To quad core or not to quad core

[BerticusPryme]

Ok I am getting ready to get a new build going on here soon and hopefully get started on a worklog (w00t for tax season). I had some ideas as to what I was going to do but have since changed my mind as I really wasn't happy with the setup I had made. I now have everything that I want as my goal thus far is to future-proof it so I have to buy very few parts if any for upgrades. I am dead set on everything shy of one thing...... do I got with the dual core e8400 or quad core 6600. I might do some mild overclocking and form what I understand the e8400 is built for it. So any input on this from any one running either proc or people just wanting to help out would be cool.

[Fuganater]

Well I have a Q6700 and an E6600. Both are great cores but I can OC my Quand and see maybe 1-3 degree change in temp. I'm happy I bought mine (good deal). But keep in mind that the 45nm is just around the bend....

[crenn]

If you want to future proof your PC, then a quad core is proberly a better option, and you can get decent overclocks from the q6600 (I've got mine currently running at 3.15GHz... my bottle neck is my RAM) but a e8400 will still work fine.

[BerticusPryme]

thats what I been thinking. I mean it is a quad core and only ahandful of games and apps really support quad right now but over the next few months it is going to get better. I was going to get either the evga 680i or the evga 780i board.the wife came in and asked is this what you were wanting and handed me a 780i evga board. man I love my wife. SO.....because of this I have decided to go with that board.

[Luke122]

I've got an E8400, and I'm just in the process of building it right now, so I'll post some benchmarks this week. Hmm.. I wonder if I can convince the boss I need a Q6600 too... then I could just swap CPU's and bench again..

I'll get back to you on this one. :)

[BerticusPryme]

sweet!!! cant wait to see your build man. from what I am gathering the e8400 has seen some insane overclocks like 4.2 on air alone. the temps were a little high for my taste but thats insane. I really would like to see some benchmarks on the two for comparison.thanks alot man

[Scotty]

If Luke can't get hold of a Q6600, our builds are quiet similar. Not dead on, but there wouldn't be much difference with CPU related tasks and such, 3DMark i think he would beat me with 8800GT SLi, but yea.

[Fuganater]

She got you a 780i??? Dude they are still like $400?? :( I am deff jealous now...

[Luke122]

I just got the cpu/cooler onto the mobo, and mounted the board quickly. Sitting inthe bios, the E8400 is idling at 44'C. Seems abit warm to me..

Does anyone else here have the Zalman CNPS9700NT? Am I the only one who thinks this thing is a bitch to mount? The screws to hold the cooler to the bracket should be longer!!!!

[Fuganater]

My quad is idles at 37'C and during a game its around 42'C. This is with the stock Intel cooler too.

[BerticusPryme]

That is kinda warm. I got a zalman 9500 and i helped with a 9700. yeah the screws feel like they should be longer. I would expect the temps to be lower than that. did you the thermal stuff that came with it or aftermarket stuff. Also the 780i are on sale right now on newegg. here is the link for it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024.
They got it there for 279. this is the board i have.

[Luke122]

I used the Zalman thermal paste, but a few sites said it was good stuff. I do have AS5 here as well, so if the temps dont drop soon, I'll replace it.

Also, i'm going to replace the screws with longer ones.. I just dont trust those ones enough.. seemed kind flimsy to me.

Another possibility on the heat issue.. I was SHOCKED to see that the 2 - 92mm fans on the rear of the case... ARE INTAKES. WTF Silverstone? I swapped them around to exhausts, so that should help. The Zalman was blowing back to them, and they were blowing back into the Zalman. *sigh*

I also pulled the 2 - 120mm's from the top to confirm their direction, and all is well up there.

I'll be watching temps VERY CAREFULLY for the next few hours.

[Fuganater]

Still.... $279 for a mobo is a bit much.

[Scotty]

Yea Luke Airflow is a bitch in the TJ07, think i should have had the top 2 blowing out, the 92s pulling in tbh. atm i have it like this top ones, furthest back is off (can be used as intake) other 120mm is on (outtake) top 92mm off (outtake) bottom 92 intake.

[BerticusPryme]

it's alot better than 400 like they were originally. yeah I am debating on a case also and have decided on getting a stacker 830. I really like the design of it and with the mod I got planned it would work really well. I have just about decided to go with the q6600 though as far as procs go.

[Luke122]

Q6600 is nice, you wont be disappointed.

[crenn]

Agreed, a good heatsink and you can overclock far!