Intel Q9400 or the Q9550 for Gaming

Q6600?

what mobo?

you want 3.6ghz as that can be had with a q6600 and just about any intel mobo

you want higher mutliper with nvidia

3.3ghz? 3.6 was 1.5 years ago>?
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/244351-28-61ghz-1ghz


what is interesting, i am getting off the point - while the last core 2 ran at 4.4-4.6ghz once again the 4.1ghz level is hard to pass for the new i7 965


3.6ghz 95% of intel mobos will hit at fsb 380-400

The typical answer you'll get here is that for gaming, the E8400 would beat both. But since you say the GTA forums recommend Quad core, maybe they'll know better.

The 2x cache will help in games and the extra 200mhz won't hurt. You probably won't see much of a difference. You may want to get the Q9400 and use the excess cash on a better GPU.

Also may want to look into a i7 920 if you want a really fast CPU. The processor isn't too much more, but the mobo and RAM are.

Get a Q9550, I have one you can't go wrong. Moved from a E6320 @3.3Ghz because I bought GTA IV! Now you should get a E0 stepping chip wherever you buy and they run nice and cool and o/c well. I run mine at a modest 3.4Ghz and it does the job in everything!
Crysis, Far Cry 2, Hells Highway, all saw a noteable improvement, and of course GTA IV is now playable!
I'm not sure why this dragon-dude keeps banging on about Q6600 at 3.6!? 8Mb cache vs 12Mb, hot 65nm vs cool 45nm, o/c to 3.6 if you're lucky vs possible 4Ghz on just good air!
It's a no brainer imo. If you have the cash get the Q9550 (and 4Gb RAM for GTA IV)