I currently have an Asus P45 board with a E2180 running at 3.2ghz. I am thinking of upgrading to the Q6600 which I heard can get upto about 3.6ghz on air. Other options are the 45nm Q9 series. However, I have heard these are less tolerate of high volt even thou they do run cooler. I am hearing 4ghz for Q9550 and 4.2ghz for Q9650. The Q9650 is unlikely as it is so much more expensive but then again this would be the last possible CPU upgrade on a redundant format so I am tempted to get the best. What would you guys recommend bearing in mind there is about £60 difference in price between the Q6600/Q6700 to the Q9550? 1. Are there different stepping of the Q9550 I need to be aware of? 2. Are there other Q9 series that are also good bang for bucks overclockers? 3. Electricty saved should be negliable but bearing in mind Q9550 need less volt would it last longer or is the reverse true because it have less volt tolerance than the 65nm when overclocked.
If you can find a Q9400 for cheap, you can make it quite far, if not the Q9550 can be considered, but at the price you pay for a Q9550/Q9650, wouldn't it better to just get a P55 chipset?
where do you live? me personally the q9550 would be a great compromise. but the q9400 would do fine. definitely one of those 2 over the q6600/q6700. the q6600 was awesome, but it is old tech now. i wouldnt upgrade from a q6600 to a q9400, but definitely would go for the 9400 if you are buying now...
I am from the UK. Theres no way I am going P55 as that means new CPU, MB, DDR3 RAM, COOLER. Will probably add up to £380 for all that. Howver I am surprised about the Q9400 recomendation. I will def be overclocking (just look at my E2180 which is on a par in speed with most E8400 after the massive OC) and I thought the Q9400 can only do 3Ghz. That would be way behind a Q6600 surely? Unless there is a new Q9400 stepping I don't know about?
Try to pickup an old Q6600 with a G0 stepping, should only cost £60 and pretty much guarentee you'll get at least 3.2ghz on a decent mobo.
have hit 3.8 or so on a q9400 myself, on air with moderate volts. point is, unless you can get a q6600 on the cheap, why settle for the older tech. a q9400 @ 3.5 is going to outperform a q6600 @ 3.7
Have a Q9550 (E0) @ 4.0GHz on air with quite low voltage (very easy to overclock on a P45 board), certainly wouldn't bother with Q6600/6700, look around for secondhand 45nm Q9xxx... ________ BustyGirl21
