Can I manage a Core 2 Quad in my system?

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smeezekitty

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Sep 11, 2012
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I am still stuck with a socket 775 system and looking for an upgrade.

This is my motherboard: http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/G41M-S3/

I was wondering if I could handle upgrading to a core 2 quad Q6700 CPU?
Currently I am using an overclocked Core2Duo E6700 @ 3GHz

The Q6700 has a TDP 105w while the E6700 has a TDP of 65w.

The motherboard has a 4 phase VRM.

My main concerns are blowing up my VRMs or my CPU cooler not being able to cope
(my heatsink is OEM from HP and is chunkier than the Intel HSF)
 
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A Q9450 should work fine and it performs slightly better than a Q6700. If the motherboard supports 105W processors, then I don't understand why you're so worried. A 4 phase VRM doesn't limit the CPU that you can install; if the components are good quality, then you'll be fine. You obviously shouldn't try to overclock a quad core with that motherboard.

Edit: If you don't absolutely need a Quad, have you considered the 65W E8400? You could overclock it if you can overclock the E6700. http://anandtech.com/bench/product/51?vs=56
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smeezekitty

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I already confirmed that it is on the supported list but maybe I am just paranoid.
Officially it supports it, but why not go with a Q95xx CPU that requires less power? Does your CPU cooler blow on the VRMs to cool them?
Click to expand...

Yes the CPU cooler does blow across the VRMs.

What about a Q9450?
 
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GhislainG

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A Q9450 should work fine and it performs slightly better than a Q6700. If the motherboard supports 105W processors, then I don't understand why you're so worried. A 4 phase VRM doesn't limit the CPU that you can install; if the components are good quality, then you'll be fine. You obviously shouldn't try to overclock a quad core with that motherboard.

Edit: If you don't absolutely need a Quad, have you considered the 65W E8400? You could overclock it if you can overclock the E6700. http://anandtech.com/bench/product/51?vs=56
 
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smeezekitty

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Well you see I was kind of wanting to try to OC it a little because I didn't want to lose single core performance.

And I suspect a E8400 is not enough gain to be worth upgrading. It looks like the G41 chipset
walls out around 345MHz so even 333 is a bit of a struggle. That is kind of why I am leaning towards (power hungry)
1066MHz FSB chips like the Q6700

Or maybe go out and spring more $$$ and get a Q9550 with a 8.5x multiplier and
hopefully my board is stable at 333 FSB+. Maybe I could even push it up to 340 FSB
so I would only be losing 110 MHz? Obviously going to be rough on the VRMs and cooler

 
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GhislainG

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You already know that it won't work at 340 MHz since 333 MHz is the max. That limits your options to the Q6600/Q6700 if you want to overclock, but you'll have to make sure the VRMs are kept as cool as possible. The Q9550 is supported and it should run fine if you don't overclock.
 
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smeezekitty

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Why do you say 333 is max? The BIOS will let me set up to 800MHz.

When I go over 333 it locks the PCI-E speed to 102MHz
Apparently the G41 chipset has a quirk where the FSB can be raised further if the PCI-E clock is increased above 100. I still wish it would let me adjust it manually.

But it makes me think just maybe a Q9550 could be overclocked. Atleast maybe reach 2.9GHz?
 
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