OCing: Is it possible that...

[jcniest5]

Two motherboards, same model and same BIOS version, same components everything else, one can OC better than the other one?

Or different versions of Windows, same everything as above, one can OC better than other?

[In-Fluence]

1. Simple answer, yes. Cpus aren't exactly the same, some are more/less tolerant of voltages and/or temperatures, although certain batches (look for date codes on your CPU) will generally overclock as well as each other. However, you can get very bad ones and very good ones in the same batch. I've been ok and at least got an 'average' one every time, (and quite a gem of a Q9650). Some enthusiasts acquire trays of CPUs to try and find the best ones for those top clocks. Identical motherboards can also vary when pushing them to their limit but it's becoming less common now as the i3/i5/i7 CPUs now control memory leaving less work for the motherboard and leaving it down to CPU and memory. I'm not so familiar with AMD anymore, but their chips have had IMCs in there for a few years longer.

2. Depends on how you go about it, but my gut tells me xp would use less resources and wouldn't take up as many cycles when benching. As for 24/7 overclocked systems I doubt there's much difference, but I can't help feel that W7 is more sensitive. Anyone?

[jcniest5]

Same CPU, same everything except the motherboard...if my original post wasn't clear enough. I know about CPU batch's different OCability, but I'm talking about motherboard.

[TJ TRICHEESE]

Yep it can make a difference as the nb/sb and other chips can also be good or bad chips.

[Leeghoofd]

Pro , DLX and M4E beat my Sabretooth sample hands down, clock for clock there's nto much going for it... but maximum speed some boards are limited by features, bios, etc... Some boards are better indeed then others, like with all previous sockets... some S775 do 650FSB, some 600, some AM3's do 400HT other's can't reach 370... chipset quality matters

[In-Fluence]

Yep, agreed, sorry about the confusion