Motherboard fsb will limit Q9450 OC

[vonfeldt7]

I was reading up on a few threads (different forum) about the Q6600 and the Q9450. Most people were complaining about the fact that the Q9450 has 8X multiplier, while the Q6600 has a 9X Multiplier. I knew this before, but didn't really think much of it until I read this:

The 8x multiplier will limit the Q9450 on many boards due to the fsb limits. So, instead of getting 3.6 GHz at 9 x 400 MHz fsb[Q6600], you need 8 x 450 MHz[Q9450]. So instead of a 1600 fsb, which is pretty simple for the 780i to achieve, you need an 1800 fsb, which is a little tougher. And if you want to hit 4 GHz, you need a 2000 MHz fsb, which will be tough to achieve on the current hardware.

After reading this I'm getting slightly concerned. I want to have my Q9450 at 4GHz or more (at least in the future, when the Q9450 becomes outdated and is deemed "slow"), but would my motherboard be able to handle it? My motherboard is the X38 Maximus Formula. It has a fsb of 1333/1600. This is obviously less than the 2000MHz needed to OC the Q9450 to 4GHz.

Can somebody tell me if this'll work (without potentially damaging my motherboard?)

 

[Geoff]

I wouldn't really worry about it. I actually lowered the multiplier on my Q6600 to 8x, since I can actually achieve the same clock speed on both. Right now I have my FSB at 475MHz, which puts the bus speed at 1900MHz. I've had it all the way up to 2000MHz with no problem either.

 

[vonfeldt7]

How is that possible though? The highest fsb I've seen on a mobo is 1600MHz. How is a fsb of 1900MHz working with a fsb (on motherboard) on 1600MHz.

 

[Geoff]

How is that possible though? The highest fsb I've seen on a mobo is 1600MHz. How is a fsb of 1900MHz working with a fsb (on motherboard) on 1600MHz.

That just means the motherboard has native support for CPU's with a 1600MHz bus, the motherboards can handle a lot more then that. The P35/X38 boards in combination with the Core 2's can handle a very high bus speed.

 

[lovely?]

looking at your overclock, i wonder if i can overclock my e4500 to anywhere near there? i mean, i have a much lower stock fsb and a multiplier of 11, i would expect to be able to reach like 3.8 with good cooling. am i wrong?

 

[taylormsj]

ive just realised i wanted the 9450, but with the multi @ 8, my board would have to run @ 500 just to get 4GHz, and i dont think a P5kc can do that how crap

 

[Scubie67]

Does this mean for a cost for performance basis we would be better off getting the tried and true q6600 instead of a q9450?

 

[Geoff]

ive just realised i wanted the 9450, but with the multi @ 8, my board would have to run @ 500 just to get 4GHz, and i dont think a P5kc can do that how crap

I have the P5K Deluxe and I can get to 1900MHz bus speed easily, I'm sure you can hit 2000MHz.

Does this mean for a cost for performance basis we would be better off getting the tried and true q6600 instead of a q9450?

The Q6600 isn't a "true" quad core. The Q9450 also performs better clock for clock.

 

[Archangel]

the Q6600 is indeed 2 E6600 on 1 die iirc.

edit: on the other hand, it would depend on how you define 'true Quad core' I mean, the Q6600 has 2x 2Cores, and Quad only means 4, so the name Quad core would in fact be correct nevertheles (yes, I know how you mean that tough)

 

[Geoff]

the Q6600 is indeed 2 E6600 on 1 die iirc.

edit: on the other hand, it would depend on how you define 'true Quad core' I mean, the Q6600 has 2x 2Cores, and Quad only means 4, so the name Quad core would in fact be correct nevertheles (yes, I know how you mean that tough)

Correct.

@OP, I will see if I can get my FSB higher and post back, so you can see how high of an FSB I can get the P35 to.