What is the difference between the X6800 (Conroe XE) and the normal Conroe (E6xxx)?

[Manoj]

What are the main difference between the X6800 (Conroe XE) and the Standard Conroe (E6XXX Series)?

Only unlocked CPU? And higher clock Speed?

Is it worth getting X6800 over E6600 and E6700?

[Absolute_0]

Unlocked multis. 2.93 Ghz. Best overclockability. Think FX series, they're the very top model so they (almost) unfailingly clock phenomenally.

It's worth getting if you have LN2 and you're going for records, imo they're not for most users. I'm grabbing 6700.

[Thorburn]

Unlocked multipliers both up and down and a higher rated clock speed.
E6700 is 2.66GHz, X6800 is 2.93GHz

[Thorburn]

Also... I think the unlocked multiplier is less of a factor with Conroe due to the already low multiplier. You'll hit the FSB "wall" before you even need to lower the clock speed I think.

Thats pretty much the point, the multipliers are unlocked so if your board can't do the FSB then you can push up the multiplier to get the higher clock speeds.

[Absolute_0]

Unlocked multi is MORE important with conroe, because a low multi leads to OCs topping out early. Even the 6700 only has a 10x multi and most mobos top out around 450 FSB so 4.5 is the maximum fo ra 6700 in most cases, even if the chip has potential for 4.8 (we're talking LN2 and the works). So for the most extreme cooling you WILL want an XE and the unlocked multis will be nice, if nothing else it'll make it easier to run your memory 1:1.

[Manoj]

E6600 is good enough for running memory at 1:1 ratio.

9x 400mhz fsb should be possible right?

E6700 may not be that good

10 x 400mhz fsb may not be that easy with air cooling.

E6600 will be the best choice for price and overclocking.

HOwever, I have always bought the Xtreme version but not sure if I should this time round. I have asked several shops to see if they can get stock for X6800 and they will let me know. Now if I change my mind, they will get upset. he he!!!

The only good think about X6800 is when you use Nforce 590 SLI which may not run at high FSB. So an unlocked CPu will come handy. Conroe XE and Quad SLI power is good.

[veryhumid]

isn't the XE called the E8000? 1333MHz FSB?

[Manoj]

No... not at first. The initial XE's are still 1066 FSB and currently it looks like Bearlake (chipset following 965) is the only chipset that will support 1333fsb so unless they change the silicon you won't see a 1333fsb Conroe until then. Bearlake should launch early next year.

Next year. Wow long time. 6 to 7 months from today.

[veryhumid]

No... not at first. The initial XE's are still 1066 FSB and currently it looks like Bearlake (chipset following 965) is the only chipset that will support 1333fsb so unless they change the silicon you won't see a 1333fsb Conroe until then. Bearlake should launch early next year.

Ohhh, thanks for clearing that up. Is the bearlake chipset the 985 chipset?

[Manoj]

usually they go about a year between chipsets so you'd be looking at late Q2 '07. This is speculation of course since it's pretty far out.

So getting X6800 now and then the next best thing after 6 to 7 months or may be even longer is not a bad thing after all.

[NiCKE^]

X8000 is 3.33ghz 1333mhz fsb bus ;)

[Manoj]

X8000 is 3.33ghz 1333mhz fsb bus ;)


When will it release? This year or next year?

[NiCKE^]

Uhm isnt 965 "Bearlake"?

[[XC] Angstrom]

E6600 is good enough for running memory at 1:1 ratio.

9x 400mhz fsb should be possible right?

With a good mobo, yes. I'm looking to do 9x400 as well. Maybe even 9x444 for 4GHz, G.Skill RAM will overclock to 444 very easily, but i'm not sure about FSB :stick:

[Thorburn]

Its more a physical limit of the northbridge than a memory divider limit.

[Manoj]

With a good mobo, yes. I'm looking to do 9x400 as well. Maybe even 9x444 for 4GHz, G.Skill RAM will overclock to 444 very easily, but i'm not sure about FSB :stick:


So you are saying E6600 may overclocking to 4Ghz easy with air cooling if we have too a good ram kit?

[snowwie]

WHAT WHAT WHAT?

how long has intel been selling processors with unlocked cpus?

[Thorburn]

I believe the 3.46 or 3.73 Pentium 4 Extreme Edition was the first.
The 840XE, 955XE and 965XE are all fully unlocked and the Core 2 Extreme will be too.

[[XC] Angstrom]

So you are saying E6600 may overclocking to 4Ghz easy with air cooling if we have too a good ram kit?

Someone has reached 4GHz on air cooling, but it might have been lucky. I'm on water cooling, so it's not a problem for me.

Your main problem is FSB, RAM should be no problem.

[Direwolf]

There has been three people or more that hit 4ghz on air with the E6600 step 5. Not a lot have a E6600 Step 5. Just seen someone in the 3d section hit almost 3.8ghz with the stock cooler on the 6600 Step 5.

Can you dig it? :shock:

[Manoj]

Can Conroe XE overclock to 4.5Ghz?

[mdzcpa]

Not sure its worth the extra $$ or not. I just sprang for an x6800 step 5 and I'm clocking it on air right now. Yes, I did hit 4ghz. Unfortunately I had to leave out of town (I'm typing 3000 miles from home) before I could push it higher or put it on water. I will say this about the chip...there is much much more headroom left. I hit 4ghz after 1 hour of being set up. I'm thinking somewhere in the 4ghz to 4.3ghz range on water for 24/7 use. Love the unlocked multipliers too.