E6600 or Q6600 for overclock to 3GHz?

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DarkStranger

Geek Trainee
First, here's part of my intended set up:

Motherboard

Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R, iP35 Express, S775, PCI-E(x16),
DDR2 & DDR3 1066/1333/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX

RAM

Corsair 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 1066MHz/PC2-8500 XMS2 Dominator Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-15) E.P.P. DHX Technology Lifetime Warranty

Graphics

BFG 8800GTX OC version 600MHz 768MB 2xDVI GDDR3 PCI-E

CPU Cooler

Zalman CNPS9500

I intend to do a simple overclock with the CPU, be it the E6600 or the Q6600, to around 3GHz.

I've heard that the Q6600 is locked to a maximum multiplier of 9.

If I did that and had the FSB at 9x333 = 1333

a) what speed would the RAM run at? I'd like a 1:1 ratio so wouldn't this mean it running at 1333? Can the RAM quoted run that fast?

b) have I picked decent motherboard? I like the look of it as it supports 1333 FSB, quad core and DDR2 & DDR3 RAM.

Would it be safer for now to get the E6600 and run it at say 266x11 to give near 3GHz? I hear you don't have to change the core voltage to achieve this as you would with the Q6600 so it might be safer.

Also, as a quad core CPU is not that much of an advantage in gaming just yet, wouldn't it be better to upgrade in future to an unlocked quad core when one becomes cheaper?

Just want to make sure I get the right parts for the job! Thanks.
 
roy92 said:
yeah, I would go for the dual core. simply overclocks are much better with those chips.
Click to expand...

A knowledgable shop assistant just informed me that the E6600 is locked to a multiplier of 9 so I would have to raise the FSB to 333 to get to 3GHz. The motherboard would be ok with this as it supports 1333 FSB.

My RAM would probably be running at a ratio of 4:5 but he said this was fine.
 
all up your system would be able to hit 3ghz no sweat.

but concerning quad and duo, being able to upgrade to quad is good, but I wouldnt blow my cash on it right now.
 
roy92 said:
all up your system would be able to hit 3ghz no sweat.

but concerning quad and duo, being able to upgrade to quad is good, but I wouldnt blow my cash on it right now.
Click to expand...

I can get a Q6600 for £30 more than the E6600. There's a price drop coming in the next week or so you see. I was quoted about £150 for an E6750.
 
oooh.... thats a nice gap :O ; I would say get the quad, but wait till others put it their suggestions.
 
To save the hassle of any overclocking, would an E6850 be better as it runs at 3GHz and 1333 FSB at stock?

Cost is just under that of a Q6600.

Is it best to run RAM at a 1:1 ratio or is it not bad to run it at another ratio? If I had an E6850 the RAM would actually run at 3.2:4
 
I would get the 6850 just to save from touching the voltage. might be better value too:D

for the ram ratio, it really depends on your gear. 1:1 means that the same data goes in and out. But you can change that and get 4:3 ratio so you have to compromise in one area (slow RAM and a mobo with a high FSB) it really depends your gear.
 
im getting the quad cpu.. as itis now cheaper here in aus than the E6600 and its better.. plus overclocking voids the warrenty so if u burn it out by trying to push it too hard too fast ur stuck with a dead $300+
 
xXSNIPERXx said:
im getting the quad cpu.. as itis now cheaper here in aus than the E6600 and its better.. plus overclocking voids the warrenty so if u burn it out by trying to push it too hard too fast ur stuck with a dead $300+
Click to expand...

Ended up getting the E6850 @ 3GHz so wont need to overclock ;-) Less hassle. Only problem is I think my motherboard is faulty :-( Have set up another thread asking for help on that one.
 
i currently have the e6600 and im seriously thinking of going for the q6600, ive not tried overclocking though, never saw that i needed to. my question is the same as yours. would overall system speed increase with quad?
 
I have no expirience with the Q6600 but with E6600 and E6300 and the E6XXX
is easy to overcklok. Your mainboard is also very good for that.

My E6300 is running on 3.0GHz sabel and without to change the voltage!!!
the best was 3.2GHZ with a little bit raising the vCore Voltage. But it was on an older Gigabyte model with P965 Chipset.

I recommend to cool the Chipset too!
 
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