OCing Q6600 vs QX6700

[Finrir]

yea it's me again. ok i had my mind set on buying the Q6600, but when one4u2c said this:

With Intel's Extreme branded processors (those designated with an 'X'), the CPU multiplier is unlocked, meaning you can increase it. Non extreme chips, like the Q6600, are multiplier locked, meaning you can only decrease the stock multiplier, and not increase it. Increasing the multiplier can be desirable in that it offers an almost effortless overclock, and your RAM isn't affected. You're also not bound by your motherboard's ability to run a higher base frequency (commonly referred to as a frontside bus, or fsb).

and yellohello said this:

The "extreme" line from Intel has an unlocked multiplier, so you can OC the CPU without touching the FSB.

now i am confused. i'm not very computer savvy, and i don't really have alot of confidence when i comes to overclocking... mainly because i've never done it before and i don't know what i'm doing. i've never messed with bios before. the most education i got on the bios was just what it does and it's purpose. so when you say it's easier to over clock the QX, it makes me lean toward that. but, the price tag of $266 is very attractive too... i guess what i want to know is how hard is it to clock something like the Q6600 compared to QX6700? and what does the statement "RAM isn't affected and you're not bound by the speed of your mobos base frequency." and finally, how would i OC something like the Q6600 compared to the QX6700. how different would the process be?(if that doesn't sound like my first question)

[gvblake22]

A certain chip being "hard" or "easy" to overclock is a very relative term. When we say that the QX6700 is fairly easy to overclock, we mean that you can (attempt to) go from a stock speed of 2660MHz (which is 266*10) to 2926MHz (266*11) by simply increasing the CPU's internal clock speed multiplier from 10 to 11. This effectively eliminates any possible overclocking bottlenecks from the motherboard and RAM (because the FSB doesn't change). You still have the option of increasing the FSB as well, but that will depend on the potential of your motherboard and RAM.

Compare that to overlcocking a non "extreme" version processor like the Q6600 and you can only achieve higher CPU clock speeds by increasing the FSB, which depends almost entirely on your RAM and motherboard's potential for overclocking. Catch the drift?

In terms of value, I have a really hard time justifying the price of the QX6700 unless you are one of those benchmark freaks that just has to have the fastest processor on the block in order to get a few hundred more points in 3DMark. The Q6600 is still a very capable processor and (when paired with the right motherboard and RAM) can also be overclocked to very high speeds as well...

[Dr. V]

Basically, the only difference between the chips (besides the clock speed) is the multiplier. The Q6600 has a default (and highest) multiplier of 7, and a FSB of 343 making it run at 2401MHz (someone please correct that if it's off). The QX6700 has a default multiplier of 10, and a FSB of 266, making it run (obviously) at 2.66GHz.

What the hell is a multiplier?

It's the value of which the FSB is multiplied to give you the CPU's clock speed. This should be evident now.

With the Q6600, if you want to OC it, there is nothing you can do except raise the FSB value. For example if I wanted to run it at 3.0GHz, I'd have to raise the FSB to 429 to get a clock speed of 3003MHz. Either way, it always has to multiply by 7. For the QX6700, you could simply raise the multiplier to 12 (for example), and have the chip running at 3192MHz.

The FSB effects the RAM as well, depending on what the ratio is. You could always adjust that to the speed you want. But, with the QX6700 you aren't touching the FSB, so only the CPU is affected. However, with a 680i motherboard, this doesn't matter at all since you can completely unlink the CPU from the RAM and OC independently.

So the question: Is it worth it to get the QX6700 for its unlocked multiplier and 0.26MHz higher default clock speed? More than likely not. You will probably easily get the Q6600 up to the QX6700, and surely beyond. A lot of boards now are able to easily handle higher FSBs, and as it's a bit more of a risk, the insane price difference isn't justifiable for really only the unlocked multiplier.

In terms of the difference in processes, they're all in there. For the Q6600 it's necessary to tinker with the FSB, but the QX6700, it isn't - but of course you still can.

Originally Posted by gvblake22

In terms of value, I have a really hard time justifying the price of the QX6700 unless you are one of those benchmark freaks that just has to have the fastest processor on the block in order to get a few hundred more points in 3DMark. The Q6600 is still a very capable processor and (when paired with the right motherboard and RAM) can also be overclocked to very high speeds as well...

A 680i motherboard (eVGA) and a good, solid kit of DDR2-800 RAM like Crucial Ballistix, OCZ Platinum Revision 2 XTC, or even some Corsair XMS2 sets will give you an awesome OCing base. Don't forget to check out our recommended hardware lists, and you can ALWAYS post some parts you had in mind and we can help you out. That's why we're here.

[One4yu2c]

Finrir, don't even consider the QX6700, and here's why:

1) The obvious point; price. At $970, you're being asked to grab your ankles whilst Intel makes selfish love to you, and no, they won't call afterwards.

2) While having an unlocked multiplier is nifty, today's motherboards make the overclocking process so much easier than it has ever been before. It used to be that you'd have to switch jumpers and dip switches on the motherboard itself, among other nifty tricks, and you still wouldn't approach the amount of OCing freedom we have today.

3) While you may be an overclocking virgin, you have stumbled upon HardwareLogic, and that means you have access to a very experienced userbase, which includes HL staff. While our focus isn't geared specifically towards overclocking, we are dedicated to the new/upcoming enthusiast, which, among other things, includes OCing education.

4) Once you familiarize yourself with the BIOS and finer points of overclocking, you'll look back on the premium you paid for the QX6700 and, well, curse Intel for not calling (see point #1).

5) And finally, with plans to overclock, you're forced to learn some fundamentals about how computers (and the BIOS) operate, and that's always a good thing. The process has probably already begun, as I'm guessing that prior to coming to HL, you didn't know that a processor's clockspeed is determined by the base frequency (fsb) x CPU multiplier. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. As you get further into overclocking, you're learn about dividers, the RAM, and how it's all connected. You can get the same experience on a QX6700, but if you simply increase the multiplier and call it day, you'll have a faster, more expensive processor than what you began with, but not a deeper knowledge of your system.

[Dr. V]

Originally Posted by One4yu2c

Finrir, don't even consider the QX6700, and here's why:

1) The obvious point; price. At $970, you're being asked to grab your ankles whilst Intel makes selfish love to you, and no, they won't call afterwards.

2) While having an unlocked multiplier is nifty, today's motherboards make the overclocking process so much easier than it has ever been before. It used to be that you'd have to switch jumpers and dip switches on the motherboard itself, among other nifty tricks, and you still wouldn't approach the amount of OCing freedom we have today.

3) While you may be an overclocking virgin, you have stumbled upon HardwareLogic, which means you have access to a very experienced userbase, which includes HL staff. While our focus isn't geared specifically towards overclocking, we are dedicated to the new/upcoming enthusiast, which, among other things, includes OCing education.

4) Once you familiarize yourself with the BIOS and finer points of overclocking, you'll look back on the premium you paid for the QX6700 and, well, curse Intel for not calling (see point #1).

5) And finally, with plans to overclock, you're forced to learn some fundamentals about how computers (and the BIOS) operate, and that's always a good thing. The process has probably already begun, as I'm guessing that prior to coming to HL, you didn't know that a processor's clockspeed is determined by the base frequency (fsb) x CPU multiplier. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. As you get further into overclocking, you're learn about dividers, the RAM, and how it's all connected. You can get the same experience on a QX6700, but if you simply increase the multiplier and call it day, you'll have faster, more expensive processor, but not a deeper knowledge of your system.

All well said, but #5 is my favourite.

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by ST!X

All well said, but #5 is my favourite.

Me too.

I'd go for the Q6600 because it's cheap (and I have heard that that chip OC easily). You can always get back to us if you need help OCing.

[Dr. V]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Me too.

I'd go for the Q6600 because it's cheap (and I have heard that that chip OC easily). You can always get back to us if you need help OCing.

For all the points in that post.

[Finrir]

good deal. i'll go with the Q6600. thanks for the help. ;)

[Dr. V]

Originally Posted by Finrir

good deal. i'll go with the Q6600. thanks for the help. ;)

More than happy bro, that's why we're here!

[Finrir]

ok i have another question. is there any difference in the quality of the overclock between the Q6600 and the QX6700?