• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Getting a free e8400

S

Smashed Ixnay

Supreme [H]ardness
2FA
Joined
Feb 13, 2006
Messages
4,592
A family friend asked me to build him a computer if he gave me his credit card, so I picked him out the parts and was about to check out when he told me if I wanted anything. I jokingly said I could use a new processor, so he told me to get one. I chose an e8400, as the q6600 has risen in price greatly the past few months. I wanted that, but it was like $216 on Newegg. Either way I can't complain since it's a free e8400!

I used to keep my e6300 @ 2.8ghz, but one of my RAM sticks crapped out on me so I been keeping it about 2.2ghz lately. I think it'll still be an upgrade, even if I had my e6300 @ 2.8ghz. I plan on OC the e8400 to at least 3.5ghz. Will be nice if I can hit like 3.7 or 3.8ghz on air. 4ghz would be a dream, but I want this to last me till whatever is after core i7. Maybe later down the road I'll try for it.
 
Nice score, should have picked up some RAM wile you were at it so you could OC that E8400. If your friend ever needs some more help send him my way, I could use a new videocard and/or a new monitor. :D :p
 
Well, I had 4gb of RAM, but one stick died one me, so that left me with 2gb. I ended up ordering 4gb more and going to RMA my other RAM. In the end I'll have 8gb of RAM. It isn't the greatest, but it's been good to me. I'm sure it'll let me get 3.5ghz. I don't want to spend anymore on this computer. If I do from here out, it'll most likely be a video card. My 9800GT has been pretty good to me, so I won't have to upgrade that for a while. Even when I do I can just move that to the new system when that time comes.
 
Nice one.
If your motherboard allows memory multipliers of less than 2.0...
With a 1.66 multiplier, you can run the memory at 800MHz with a 466MHz FSB.
This will get you to almost 4.2GHz.

There is a small performance loss by not running the memory 1:1 (2.0 multiplier for DDR) with the FSB but its not worth worrying about if it gets you a decent overclock on the CPU.
You may be able to compensate by tightening the memories timings anyway.

So you should have no trouble beating 4GHz.
With a half decent cooler + reasonable ambient temps you should get to 4GHz without much trouble.
 
Well I have a Tuniq Tower 120 and a DFI LP UT P35 T2R, so I think I should be good to go. My e6300 ran pretty hot, so I hope the e8400 runs a lot cooler.

After thinking about it, I could probably use a new case and/or PSU. I've had this OCZ modstream 520w for about 4 years now. Nothing is wrong with it, but I have some extra money coming in the next few weeks, so I could probably afford both. My case is a COOLER MASTER Centurion 5. I think a new case would help the air flow to keep it cooler.
 
Last edited:
Yep a lot cooler.
The very safe voltage max for overclocking is 1.36V.
I've been running mine at 1.4V using a TRUE120 for over a year.
Max load temp in summer is about 62C, ordinarily I get 53 to 57C.
Ignore idle temps as they vary terribly and only measure temps with the latest Realtemp.

Give it a try with your current case, it may do all you need.
 
I'll definitely try it with my case now. I'm sure i7 is nice, but my cpu does everything I need now and an e8400 will be an upgrade as it is, so I plan to skip it. I plan to do a complete system overhaul, so I'm hoping my case now is good. I hate buying parts here and there. I don't do SLI/Crossfire, so my PSU has been perfect thus far. I know when I do upgrade I'll definitely be getting a new PSU/case if I haven't already.
 
So far I'm loving it. My 3DMark06 went up almost 3k points just from the processor alone. I'm going to try to get 3.7-4ghz this weekend.

I'm annoyed because my HDD only scores a 3 in the Windows Experience! lol My processor gets a 6.6 at least. Hopefully I can get it up to a 7+.
 
Smashed Ixnay said:
So far I'm loving it. My 3DMark06 went up almost 3k points just from the processor alone. I'm going to try to get 3.7-4ghz this weekend.

I'm annoyed because my HDD only scores a 3 in the Windows Experience! lol My processor gets a 6.6 at least. Hopefully I can get it up to a 7+.
Click to expand...

1. It's not all about benchmarks. I find that chasing them is pretty pointless, just enjoy your free processor!
2. I thought the maximum Windows Experience score is 5.9...
 
Gotta love freebies ;-) Close, but not quite the same story:
Brother-in-law's roommate isn't comfortable with building a new PC, so I sold him the following for $850:
Thermaltake Matrix VX case
Q6600 SLACR G0 @ 3.2Ghz on ACF7Pro
Asus P5W DH Deluxe mobo
Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 512MB
4GB OCZ PC2-6400 Reaper
300GB Sata 3Gbps drive
LG DVD+/-RW drive
Generic multi-card reader
OCZ 620W power supply

Then turned around and picked up the following:
CM 690 (thanks co2r!!!) - painting inside this weekend (black) - $76
Q9650 E0 1.15 VID - Thanks Pao!!! - $305
Asus P5Q-Pro (NIB) - have from another trade
4GB G.Skill PC2-6400 PI Black - $40
Dark Knight HDT-S1283V - $35
LG DVD+/-RW blu-ray - traded
Sapphire Radeon 4850 x2 2GB - $235 eBay (NIB)
Seagate ES.2 1TB drive - have from another trade
Corsair 850TX Power Supply - $115 (ProVantage.com, $20 rebate from $135)
Total: $806 shipped

Is it bad that I *made* $44 from this? ;-)
 
NightOps, looks like you got yourself a good upgrade...and made some money on the deal as well.
 
Awesome! That 8400 should OC like a beast! =) I have the E8500 and it's been rock solid and a fun chip to OC.
 
I got it at 3.9ghz right now. I think I can get 4ghz still. I'll have to run prime95 or something to make sure it's stable though.
 
I borrow a friend's e8400 C0 for a weekend. OC it to 4.0GHz easily but didn't go any higher since stock HSF is so damn small.

I find it funny how stock 3.0GHz is a 5.7 score on Vista and 4.0GHz OC e8400 is 5.8GHz. I guess you gotta have two more cores to get to 5.9. :D
 
DTN107 said:
I borrow a friend's e8400 C0 for a weekend. OC it to 4.0GHz easily but didn't go any higher since stock HSF is so damn small.

I find it funny how stock 3.0GHz is a 5.7 score on Vista and 4.0GHz OC e8400 is 5.8GHz. I guess you gotta have two more cores to get to 5.9. :D
Click to expand...


That's weird because @ 3.9ghz on Vista 64 I get a 7.0. I think it was 6.6 @ stock speeds.
 
just got a e8400 and it overclocks very easily. I'm running 4.05 at around 1.35 volts and the thing just flies. I haven't tried running any higher because it already runs much faster than what i need it for.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top