Making it 64 Bit

[takuhii]

What do I need to do to make my System 64 Bit "Happy"?

I have an Asus P5Q Pro Turbo Intel P45 Motherboard, I haven't bought a processor yet. Can I go 64 Bit with this hardware?

Darren

[Bodkin]

You sure can, any core 2 processor will support 64-bit, and that mobo will have no problem. Asus will provide any drivers you need. Stick what procceser you are planning on buying up so we can be 100% sure

[SoulsCollective]

Install a 64-bit OS.

Every LGA775 CPU made by Intel supports 64-bit. You'll have no problems.

[takuhii]

Cheers guys, much appreciate the info. I'm thinking of purchasing an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 3.0GHz 8MB FSB 1333MHz processor, as it is the fastest within my budget, and also VERY overclockable.

Obviously I am open to suggestions, and this purchase depends on availability at the end of the year (when I am looking to purchase).

Thanks
Darren

[Bodkin]

Any reason you are not going for a i5/7 system?

[SoulsCollective]

Probably because they already have the motherboard.

OP, buying a QX series Core 2 Quad is an absolute waste of money. Save your cash, grab a cheaper Q9550 or Q9450 if you can find one, and save up to upgrade to an i5 or i7 system as advised above.

[takuhii]

So you think a 9550 might be a better option. I only opted for a QX as they have the multipliers unlocked.

And I didn't go for an i5 or i7 because of cost...

[Bodkin]

But it would be cheaper to go i5 than get a QX procceser...

[takuhii]

I can get a QX on eBay for £190+P&P

[Bodkin]

Not a fan of processors on ebay, I would recommend you get a retail cpu from a well known shop. The e8xxx are fantastic, and overclock really well

[SoulsCollective]

Well, if you're buying second-hand then that explains things a little, I guess. However, I'd definitely agree with the above in not buying core system components on eBay - you really don't know where they've been, and I'd very much hesitate to risk it.

You don't really need an unlocked multiplier for overclocking on P45 chipsets. They're FSB monsters, you should have no problem hitting high clocks even with the locked multipliers - and a Kentsfield core with only 2MB/core / 4MB/core pair is going to be slower at the same clock speed than a Yorkfield with 3MB/core / 6MB/core pair.

[OC Nub]

I agree with the others, the q9550 if possible would be a better choice. That p5q should help overclock it well.

[1nvisible]

I bought most my parts from ebay, i recently bought a Maximus 2 Formula OEM $100 and Q9650 vid 1.1625 which is good, i have never ever had a DOA buying from ebay, the Q9650 i got for $260 back in august, right now you probably can get them for around $240 which is a good deal compared to $320 a newegg with lame vid, when buying on ebay just look for good sellers and read the description, don't get intimidated by all the horror stories you hear and if you're looking for guaranteed working condition stay away from AS-IS auctions.

Did 6 hour stable the other day, I'll go for 24 when got the time, here some screen of what voltage and temps might look like, 50c in OCCT, liquid cooled Ek Supreme.

[takuhii]

WOW guys all this info is amazing. Looks like I might be scaling down slightly and going for a Q9550. I looked into the i5/i7 chips but I paid £40GBP for my motherboard, whereas an i5/i7 mobo was about £150GBP. I was going for a low-cost system, so I though top-end of the stage down from the newest tech would be a better idea. I've already swapped my mobo out for a slightly better one (the P5Q I have now (it's actually a P5Q SE, not a pro). So I thought getting a QX processor would be a good idea, but like you said the P5Q are FSB monsters (1600!!!!), so I may go for a cheaper standard quad core processor. Don't want Dual core unfortunately or my cost would be non existant . Aiming for the 45nm processors though, not the 65nm as they run quieter and cooler

[takuhii]

I'm umming and rrrrring about 64Bit at the mo, cos a lot of the apps I use (Photoshop and Dreamweaver) and a lot of problems with the 64Bit versions. Some people are reporting faults like they can only use Save As, and other are reporting visuals issues like screen flicker while the apps load or when you update the display, i.e. preview a HTML page in Dreamweaver.

Would anyone recommend going up to 64 Bit. The only reasons I want to is because I can use more memory, than the poxy 4GB limit on 32 Bit Systems!!

[SoulsCollective]

...I was going for a low-cost system, so I though top-end of the stage down from the newest tech would be a better idea...Aiming for the 45nm processors though, not the 65nm as they run quieter and cooler

I think you might be getting your generations mixed up there. A QX6850 is two generations old by now - it's a 65nm Kentsfield core. The Q9xxx series are the 45nm Yorkfields - and are the last generation of LGA775 quad cores. Yorkfield cores are on a smaller manufacturing process, and therefore as you mention produce less heat for the same clock speed, and have more on-die cache, meaning faster performance at the same clock speed - the QX6850 will have none of these advantages, being older tech.

[Movieman]

I think you might be getting your generations mixed up there. A QX6850 is two generations old by now - it's a 65nm Kentsfield core. The Q9xxx series are the 45nm Yorkfields - and are the last generation of LGA775 quad cores. Yorkfield cores are on a smaller manufacturing process, and therefore as you mention produce less heat for the same clock speed, and have more on-die cache, meaning faster performance at the same clock speed - the QX6850 will have none of these advantages, being older tech.

Listen to this guy.. He's giving you good info..

[cowpuppy]

Where do you live? If there's a Micro center around get your q9550 here for 169.00 I just can't get over their prices on processors.

[takuhii]

Hey! I always listen to my betters

I thought as much, regarding the NM of each processor, but I can only find QX6850 for sale. FULL STOP.

Opting for a Q9550 will allow cooler running and still allow me to overclock should I want to.

I live in the UK, so finding cheap tech is more than a chore!