I have a Q9450 on the way. I'd like to take it 3.6 if I can make it rock solid 24/7 stable with video editing. Gaming is not an issue. Stability at 3.6 or even 3.2 is the big issue here.

I was thinking about purchasing a GIGABYTE GA-EX38-DQ6 for $269 but I'm wondering if I can save over $100 with a P35 board. I don't mind spending the extra money for the X38 if it buys me something that will help with my requirements mentioned above but why waste money for features that I won't use?

Should I be able to OC a GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3P or GIGABYTE GA-EP35C-DS3R just as easily as an X38?

I'll probably purchase 1066 OCZ RAM because OCZ has been good for me in the past.

Thanks.

Hmmm...that is a tough one. 3.6 is a respectable OC for the Q9450 with it's low multiplier. You will for sure have to up the MCH voltages for a 450MHz FSB. An X38 chipset would make obtaining those speeds easier but I don't think it is necessary. Even if you can't get to 3.6GHz on a P35, you should be able to come close.

I would check around the OCing threads and do some googling to see what mobos people are getting stable settings at 3.6GHz for P35s. This is just my opinion but if you want a guaranteed 3.6GHz and you have the extra money, I would stick with X38 to avoid the headaches. BUT, saving that $100 on the MOBO and putting it into something that will give you more performance gains is definitely worth the consideration.

Are you set on Gigabyte? ASUS P35s might OC a little better...it wouldn't hurt checking them out. Someone got their X3350 (the Xeon Q9450) up to a stable 3.8GHz with this ASUS board.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131237
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Yes, it is necessary. P35 runs at 1333mhz fsb natively, and can reliably oc its fsb to 1600mhz, which is 3.2ghz for Q9450. Many people manage to go higher, but you shouldn't count on it. For 3.6ghz, get a x38 board which runs at 1600mhz fsb natively, and can reliably oc to 2000+mhz.

^Agreed.

@OP: Make sure you have a good HSF, preferably a water cooled set up.

I'd be happy with 3.2 because that speed with the new instruction set it should be a screamer using Premiere and hopefully soon, Sony Vegas. However I do have one batch application that doesn't seem to be updated any more so that will never use the new instruction set

OK. So I guess I have a much better chance at stable 3.6 with X38. I could probably be 100% sure that I can get stable 3.2 with X.38 and maybe 95% sure with P35.

Let me see if I can find more OC information with P35. So far I've seen people claim 4.0 with X38.

Gigabyte also has the x38 DS4 thats about $65 cheaper with all the same important specs. ( imo atleast )

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That's what I have. Q6600@3.6ghz, 4.0ghz prime95 stable for one hour, but tuned it back to 3.6 for day to day operations. Satisfied with the board so far.

Water cooling is such a hassle even though it is the best solution next to N2. A good HS like you say will do just perfect with the 45nm quads seeing that they are doing pretty well in the temperature game. I take it you use water cooling shadow?

My air cooling stablizes at 70/70/68/68 full load Q6600 at 4ghz. So yeah, a good air cooler ought to be more than good enough to run Q9450 on. I've wanted a water cooling kit early on, but decided against it after people complained about problems of... algae growth, or leaks, or algae growth with leaks, spilling green goo on their motherboards...

Consider the GIGABYTE GA-EX38T-DQ6 which officially supports a 1333Mhz FSB or move to a X48 board. Even if the X48 is a better binned X38, from all the stuff I've read the X48 oc's way higher. In fact I liked the X48 so much, I bought it. They have resolved the 4 bank RAM issue with a bios upgrade I am led to believe.

I just found a Thermalright Ultima-90 which ain't water but should still do a good job.

Hey Dagger, what brand of RAM are you using? I was thinking about purchasing G.Skill 1066 but would prefer to get something less expensive at 800.

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Cheap ram. Stable at 1066mhz, but only after timing was loosened to 5/5/5/18.