Asus Maximus & QX9650 Overclocking?

Read the OC guide in the forums a couple of times, its stickied. Should help you out quite a bit. As for if thats enough vcore, couldn't tell you im not familar with the qx9650, but if it passes the stress test, and if its in the desired specifications and temps you should be good. You can find that out here.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/

I also recomend spending some time trying to find the lowest amount of voltage you can put through the CPU to get it stable at your desired speed. Helps reduce the heat it generates and doesn't reduce the chips life as much if less voltage is being sent through it. You can also check out what other people have gotten from the same family of CPU you have when they tried to OC it, it should give you an idea of what they got in terms of speed/vcore/problems/etc.

And remember to double check everything, and when you think your done double check everything a couple more times. More often than not it's the simpler things we overlook. Which reminds me, be sure to stress test your machine stock for a few minutes with some type of temperature monitor on to record the temp maxed out and idle. Gives you an idea of what kind of temperature increase you get due to the OC after your done. It's not nessary but it can save you an headache in some rare situations if you knew what you had to work with orginally.

Better to get a good cooler if you are overclocking:

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 67-12.html

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233019

don't forget to order the retention bracket because push pin mounting sucks.

Uh ok, for some reason I wasnt allowed to edit my last message o.O

Anyway, I have decided to buy a Xigmatek cooler which should arrive next few days.

QX9650 = £320 off ebay -> bargain!
8gb ram = £60 from a friend
Powercolor ATI Radeon 4870 = £160 on sale
Asus Maximus Formula Motherboard = £150 on sale
Hard Drive = £40

So to be honest It was a pretty cheap system. This case is only a temporary case until after Christmas. After that I will be getting either an Antec or Coolermaster one.

Thats what I thought. I was just gonna get a Q9450, then I saw that bad boy so I *had* to spend slightly more money to actually buy it, hence why I had to get a cheaper case

I am planning on selling this one after a few months when Nehalem comes out (and becomes readily available) and when more people will be wanting to get their hands on a Qaud Core because they cant afford Nehalems....at least thats the plan anyway lol

Lol, well if I sold it now I wouldnt have a processor to use xD

But from what I have seen the demand for Nehalem will be huge so prices will be high.

30 quid off ebuyer!lol
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139975

OC it to 3.4Ghz will keep you happy for now.

Yeah I didnt say I was gonna get it now, I said more when it was readily available (cheaper and more reviews etc).

In regards to case cooling for the overclocking.

I am thinking about getting the Antec Nine Hundred. Do you guys think that if I use all the fans here (2 front 1 top 1 rear 1 side) + the Xigmatek this would be enough to keep the QX9650 @ 3.6ghz ish nice and cool.

If you're overclocking, than i think you get a zalman cnps 9700 - its better (54$).

OCZ Vendetta 2 uses those horrible push pins. The thermalright ultra 120 is pretty much the same price and has a better mounting mechanism.

I wrote the thermalright ultra, not the thermalright ultra extreme (TRUE). Push pins can warp the motherboard, pop out for no reason and they degrade after several mount/dismounts. Now it may be the case that you have had a good experience with push pins but in the bigger picture, the majority are better off without push pins.