Need real processor help

I am looking at customizing an HP desktop, and I am looking at a 2.66 Ghz Intel Quad Core Processor. The specific computer im looking at, the m9400t series, offers the Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q6700 (2.66GHz) or the Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q9400 (2.66GHz). I am confused as to which is more powerful, and why they are the same Ghz rating, but the Q9400 is 100 dollars more than the Q6700.

If anyone could help me decide which is better, this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Yep, GHz speed is same, but Q6700 has 1033mhz FSB based on 65nm, and Q9400 has 1333mhz based on 45nm.

 

The Q9400 will run cooler than the Q6700 because of its newer manufacturing process. Both will be very similar in speed, so go for the Q6700. Both are very fast cpu's but certainly cannot justify spending $100 more for the q9400 because of its slightly cooler operating temperatures.
WIth the money saved, get a high performance cooler like the tuniq tower, xigmatec series, zalman 9700 series or the Thermalright Ultra/IFX series coolers.
They will greatly decrease operating temperature of the cpu over a stock cooler.

Plus the q6700 has 8mb of cache instead of the 6mb the q9400 has, so that will help compensate for the difference in FSB (1066Mhz versus 1333Mhz)

K-TRON

 

While on the topic of desktop coolers...

My desktop right now has a really bad fan, mainly the chassis fan. Even after a reboot, I will get a warning message that says the chassis fan speed is low. It is also very loud, and sometimes, it goes on and off, on and off, very annoying increments.

In HW monitor, it says my FANIN0 min is 819 RPM, max 3200 RPM.
FANIN03 82 RPM min, 934 RPM max, which i assume is my chassis fan. Those are extremely slow...

I have a 4 or 5 year old vaio desktop, so would there be a problem buying and installing a new fan?

It's either my PSU or my fans right? And since earlier, it was going on and off (the noise) i assume it was the fan problem.

Any suggestions and a decent fan?

 

those low rpm speeds are guaranteed to be your power supply fans. What kind of psu do you have?
Antec psu's are known to have very low rpm fans, which cause these fan error messages.
you can always upgrade the fan. The reason your fan is making noise sometimes is because of the throttling sensor on your fan. It will change fan speeds when the sensor reads a higher system temperature.
I dispise fans with that sensor because they decrease efficiency and the increase system temperatures.
Just make sure to buy a replacement fan which uses the same voltage, has teh same dimensions, and one which does not have temperature control.
I recommend getting ebm fans. They are the best fans period.
They have very quiet running fans as well, and they will be able to push more air than the stock fan, while eliminating that irritating throttling up and down noise.

The error messages can be turned off through MSCONFIG or in the Bios health tab, so you can shut off sensors if you like.

K-TRON

 

If you're in overclocking the Q6700 overclock very well even with it standard cooling system. Reaching 3.2ghz and more shouldn't be a problem.

Q6700 @ 3.7ghz here
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=9615&page=5

 

Ok. I don't know about my PSU much. I don't really wanna spend 100$+ for a power supply

For my fans, the one on my CPU heatsink runs fine. The RPM goes 3000+, so i assume it's good. The one on my chassis is very weak though. I was cleaning w/ cotton swabs, and when i stuck the swab in there slightly, the fan stopped. On the other one, the swab was flicked out of my hand by the fan.

I took of the chassis fan and i'm just leaving my desktop out in the open. I'm gonna game a little bit and check if the noise problem persists to check if it's the fan or the PSU.

I measured the messed up fan, its 92mm, any suggestions from newegg or any other website w/ good price for quality? My current one is Foxconn DC Brushless Fan DC12V 0.40A model number PV902512P

 

you should try cleaning the fans first with rubbing alcohol and q-tips.

Also check the graphics card. It looks like it has a fan from the pictures, and that may be what is causing the noise.

For a cheap fan you can get anything on Newegg or any other fan supply store. I of course only recommend high quality fans from EBM Papst, so if you want awesome power at really low noise, get one of these:
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=fklqa858EesEs%2ftQUyICXg%3d%3d
Its a pretty cheap low noise fan, but at $26 it may be more than you want to pay. (Please note buying EBM Papst fans requires you to solder the wires to a female molex adaptor, so that the fan can be powered) So if thats the case get something generic from newegg. Just avoid Thermaltake fans they are all really bad. They are all loud and very weak. Thermaltake should be sued for marking their products the way they do. Their fans are never even close to their rated cfm output and their noise generation

K-TRON

 

Yah, blow the whole thing out first to get the dust out. Then put your finger on each fan one at a time to see which one is making the noise, if it remains and wasnt one of those fans then it is likely your psu fan.

As to spending lots on a psu it is as vital as the blood in our bodies. Without good blood what good can a good muscles/brain/heart be? Same goes for a computer. It is way more important to stability than people think.

 

I cleaned the fans a bit with qtips, but that's all. I removed huge chunks of dusts, but there is still dust in there. I don't have dust remover can right now, i'll be buying one soon, but not now.

Yeah, I didn't consider the graphics card fan as it is so small. I will be checking in a bit. It's relatively weak too though (put my finger on the middle, and it stopped). I have a ati radeon x700 series, pretty old.

nizzy, what do you mean put my finger on it to check the noise?

About spending on the PSU, i'm not willing to because the desktop is pretty old. Will be using it for 1 more year and then i'll be moving on to a laptop.

Thanks 4 help you two.

Also, whats a good RPM and CFM number? Right now, the crappy fan's RM reached up to 1700~ RPM and as low as 82 RPM.

 

I meant while it was turned on with the fans spinning to put your finger in there to stop it from spinning. If the noise stops with it then you know your trouble fan. Sometimes its nearly impossible to isolate a trouble fan until you do this.

ps, when you blow out the computer, do it outside it looks like you have a large dust cloud brewing in there.

 

Ohhh ok i got it. I know w/ the fan on, just wasn't relating it to the noise. The noise usually only happens under gaming, although the desktop is already loud as is when idle.

Yup, I will, I did a couple months ago, gotta do it again. I need to buy dust-off for a good price though.

Considering this http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

~40$ shipping+ tax for 12 12oz cans.

 

dont waste $40 on compressed air cans. Just spend some time with rubbing alcohol on paper towels/q-tips and you will clean the surface even better. It will just take some time.

When my dektop gets dirty, I remove the harddrive and memory, and i open the side panel. I bolt the system into my deck, and than I start up my 10hp walk behind blower which pushed 3700cfm at 220mph, and in about 20 seconds every piece of dust is gone from the system.

K-TRON

 

lmfao K-TRON, unfortunately, i'm not as handy as you. I don't know my comp too well too pry around just to remove dust. With compressed air cans, i can reach spots i can't reach myself and it will make it so much easier for me. I don't manage time to well, don't think i'll have the time and patience to try and remove dust that way. Compressed air cans can easily remove most overall dust, although I understand it won't clean some areas well enough. When I need remove dust from more specific areas, i'll qtip away.

 

Yikes! You could buy a small air compressor with an unlimited supply of compressed air!

personally this is what i use for mine: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00916778000P?mv=rr (same but mine is a larger version that they no longer make)

And it can do more than blow out your computer

 

I have no idea what the hell that is lol.