Ok so the whole Intel Purchase Program thing I've been ranting about for the past couple months is finally given a date and prices. On June 2nd we will be allowed to buy one of the following (or potentially one of each depending on your ranking):
Lenovo IdeaPad Y510: $499
Core 2 Quad QX6700: $199
Core 2 Quad QX6850: $239
I have all of the following parts (I just need the CPU):
Apevia X-Navigator Case
XFX MB-N780-ISH9 780i Tri-SLI Motherboard
Patriot Viper 8GB (2GBx4) DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 w/Heatspreaders RAM
BFG 9800GTX OC (x2)
Zalman CNPS9700NT 110mm LED CPU Fan
So the question becomes this: What do I do about the processor? Firstly when I do the purchase program I will get the QX6850. Its a 65nm Extreme (meaning unlocked multiplier) on a 1333 FSB with 8MB L2 Cache at 3.0 GHz. Normally this thing retails for $999. Their are other options though. For example I could buy a Q6600 and OC it to a 1333 FSB giving it the same specifications as the QX6850. Or even better I could buy a Q9450 which has a larger cache of 12MB and OC it to a 1600 FSB for a final clockspeed of 3.2 GHz, better specifications than the QX6850. If I do either of the latter cases I will of course sell the QX6850 and recoop a large portion of the cost it has taken to buy my computer parts. But would it be a better idea to keep it? Is the unlocked multiplier really all that great? Its also a 65nm CPU and the reason I got my motherboard is for Tri-SLI and 45nm CPU support. To me, the idea of the Q9450 and selling of the QX6850 is best because at the 1600 FSB I'd be running it at it would (at least on paper) beat out the QX6850 in FSB speed, cache size, power consumption (45nm), and final clock speed. Even if I were to lower the multiplier of the QX6850 and increase the bus speed, I've heard Extreme processors are very picky about bus speeds. So, what in you guys opinion the best thing to do?
On a side note, this is killing me having all these parts and not being able to test this thing out (itll be my first PCIe system!) do you guys have any recommendations of a cheap Core 2 Duo that overclocks really well that I could use until June 2nd? Or should I go check out eBay?
Lenovo IdeaPad Y510: $499
Core 2 Quad QX6700: $199
Core 2 Quad QX6850: $239
I have all of the following parts (I just need the CPU):
Apevia X-Navigator Case
XFX MB-N780-ISH9 780i Tri-SLI Motherboard
Patriot Viper 8GB (2GBx4) DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 w/Heatspreaders RAM
BFG 9800GTX OC (x2)
Zalman CNPS9700NT 110mm LED CPU Fan
So the question becomes this: What do I do about the processor? Firstly when I do the purchase program I will get the QX6850. Its a 65nm Extreme (meaning unlocked multiplier) on a 1333 FSB with 8MB L2 Cache at 3.0 GHz. Normally this thing retails for $999. Their are other options though. For example I could buy a Q6600 and OC it to a 1333 FSB giving it the same specifications as the QX6850. Or even better I could buy a Q9450 which has a larger cache of 12MB and OC it to a 1600 FSB for a final clockspeed of 3.2 GHz, better specifications than the QX6850. If I do either of the latter cases I will of course sell the QX6850 and recoop a large portion of the cost it has taken to buy my computer parts. But would it be a better idea to keep it? Is the unlocked multiplier really all that great? Its also a 65nm CPU and the reason I got my motherboard is for Tri-SLI and 45nm CPU support. To me, the idea of the Q9450 and selling of the QX6850 is best because at the 1600 FSB I'd be running it at it would (at least on paper) beat out the QX6850 in FSB speed, cache size, power consumption (45nm), and final clock speed. Even if I were to lower the multiplier of the QX6850 and increase the bus speed, I've heard Extreme processors are very picky about bus speeds. So, what in you guys opinion the best thing to do?
On a side note, this is killing me having all these parts and not being able to test this thing out (itll be my first PCIe system!) do you guys have any recommendations of a cheap Core 2 Duo that overclocks really well that I could use until June 2nd? Or should I go check out eBay?