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Which used quad core should i get

418 views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  technyk32 
#1 ·
So i am going to build a gaming pc using used parts. I am going as cheap as possible for the total build ($120 or less) so it needs to be cheap lol. I am aiming for an intel Q6600, but im curious if there is a cheaper amd equivalent. I never used amd in my previous builds so i am nit as firmilliar with them. Any advice for me?

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#3 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by billbartuska View Post

The "sweet spot" pricing/performance for cheep quad cores is a Q9400.

http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Core2-Quad-Q9400-vs-Intel-Core2-Quad-Q6600

Do you have a motherboard?
As of now i have nothing. Just trying to find a good starting point. My last build had a q6600 in it and i really liked it and i know they were really popular for the overclockability so i was going to go with that again, but i will look into the q9400.

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#4 ·
Honestly the best bang for your buck would probably be to purchase some cheap OEM system off ebay and upgrade the videocard. Rather than try to build a rig with used parts individually.
 
#5 ·
For cheap, I'd look at decommissioned xeon/server parts. You can usually find pretty solid deals for that stuff on eBay. Anything from the 775/771 era should be fine, but you may get lucky and find some socket 1156 stuff. X3440 and up are i7s, x3430 is an i5.
 
#6 ·
I do have an older pc with an asus p5n-e sli and a core 2 duo (cant remember model) but it is having crashing issues. It reboots a few times a week on its own, and the radion x5 230 i have in it i believe has an incompatibility as the graphics driver keeps crashing on it as well. Only got that because the nvidia card i had in it, its fan stopped spinning and it was over heating.

I would like to reuse the motherboard, but the ethernet cord got ripped out of it a few years ago, and now the port does not work...

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#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by BinaryDemon View Post

Honestly the best bang for your buck would probably be to purchase some cheap OEM system off ebay and upgrade the videocard. Rather than try to build a rig with used parts individually.
This was another option i was looking at. Just wanted to make sure i was getting the right processor in said oem system.

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#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by tsquad View Post

This was another option i was looking at. Just wanted to make sure i was getting the right processor in said oem system.

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Watch out for LP/SFF cases, BTX motherboards (usually limit which videocards will fit) and non-standard PSU's (although you can usually get adapter cables).

I like to get old workstations, Dell Precision T3500 for example, because Xeons are cheap, DDR3 ECC is cheap, and workstations usually come with beefier PSUs. Do a lot of reseach before buying.
 
#10 ·
BinaryDemon has the right ideas............

I've done three Dell Optiplex (intel 755) purchase/upgrades, all less then $150. All with added SSDs, 1 TB spinner drives, and dual monitors.
 
#11 ·
Q6600 or even Q6700/QX6700 are great with a BSEL mod (1066-1333 FSB usually, so 3GHz and 3.33GHz). If you are getting a decent overclocking motherboard, go with the 45nm 12MB quads, like the 8000, 9000 series. Core 2 Extreme (QX6700, etc.) can be overclocked using multiplier even on motherboards without the BIOS options using software such as Intel XTU or Throttlestop.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by billbartuska View Post

BinaryDemon has the right ideas............

I've done three Dell Optiplex (intel 755) purchase/upgrades, all less then $150. All with added SSDs, 1 TB spinner drives, and dual monitors.
On average what wattage power supplies do those puppies have inside? Enough for some sort of discrete graphics card for CSGO or anything not too heavy?
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by BinaryDemon View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by tsquad View Post

This was another option i was looking at. Just wanted to make sure i was getting the right processor in said oem system.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Watch out for LP/SFF cases, BTX motherboards (usually limit which videocards will fit) and non-standard PSU's (although you can usually get adapter cables).

I like to get old workstations, Dell Precision T3500 for example, because Xeons are cheap, DDR3 ECC is cheap, and workstations usually come with beefier PSUs. Do a lot of reseach before buying.
Yea i know enough to stay away from the SFF desktops. Just have to find a model that will work for me.

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#14 ·
The largest Optiplex power supply is 305 watts. I run an overclocked Q9400 and a GT 610 (29 watts TDP) with the standard 280 watt PSU though.

If you're going to go the Optiplex route get the full tower motherboard, it has an extra SATA port (for a total of 4).
 
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