Had a chance to build a QX9650 based system last week.WOW!Easy to hit 4GHz on air.333x12 = 4GHz using just 1.325v to the CPU.Idled at 37C and just 55C under full Prime95 load. Amazing CPU. Should be for the price but to see 4Ghz boot with such ease really grabbed my attention.I'm sure it would go higher, but 1.325V is well under Intel spec and 4Ghz was the goal.FSX was a dream with the CPU too :)Here's the parts used:Intel Retail QX9650 CPUThermalright Extreme 120 HeatsinkArtic Silver 5 CPU pasteAsus PK5 Deluxe MB, bios 705Corsair HX620 PSUeVGA 8800 GTS SSC Video card> If anyone wants to buy the replaced nice Q6700 let me know,it flys @ 3.2Ghz+ too! )

i recently upgraded my E6600 to an E6850 and just flew a CYVR - CYYC flight on a FSX 737 using ATC.My system on the E6600 I could only get stable at 3.2 ghz, the e6850 i have now at 4 GHz.I don't do a ton of the orthos or other stable testing, i just use this computer for fsx.My next test is to start trying addon aircraft, and vatsim this weekend at somepoint.my system is the following:E6850 at 4ghzthermalright and 120 fanmb: asus p5ne-sliEVGA 8800GTS 640mb2 gb crucial ballistix ram (5x5x5x15) getting the chip up to 4 ghz was an interesting adventure. I had to start backing off on the cpu voltage as i increased the fsb. I did have to increase the northbridge voltage as well.

Wow 6850 to 4Hz, nice work very hard to get that.Intel is putting out some great chips now.Whats the default NB voltage and what did you change it to?

Wow, that's good to know. Be interesting to see how to Penryns with the locked multi's do.How's that Corsair power supply? Didn't Corsair just get into the power supply arena in the last year or so?RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

The PSU has been fine, quiet and decent power. They have bigger ones now too.Seen NCIX started selling the e8400's today, 9x333 default.Be interesting to see how they do, would need 9x444 for 4Ghz.

Would you please provide detailed information on the procedure you used for 4g on air?I run a 6850 on a Gigabyte P35-D3SR V 2.1 MB with a Tuniq 120 cooler and fan. I would be most interested. I have maintained 3.7 no issues...... but have not gone any higher (9 x 411). BTW I too use a Corsair 650 and love it!Best-Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://online.vatsimindicators.net/980091/523.png

>Would you please provide detailed information on the>procedure you used for 4g on air?>>I run a 6850 on a Gigabyte P35-D3SR V 2.1 MB with a Tuniq 120>cooler and fan. >Keep in mind...it appears to be a lot easier to get a Q9650 to 4.0 ghz on air, than it does with an E6850 like you have.The Penryns with the locked multi's is what I am concerned about.RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

What are your FSX settings and resulting framerates like?Robbie

>i recently upgraded my E6600 to an E6850 and just flew a CYVR>- CYYC flight on a FSX 737 using ATC.>>My system on the E6600 I could only get stable at 3.2 ghz, the>e6850 i have now at 4 GHz.>That's what I'm currently running with the same overclock speed. With your new chip at 4Ghz, was there a noticeable performance increase in FSX? I'm sitting here with my finger on the trigger but if the gains are negligible then I think I'll pass.

>What are your FSX settings and resulting framerates like?>>RobbieDepends on where I fly and if I want to take screenshots or not.Generally:1920x1200 Locked 30fps or unlimitedLevel of Detail: largeMesh Complex.: 100Mesh Res: 19mTexture res: 1mWater: depends where I fly, often none, but 2x mid sometimes too for photos.Scenery Complex: Extreme DenseAuto Gen: Very DenseFrame rates vary with location, usually locked at 30.No stutters, no blurries.

How low do your framerates they get? I guess that occurs around busy airports?RH

Hmm, try 400 x 10 at 1.4V, you will get *much* better memory bandwidth with fewer sync issues. I've had mine up to 4.7 (470 x 10) but that meant crossing my rule of not going past the max voltage Intel posts (1.44) so I do not want to go there for daily use. Someone reported 5.7GHz at a whopping 1.8V. I barely cross 45C at full load on my H2O cooling, depending on the temperature of the room (radiator).FPS wise, I get on my Nvidia 8800 ultra (860MHz) between 18 and 45 FPS depending on the AI traffic, mostly easily achieving a steady limited 24FPS with water 2.0, and most sliders pegged. Single digits entirely possible at busy airports (KSFO, KLAX) with MyTrafficX at 30% IFR and 30% GA, especially if the jetways are moving (AI and jetways are total frame killers). On Vista, getting +30% FPS average if using DX10 on that card over identical settings in DX9 mode. Seeing 100% utilization on the first two cores, and if moving at mach 1 in an F18, about 100% and 50% on core 3 and 4 respectively. Core 3 seems to react to fast scenery more so than anything else. Simconnect also impacts core usage, with weather, moving map and AISmooth on a separate PC.I currently have to fly mostly in DX9 mode until someone (Nvidia, Microsoft) figures out what's wrong with point light sources. I can deal with flashing textures, but it's annoying to have the lights not working right.Cheers,Etienne

Intel's spec shows a max voltage of 1.3625 ?http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAN3I'm happy with 1.325v 334x12 4Ghz, keeps things cool and within spec for the processor and chipset too.I'd think with FSX you probably get about 2-3fps gain for every 10% increase in core clock, so pushing to 4.4GHz might not be worth the risk, heat, etc.If it was a lower costing e8400 I'd probably push it higher,but the 9650 was costly ...A 4Ghz quad was the goal here, and it worked out fine.