Q9550S (!) on an ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 R2.0 ?
Q9550S (!) on an ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 R2.0 ?
I possess an ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 R2.0 with the latest beta-bios (compatible with 3.3GB RAM).
Chipset: VIA PT880 Pro/PT880 Ultra
At the moment, I have a Q6600 (SLACQ 95W) installed.
I use a semi-passive cooling solution with a Zalman FX100.
Recently, I purchased a Q9550S (2,83GHz, 65W).
I’m considering installing it on that board, which isn’t explicitly designed for 1333 FSB but can accommodate Wolfdales with 1066MHz FSB (since a Yorkfield is essentially a Quadcore-Wolfdale, isn’t it?).
1 Question: What will happen initially?
Will the CPU be recognized? (unlikely)
Will the system start functioning?
2. Bonus Question:
If it does work (even if it requires pressing F1 repeatedly at startup):
Can I push the CPU’s FSB higher, i.e., achieve a better overclock to 2,83 GHz?
Cheers,
Ragnar G.D.
It probably won't work. You're too old for those Q9xxx chips. You already have the top chip from that time period inside you. Regarding the FSB issue, it really depends on the BIOS settings available, but given your low chances of success, I won't bother opening the manual to check possible configurations.
The PC restarted smoothly, definitely with the 1066 FSB. W98SE functions well, XP is stable, and W10 runs in 64-bit mode. The Q9550S still performs at around 2.23 GHz, feels just as fast as my old Q6600, runs significantly cooler, consumes less power (~8W idle), and uses much less energy during stress tests. That’s quite impressive so far—I’m comfortable with it.
Still, I’m struggling to raise the FSB further. Even adding 10 more would cause instability, and going up to 20 would prevent the system from booting into any OS. Since the CPU supports 2.83 GHz with 1333FSB out of the box, it’s likely a board configuration issue.
BIOS info: L2.2e (latest beta, for 3.3 GB RAM). Inside cards include a 7900 GT AGP card (512MB), Intel MT 1000 PCI, and Soundblaster Audigy PCI. W98SE boots from a 120 GB IDE SSD as master (98), XP uses it as slave (XP), while W10 boots from a 120 GB SATA2 SSD on its built-in SATA2 controller. Two IDE-DVD drives are connected via another IDE port. Onboard sound and LAN are disabled, though they work across all operating systems.
What I’ve done so far:
- Changed DDR2-800 memory from 667 to 533
- Set PCI to 100
- Locked AGP at 33/66
Guess: Memory is locked to FSB, then controllers panic? (I never overclocked, can’t confirm… need your expertise on tools like GPU-Z?)
Please help, experts! 😊
sure, i can attempt to adjust the multiplier instead of the fsb.
n0ns3rs:
can you attempt to adjust the multiplier instead of FSB?
I don’t have that choice in the BIOS (though I might be able to reduce the multi if I disable certain power-saving features), and I also doubt it would help here: this CPU is locked. I’m aware some boards can do this with a modified BIOS, but this one doesn’t seem suitable for overclocking... :|
You have just two choices regarding this CPU:
1. Keep it as it is – you’ll get a cooler system.
2. Purchase 1333 MB either for free or at a low price.
In either case, the performance impact on your system will remain minimal.
I wouldn't suggest doing this since the CPU isn't supported. After reviewing the specifications, I can determine it won't function for several reasons, mainly due to the 1066 MHz FSB which may reduce your actual FSB by about 5% when a quad-core processor is installed (per the ASRock manual).
[Speculative]
Additionally, your CPU doesn't support Boost Tech, so your BIOS won't show options for manual speed adjustments. This means you likely won't be able to adjust to the lower 1066 MHz FSB setting, leading to possible BIOS issues.
The response to your final inquiry:
No, your CPU does not support overclocking or downclocking at all.