Quad 6600 or E8400

[cas]

The latter is great for OC cos by default is running at 3.0ghz and easily can crank it up to 4.0ghz using just the stock hsf (got the above from some review)

So which would u guys go for say if u're given the option?

[Mikesan]

If ur concerned about "future-proofing" then i wuld say go for the Q6600, which is a very nice CPU and also easily overclockable. If you want higher frequencies for gaming etc then i guess the E8400 would be the better option.

[kilroy67]

I would get the Q6600, but wouldn't overclock it with the stock HS/F..............No way!!

[Bannik]

I would also go for the Q6600, decent Quad Core CPU, Quad Cores are the way to go.

Would buy one myself, but I would probably have to update my Motherboard BIOS in order to use one because my Motherboard is listed as "Quad Core Ready", sucks to have this board I can tell you, Flashing a BIOS is a dangerous procedure.

[cas]

Originally Posted by Bannik

I would also go for the Q6600, decent Quad Core CPU, Quad Cores are the way to go.

Would buy one myself, but I would probably have to update my Motherboard BIOS in order to use one because my Motherboard is listed as "Quad Core Ready", sucks to have this board I can tell you, Flashing a BIOS is a dangerous procedure.

Hey Bannik i believe ur mobo should be able to support Quad core processor since it has been out for so long, there should be a available or latest bios. Fyi though i knew there's alway risk in flashing a bios and have came across other flashing till the board not workable.

Personally i've updated the bios of my previous gigabte mobo once and that is my very first time of updating bios and tbh i was like abit anxious, worrying if anything goes wrong at the time of the process....that's it, there's go my precious money but lucky all went well. i actually went to gigabyte webbie and read on how to go about updating and bingo it work. Remeber that time i'm trying to crank my processor to higher speed but though my rig survived the bios update but the OC is still the same, LOL

[Bannik]

They never make anything simple, do they?

I've done some research, to use the G0 Stepping 65NM Kentsfield Q6600 I would have to update my BIOS to version 0608 at least, at the moment I'm on 0401, according to the ASUS Website, flashing the BIOS is simple, put the BIN file onto a USB Flash Drive and use the EZ Flash 2 Utility included with the BIOS, but when I read the posts made by people who have unintentionally turned this particular Motherboard into nothing more than an expensive Frisbee by the flashing process failing on them, I begin to think ASUS may be lying.

Apparently if I could get my hands on an older B3 Revision Q6600, that should be supported, but it seems they have been replaced with the G0 model.

Also, from what I have read, even if I could successfully (though this is doubtful) update the BIOS, Vista would see it as a different Motherboard and demand re-activation.

Too many things can go wrong with the update process, I can't be bothered attempting it at this point as I can't really afford to replace the Motherboard or buy Vista again should re-activation fail (I really don't trust M$).

[kilroy67]

Originally Posted by Bannik

They never make anything simple, do they?

I've done some research, to use the G0 Stepping 65NM Kentsfield Q6600 I would have to update my BIOS to version 0608 at least, at the moment I'm on 0401, according to the ASUS Website, flashing the BIOS is simple, put the BIN file onto a USB Flash Drive and use the EZ Flash 2 Utility included with the BIOS, but when I read the posts made by people who have unintentionally turned this particular Motherboard into nothing more than an expensive Frisbee by the flashing process failing on them, I begin to think ASUS may be lying.

Apparently if I could get my hands on an older B3 Revision Q6600, that should be supported, but it seems they have been replaced with the G0 model.

Also, from what I have read, even if I could successfully (though this is doubtful) update the BIOS, Vista would see it as a different Motherboard and demand re-activation.

Too many things can go wrong with the update process, I can't be bothered attempting it at this point as I can't really afford to replace the Motherboard or buy Vista again should re-activation fail (I really don't trust M$).

I have flashed my boards bios numerous times, and not once been asked to reactivate. I have upgraded my GPU and changed my sound card and still not one time it asked me to reactivate. I think your fear of this is more your personal trust issue then it actually going to happen Bannik.
Most newer boars have a built in feature that you can auto recover the bios if flashing does go wrong. This just happened to me yesterday. I flashed through the windows utility, but afterward it said flash failed!! When I rebooted, the auto-recover utility kicked in and recovered the previous bios I was using prior to flashing. I'm not sure if your board has this feature Bannik, but it may be worthwhile checking out.

[Bannik]

You may be right, my fear may not be about what can happen, but rather fear that I might make a mess of it.

You have to admit though, that there are a lot of risks involved with this process, I have done a great deal of research on this and read some really bad stories.

I do want to upgrade to Quad Core though, which leaves with two options, either update the BIOS or buy another Motherboard that already supports Quad Core, the first will probably not lead to me re-activating Windows Vista, the second mostly likely will.

What do you think of the Q6600?

It is at the moment the cheapest and most basic Core 2 Quad, but has impressive specs, 8Mb Cache, not to mention 4 cores, with an FSB of 1066Mhz as well (which seems to be the most my Motherboard will handle without the absolute latest BIOS, I'm only prepared to update to 0608, but will go further if it proves to be "unstable").

Also, to Cas, sorry, I seem to have hijacked your topic for a little rant, it wasn't done on purpose, again I apologise.

[kilroy67]

Originally Posted by Bannik

You may be right, my fear may not be about what can happen, but rather fear that I might make a mess of it.

You have to admit though, that there are a lot of risks involved with this process, I have done a great deal of research on this and read some really bad stories.

I do want to upgrade to Quad Core though, which leaves with two options, either update the BIOS or buy another Motherboard that already supports Quad Core, the first will probably not lead to me re-activating Windows Vista, the second mostly likely will.

What do you think of the Q6600?

It is at the moment the cheapest and most basic Core 2 Quad, but has impressive specs, 8Mb Cache, not to mention 4 cores, with an FSB of 1066Mhz as well (which seems to be the most my Motherboard will handle without the absolute latest BIOS, I'm only prepared to update to 0608, but will go further if it proves to be "unstable").

Also, to Cas, sorry, I seem to have hijacked your topic for a little rant, it wasn't done on purpose, again I apologise.

I can understand your reluctance of updating the bios, although these days I find it mostly pain free compared to the days when having to do it through DOS. Problem is about not doing it is that you can really limit yourself on upgrade options and any fixes or such. My advice to you would to be read on the options for flashing and take the plunge. A lot of people who flash their bios don't read how to do it, and mess up somewhere and screw themselves. Also if you update the bios, go right to the latest final release version.
I really wouldn't worry about any reactivating with MS, at the most you will have to just call and they will give you a code to reactivate your OS. Its not like you will have to buy a whole new copy. With XP or Vista that has been the way it has worked for me.
I love my Q6600, it currently is the most popular of the Quads from Intel. Mine overclocks to 3GHZ without voltage and on air, mind you not the stock cooler but something like what I have, the Zalman 9700 or better. Even if you dont OC, I still would recommend a good cooling solution rather then the stock crap Intel gives you.
Its great in games or whatever else you can throw at it, and if you want to future proof your machine its the best choice. A lot of games now and coming will support multi threading technology.

[cas]

Also, to Cas, sorry, I seem to have hijacked your topic for a little rant, it wasn't done on purpose, again I apologise.

Nah...is alright