Hardware Question

[swaminathan]

heard that Ray posts in this forum.

S0...you are the guys with big hardwares.

Can anyone help me out?

1.Is Q9300 best value for money? Or is it still Q6600?

2.Do single cpu engines function well in tournaments without any problems in Quad?

3. How do i overclock? Do you have any useful links? there are so many links i can't seem to know which one is good.

4. Should i choose Xp 64 bits or Vista?

Thanks in advance.

[Shaun]

Hi,

first with computers the answer today may be wrong tomorrow

However today IMO...

Q6600 is fantastic value right now great chip and overclocks well...

I would avoid the Q9300 it is not as easy to overclock and has less hash, the Q9450 is more interesting but the current price of the Q6600 is perhaps just too good... as although the Q9450 will be cheaper to run (lower power consumption) the extra cost will not be paid for within a few year.

When buying a Q6600 it MUST be G0 stepping (should be advertised as such).

Single CPU engines run fine...

Check out the various overclockers forums you should find some good guides - I will look later.

I would go Vista 64-bit (this should also give you the righht to run XP if you decide this is better first).

Must go now but a couple of pointers

Shaun

I will try and add more later.

[Shaun]

Some guides...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/240 ... uals-guide

http://gameandtechreviews.wordpress.com ... ock-guide/

http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpus/289 ... guide.html

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1198647

a chess specific point...

If it is for chess (no gaming) then the graphics card is should be chosen for power consumption rather than 3d performance...

Something like the ATI 3450, or a motherboard with onboard graphics e.g. Gigabyte GA G33 DS3R, although this does not support DVI

I am waiting for the GA G45 DS3R / GA G43 DS3R....

Chess will also hammer the CPU so with the G0 Q6600 you should be aiming at a modest overclock something in the 3-3.2GHz range, you will be able to keep the vcore down to very safe levels...

Shaun

[Ray]

The Q6600 is superb value at the moment. If you want one you'll need to be reasonably quick, they are being phased out so won't be available to buy new in a month or so, maybe two. Shaun is more of an expert in this stuff than me

[swaminathan]

Thanks guys for useful replies, I have already bought Q6600

I will check out the overclocking stuff...i still prefer Xp 64 bit. I guess I have all other stuffs as well.

Thanks again...really appreciated