Intel QX9650 & QX9775 WHOA!!!!!!!

[kermitforney]

So, I think I might have told you guys this before in a previous thread, but if not here is a brief recap.

*RECAP* I used to work for Intel Corp. when I was in college and for a short while after graduation. I have a firend that still works for them in a processor development department. She calls me every once in awhile before chips debut and gives me a couple here and there. Usually theyre just run of the mill average processor's, but I use them none the less. This is how I stumbled across the Intel Core 2 Duo's (E6400, E6700) in my signature. *RECAP*

Sooooo my friend calls me up a few days ago to let me know they are recieving some processors for the employees again, but they have a few that most of the employees may not be able to use. I asked her what the serial number was on the processor that she set aside for me and she tells me, "something . . something . . . 3.0ghz . . Quad Core . .XE1333". I told her off of the top of my head I have no idea which processor it is, but that it has an FSB off 1333mhz which is spanking new. I didn't realize until minutes after our conversation that the XE stood for Extreme Edition. :cursing: In the same conversation she goes onto say that she didn't get me the other one, because she didnt think I could use it because it had a serial number of XEE1600 (3.2ghz, quad core), and the engineers there told her that not many people would be able to use the power let alone build a system around this CPU. I told her I would have prefered the XEE1600 (QX9775), but that the XE1300 (QX9650) would make me more than happy. After that she said the so few employees are going to be using these processors she would just get me BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8o I shat my pants moments after digesting what she had just said . . . . twice! :thumbsup:

So I just got off of the phone with her today and researched the serial numbers and some other background stuff to single out which processors they were. Turns out that the QX9775 was the processors used in the Intel SkullTrail demo, or as many know it the Dual Quad Core MONSTER machine. http://www.legitreviews.com/article/661/1/

Anyways, I just thought I would share my excitement with some of my fellow nerds and know that the Dual-Boxing.com hardware bar has just been raised.

Also, I don't know how many of you live in the Bay Area (California) aka Silicon Valley, but I have two fairly new Core2Duo's (E6400, E6700) with motherboards/memory that need new homes. Let me know if your interested. If not I will just sell them on craigslist, but I would feel a lot better if this hardware were in the hands of a fellow boxers. :thumbup:

[yarr]

grats!



Im not a CPU junkie so i really dont know whats up with those, sound beastly though!

[TheXevs]

Just built a new 5-box system based around the QX9650 and it screams (4GB DDR3-1600 / XP 64 bit / couple of MTRON solid state drives in raid0 / couple of 15K SAS drives in raid0 + a pair of 8800GTs). Managed to get it OCd to 4.1Ghz on air+TEC, but had to water cool the northbridge. In any case, it's more than responsive enough for 5 clients at max graphics settings. Got 200+ FPS on the main 1920x1200 display with all 5 on in Ironforge at prime time.

-Xeva

[Zanjii]

Screamin' Zeus on a Popsicle-pony... That's some bloody horsepower you've got packed away in that rig.

And here I am, trotting along on a Core2Duo 2ghz Laptop... Gonna have to invest in that proper gaming rig some time soon, it'd appear

Just out curiosity, how much noise does that truck generate? I have a thing with noisy computers, and one of the things holding me back is lack of information regarding silent equipment. And funds, I guess. Anyway, can you play with that rig without ear protection and a surround system blasting out heavy metal to drown the noise?

[Stealthy]

Actually considering all the horsepower it has, the performance isn't that great. Tom's hardware did an extensive review of the CPU's and motherboards here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/...ltrail_part_1/

Some snippets here:

Since the D5400XS was developed to satisfy the highest demands, it requires a brawny power supply with good and plentiful cables. Intel recommends using a PSU with at least 1000 Watts. Yes, you read correctly - 1 kilowatt.

Considering its price tag, the Skulltrail system offers absolutely catastrophic performance. To be fair, though, it is not Intel's hardware that is at fault here, but today's software. If a program only uses four of the eight processor cores, then the Skulltrail system is noticeably slower than a single-socket quad-core computer. Since there are practically no current games or desktop applications around that can utilize more than four cores (if that many), the Skulltrail system does not offer any benefit here.

The performance weaknesses of the Skulltrail motherboard's workstation chipset are its downfall. With games, the system falls behind the two single-CPU desktop systems by up to 45%.

Cheers,

Stealthy

[thinus]

And the review is misleading as we are not running a single game, we are running 5 games.

[kermitforney]

You could attribute that performance to any number of things. They benched the thing on a workstation/server class motherboard with FB-DIMM's with Error Correction implemented in memory and in hardware. Also, the power hog is not only both CPU's, but the fact that they have two video cards running in SLI. I would have preferred they also bench the thing on a gaming mobo with non-ECC memory and one videocard though the CPU is a socket 771 and all gaming mobo's are 775. For some reason Intel decided to demo the CPU's with a motherboard and memory interface that is clearly built for the server space, but market to the gamer?!?!?!? I don't think these are aimed at us at all?? I will do some testing with both, but prolly end up sticking with the QX9650 and selling the QX9775 considering they are identical Yorkfield processors aside from frequency (3.0ghz vs. 3.2ghz).

Side Note: They are not really at odds with the CPU, it's more the motherboard, software and pricing that holds the machine back. Considering that I got one of these for free ninety-nine, I don't really have any room to complain. :thumbsup:

[kermitforney]

And the review is misleading as we are not running a single game, we are running 5 games.

So true . . . ^^

[kermitforney]

Soooo I finally recieved the QX9650 and plopped it in my YEAR old EVGA 680i 775 A1 and the damn thing wouldn't boot!!!!! :cursing:

Come to find out that the Quad Core Yorkfield 45 nm's don't work with nForce 6 series chipsets. WTF?!?!?! Now I have to spend
between 230 and 350 bucks for a damn motherboard and more if I go the X38/X48 route with DDR3. I AM PISSED OFFF!!!!!

I feel even worse for the people who purchased a 680i thinking it would work with the new processors. inch: inch:

Side Note: I will be getting the QX9775 next week and am selling it, but offering it up here b4 I go to craigslist, so drop me a line if your interested.

I am also selling the E6700, E6400(OC'd to 3.5 and 3.2 respectively), their motherboards (Intel, EVGA), memory (Crucial Ballistix 1066(2gigs each)) and an Antec case I no longer need.

:thumbsup: Like I said, Drop me a Line!! :thumbsup:

[kermitforney]

For some reason I can't respond to any new private messages sent from the forums?!?!?

Anyways, I will break down the CPU prices for ya!

QX9775 - $1250 - Processor hasn't been released yet, but the MSRP is $1499 and based on demand it may go up and sell for anywhere between $1500 and $1650.
E6700 - $225 - The processor is OEM, so it is only the chip with no heatsink and no box. I got it from Intel in a static bag basically, but the chip does have the serial numbers.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115002
E6400 - $130 - Again, this processor is OEM as well so no warranty from Intel and no box, but does come with the heatsink. This chip has the serial numbers as well.

The prices listed above are for JUST the processors, price breaks will be given if the processors are purchased with the motherboards and Ram listed below.


EVGA - nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188012

Intel BLKDP35DPM LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - $50 (2 months old)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121313


Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $50
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $50
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820148069