Easier to overclock Dual or Quad?

[powerfuel]

Title question.
I have 3 old computer and I'm planning to use them as guinea pig to get some experience in overclocking a system. Is it the same to overclock a Quad and a Dual?

 

[festerovic]

While the process is the same, you can't expect as large of overclocks on quad cores. What motherboard is in the 3 year old computer? Some boards are really garbage for overclocking.

 

[powerfuel]

While the process is the same, you can't expect as large of overclocks on quad cores. What motherboard is in the 3 year old computer? Some boards are really garbage for overclocking.

I know and I wasn't planning on having them running successfully... I don't even know how it works actually =\
You misunderstood me, I have 3 (old) computer. One of them has 2 years old intel 2 core (will maybe buy a new MB for it if overclockable).

 

[belial2k]

While the process is the same, you can't expect as large of overclocks on quad cores. What motherboard is in the 3 year old computer? Some boards are really garbage for overclocking.

It depends a lot on which model you want to get. Intel's C2D and C2Q are basically the same thing, the quads just have two C2D per chip. Some models of each are known to overclock really well, while others don't do so well. The i7s overclock better than almost anything else around, and part of the reason the Q6600 remains popular is because of its overclocking ability. The Q8xxx series does not overclock all that well, but the Q9x50 chips all seem to be good overclockers. Just do a little research and its easy to find the best chips to overclock in both dual and quad core, and you can expect to gain about the same one each overall.

 

[prelude2250]

it will vary from cpu to cpu. if you want to learn I'd suggest getting an E5200 wolfdale pentium dual core 2.5 ghz/2m cache. They overclock easy and are $65 w/free shipping from newegg! I have one at work in a $55 MSI MCP73 motherboard running stable as can be @3.5ghz. people claim getting them oc'd a lot higher than that. I would sell your PC's as is and buy a new cpu / mobo/ power supply/ and cpu cooler. Keep it cheap at first in case you screw up and if you dont then you can always sell what you got and upgrade as needed.

 

[Matthew Kane]

The Q8xxx series does not overclock all that well, but the Q9x50 chips all seem to be good overclockers. Just do a little research and its easy to find the best chips to overclock in both dual and quad core, and you can expect to gain about the same one each overall.

Built a gaming rig for a friend, running a Q8200 "R0" stepping 2.33@3.13ghz. More voltage is required to gain to near the 400 fsb and better cooling is required.

Quads are less overclockable then the Duo's is what I've found so far.

 

[powerfuel]

Depends on the multiplier.

Multiplier on intels CPU aren't locked?

Thanks for anwsers/advices!
Actually, I have an intel core 2 on one of my PC so I'll probably OC it firt before doing it on a new PC (if it works, i'll probably get a new mobo... i have to see if it can work with the actual build anyway).
I was wondering what could make my OC screw up. I consider that if I follow a guide (like some on THW) I shouldn't have any trouble =O
P.S. - To OC a CPU you have to increase the voltage so it increases the intern resistance and produces more heat. Is that right?

 

[powerfuel]

Sorry, my bad. But on tigerdirect.com they say that the unlocked multiplier isn't active.

 

[prelude2250]

you could have 2 of the same boards and 2 of the same cpu and still have diff oc settings. every chip is a little different. the trick is to single things out. dont touch voltage and just start slowly notching up the clock speed until u have bluescreens. from that point u start messing with upping voltages and ram, etc.

 

[powerfuel]

Thank for advices but don't worry, I'll carefully read OC guides before tryin anything.

 

[jsc]

it will vary from cpu to cpu. if you want to learn I'd suggest getting an E5200 wolfdale pentium dual core 2.5 ghz/2m cache. They overclock easy and are $65 w/free shipping from newegg! I have one at work in a $55 MSI MCP73 motherboard running stable as can be @3.5ghz.

I have an E5200 running at 3.75 GHz. in an old P35 motherboard, average cooler. Just can't get it higher with any stability.
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Overclocking since 1978 - Z80 (TRS-80) from 1.77 MHz to 2.01 MHz

 

[belial2k]

I overclock backwards from most people. I'll let the chip run 24/7 stock for a week or so, and then I'll shoot right for my goal overclock. For example on my i7 builds I always go for a stable 4.0, so I go immediately to 20x200 w/ 1.32v....it almost always works, so then I back off the voltage until I get it as low as possible, and stick there. It can save a lot of time compared to slowly creeping up the clock speed and then messing with voltages.

 

[Onus]

I don't do high OCs, but a free 10% is just that, free. My expectation would be that you would run into heat problems a lot sooner on a quad. That isn't saying you can't go as high, it just means you'll have to do a better job of cooling.

 

[powerfuel]

OK, thanks I get it!
I'll go on a i5 with a processor contact freezer (retail 36$US).