Is there any point in taking a q9550/4870x2 rig over 3.4 Ghz?

[carlosdelondres]

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on whether it is worth overclocking past 3.4 with this rig -

P5Q pro (400 Mhz FSB)
Q9550 (3.4 Ghz on 1.2 v)
4GB DDR2 800 @ 5-4-4-15, 2.1v
4870x2 stock speeds

Completely stable at these settings, and only overclocking the cpu, everything else within spec, and max temps of 59-60 on Core 0, all other cores between 51-55, so feel quite comfortable...

But...

I have taken it up to 3.9 Ghz on 1.3v, 2.2v 6-6-6-18, 1.3v NB. Wasn't entirely stable, but enough so that I'm sure a bit of fiddling would have got it there (I'm sure it could have done with a bit more voltage to the cpu, and could probably have tightened those timings a bit...).

At 3.9 my Vantage score was up by about 1500 points, from 13,000 ish at 3.4, but no noticeable gain in games.

So, the question is, is it worth the amount of fiddling etc. to get a stable config close to 4 Ghz?

I was interested to note that the 4870x2 was still scaling in Vantage at those speeds, getting the impression its score would keep going up with faster cpu speeds...

 

[rawsteel]

no you dont need to go over 3.4

You wont notice any difference as your Video will be the limiting factor in this situation.

Quad 3.4 is More than enough for any game at the moment. And assuming you have such rig you probably play at high res then even more the limiting factor applies to your VC

 

[bornking]

None whatsoever.
I have the q9550 oc'd to 3.0 and it kicks bum.
Vantage and 3dmark are only used for measurable increases with OCing but in reality they are for bragging rights.
Don't do it.
3.0 is fine!

 

[rodney_ws]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ePenis

 

[carlosdelondres]

Cool, cheers, will stop fiddling with my ePenis then...

I hear it makes you go blind anyway ;-)

 

[badge]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=epussy

 

[carlosdelondres]

Oh ffs

 

[sailer]

My opinion: Pushing up the ghz high will get better 3Dmark scores, maybe impress someone who thinks about such things, and give you headaches when the system bobbles. Only for a very select few apps will it do much good. Of course, its just as easy to simply tell people that you run a high ghz without actually doing it.

 

[geofelt]

I doubt that you will see a difference.
To prove this, back off your overclock some, and see if you notice anything.

 

[one-shot]

I overclock just to push the limit. I don't really care if someone's E8600 reaches 4.6Ghz when my E6750 is @ 3.7Ghz. I could turn it down lower in games but it helps if I use other programs that benefit from increased clock speed. I won't use the CPU past 2 years so if it dies sooner I can just replaced it with new tech. I just want to get the most out of my money so I run it to the limit I feel comfortable with. If 3.4Ghz is good for you, then leave it at 3.4Ghz.

 

[radguy]

3.4 quad is pretty good but you would see some increase in fps in cpu bound stuff at a higher fps. Look at core i7 performance with 2 4870s or 4870x2 to see what games. FC2 Cysis etc might gets some fps jumps. But if your games arent I would just leave it at 3.4 unless you aren't happy.