What Should My New Processor Be

[Miles]

With the 45nm processors making their debut and the huge overclocking results I'm seeing with them, I feel the need for more speed.

Here are my choices:

E8400: TDP 65 Watts 3.0GHz Price ~$225.00
E8500: TDP 65 Watts 3.16GHz Price ~ $275.00

Q9450: TDP 130 Watts 2.66GHz Price ~ $300

The E8400 & E8500 are already OC'ing well over 4.0 GHz and I've seen them as high as 4.7GHz. They should run 4.2GHz and keep the Vcore under the magic number of 1.45V. Intel has stated that anything >1.45V will help to rapidly degrade the processor.

Haven't seen much on the Q6450 as there are only engineering samples floating around. What do you think?

['Amp!']

I say e8400 but wait for a bit until they get that issue worked out with the thermal diodes reporting all kinds of wack a do temps.

Quad core is (at this point) a marketing check box.

[werty316]

I second that on the E8400 as that chip seems to be the sweet spot for price vs. performance when it comes to the Wolfdale CPUs; plus paying an extra $50 to step up to the E8500 just for 160Mhz ain't to my liking.

[tyle6]

From what ive seen so far the 8400 is the new 4300. I actually just upgraded to a 780i so i could move to 45nm. Im still not sure on what proccy im going with either. The lil 8400`s seem to clock to hell but I am thinkin about going quad as i do a good bit of video encoding from time to time. Id like to see how this q6450 turns out, It might just be my answer.

[Miles]

I say e8400 but wait for a bit until they get that issue worked out with the thermal diodes reporting all kinds of wack a do temps.

Quad core is (at this point) a marketing check box.

That is definitely a factor that I'm considering, might be why the quads haven't really surface yet except for the QX6650. I also wonder how much of this might be MB BIOS related as some are having the issues and some are not. It may be just have been a certain batch of chips as well.

['Amp!']

Here are my choices:

E8400: TDP 65 Watts 3.0GHz Price ~$225.00
E8500: TDP 65 Watts 3.16GHz Price ~ $275.00

Q6450: TDP 130 Watts 2.66GHz Price ~ $300



Now if my math is correct
E8400 = 9.0 multi
E8500 = 9.5 Multi

Q6450 = 8.0 Multi

To reach 4.0 Ghz
E8400 = 445 FSB
E8500 = 422 FSB

Q6450 = 500 FSB


Just something to consider with this new 333MHz FSB

[Victor]

I don't think ther'es such thing as Q6450, I think you meant Q9450:). For OC purpose, i would say that get the one with higest multiplier as the new core will only OC well if it has high multiplier since all mobo currently have a limitation of 450-500FSB. I would say E8400 is the choice as the .5 multiplier won't be the factor when you OC.

I think your Q6600 really should be a good enough CPU for now since it's OC fairly well to about 3.6 and there's really no need to go for the new CPU unless you plan to pass the 4GHz.

personally I am thinking of the Q9450 but I haven't made up my mind yet.

[srpeters18]

Hmmm, I'm at a 426 FSB right now, maybe I'll be upgrading as well!

[Miles]

I don't think ther'es such thing as Q6450, I think you meant Q9450:). For OC purpose, i would say that get the one with higest multiplier as the new core will only OC well if it has high multiplier since all mobo currently have a limitation of 450-500FSB. I would say E8400 is the choice as the .5 multiplier won't be the factor when you OC.

I think your Q6600 really should be a good enough CPU for now since it's OC fairly well to about 3.6 and there's really no need to go for the new CPU unless you plan to pass the 4GHz.

personally I am thinking of the Q9450 but I haven't made up my mind yet.

I hate typos, especially when they're mine:frown: My Q6600 at stock speed outperforms my E6850 at stock speed in a lot of respects. So maybe you're right Victor. Not about upgrading, but about the Q9450.

[Xantor]

E8400 and overclock it :icon_tiphat:

[tyle6]

he he, thats a pretty funny typo as we all just went with it too!
What sort of offering are there ATM in the quad core 1333fsb line-up? currently only the extreme are available i believe? We could see the rest of the Q9x50 line end up being great OC'ers