using the 4 cores I shut two down and only power on the other two when I need them...for you I can't see you ever needing all four at any time so a really fast dual core is the smartest option. It's faster for gaming and the general things you wish to do as well as cheaper.

I hope that our advice can help you choose the system that would be right for you and not just what "sounds good". Please don't fall into the trap that so many others on the internet have fallen into... :)

K