Jump to content

Is it worth overclocking an old Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 CPU?

Koev
 Share
Posted

Hello everyone! Just want to know if I can get a little more power from my old Desktop PCs CPU. I have it since 2008 and I still use it. I made a few upgrades through years. I mostly use it for photo editing (Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom) and casual gaming from time to time. Most of the parts are bought second hand including GPU, CPU, RAM. It is a little bit of "Frankenstein" build. I installed latest BIOS for my motherboard model.

 

Here are the specs:

  • CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz
  • Motherboard
    ASUS P5B SE
  • RAM
    6 GB DDR2

    Slot #1: AENEON 2GB DDR2 800MHz
    Slot #2: Patriot Memory 1GB DDR2 800MHz
    Slot #3: Nanya Technology 2GB DDR2 800MHz
    Slot #4: Samsung 1GB DDR2 667MHz
  • GPU
    AMD Radeon R7 250 1GB GDDR5 128 bit with Boost
  • Case
    Cooler Master Elite
  • Storage
    Seagate ST1000DM003 P/N: 1ER162-020 F/W: HP51 TK 1TB
  • PSU
    THERMAL MASTER 500W
  • Display(s)
    Samsung SyncMaster 940n
  • Cooling
    Stock back fan
    Deep Cool fan for CPU
    1x DIY fan from broken laptop connected to back USB port
    1x DIY fan from old PSU connected to back USB port
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro x64 bits
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I dont recommend so. This motherboard is pretty weak in power delivery from the day it launched and it's old now. Stress a board like that and it could go pop.

 

Get an SSD instead, it should at least have SATA 2

CPU: i7-2600K 4751MHz 1.44V (software) --> 1.47V at the back of the socket Motherboard: Asrock Z77 Extreme4 (BCLK: 103.3MHz) CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 RAM: Adata XPG 2x8GB DDR3 (XMP: 2133MHz 10-11-11-30 CR2, custom: 2203MHz 10-11-10-26 CR1 tRFC:230 tREFI:14000) GPU: Asus GTX 1070 Dual (Super Jetstream vbios, +70(2025-2088MHz)/+400(8.8Gbps)) SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 256GB (main boot drive), Transcend SSD370 128GB PSU: Seasonic X-660 80+ Gold Case: Antec P110 Silent, 5 intakes 1 exhaust Monitor: AOC G2460PF 1080p 144Hz (150Hz max w/ DP, 121Hz max w/ HDMI) TN panel Keyboard: Logitech G610 Orion (Cherry MX Blue) with SteelSeries Apex M260 keycaps Mouse: BenQ Zowie FK1

 

Model: HP Omen 17 17-an110ca CPU: i7-8750H (0.125V core & cache, 50mV SA undervolt) GPU: GTX 1060 6GB Mobile (+80/+450, 1650MHz~1750MHz 0.78V~0.85V) RAM: 8+8GB DDR4-2400 18-17-17-39 2T Storage: HP EX920 1TB PCIe x4 M.2 SSD + Crucial MX500 1TB 2.5" SATA SSD, 128GB Toshiba PCIe x2 M.2 SSD (KBG30ZMV128G) gone cooking externally, 1TB Seagate 7200RPM 2.5" HDD (ST1000LM049-2GH172) left outside Monitor: 1080p 126Hz IPS G-sync

 

Desktop benching:

Cinebench R15 Single thread:168 Multi-thread: 833 

SuperPi (v1.5 from Techpowerup, PI value output) 16K: 0.100s 1M: 8.255s 32M: 7m 45.93s

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author
2 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

I dont recommend so. This motherboard is pretty weak in power delivery from the day it launched and it's old now. Stress a board like that and it could go pop.

 

Get an SSD instead, it should at least have SATA 2

Thank you for the advice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author
8 minutes ago, _DeXTeR_ said:

Sorry to say this, but that PC is PC is pile of junk. I know that most of us cant buy anything good bcs we do not live in rich countries but thats reality.

It's very old, that is true. Still does the job though most of the time that is why I'm still using it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
9 minutes ago, _DeXTeR_ said:

Sorry to say this, but that PC is PC is pile of junk. I know that most of us cant buy anything good bcs we do not live in rich countries but thats reality.

That is absolutely not helpful in any way.

 

9 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

I dont recommend so. This motherboard is pretty weak in power delivery from the day it launched and it's old now. Stress a board like that and it could go pop.

 

Get an SSD instead, it should at least have SATA 2

I second this. You should notice a pretty nice performance bump with an SSD,

2014 - EVGA 780 SC ACX | 4790K | Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 | Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz 16GB | RM650 | Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 | VGA248QE | Fractal Define r4

2015 - EVGA 980 | 4790K | Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 | Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz 16GB | RM650 | NZXT X41 | Asus ProArt 1080p IPS | Fractal Define r4

2017 - MSI Gaming X 1080 Ti | 6600K | Strix z270e | Trident DDR4 3GHz 16GB | RM650 | NZXT X42 | LG OLED B9 | Dell U3415W | Corsair Crystal 460x

2021 - MSI Gaming X 1080 Ti | 5600X | Strix B550-F | Trident Neo DDR4 3.6GHz 32GB | Dark Power Pro 12 1500W | EK AIO Basic 360 | LG OLED B9 | Dell U3415W | Corsair 5000D Airflow

2023 - Asus TUF 4090 | 5800X3D | Strix B550-F | Viper DDR4 3.6GHz 32GB | RM1000x | h150i 360 Elite LCD | LG OLED B9 | Dell U3415W | Corsair 5000D Airflow

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing CPUs, Motherboards, and Memory

×