Q9650 worth $300?

[bc5777]

Would I really see any significant real world improvements if I upgraded my cpu to the q9650?
Is it worth the investment for 2 more cores?

 

[BadTrip]

depends on what you have now

 

[bc5777]

Sorry, thought my specs would show.
Antec 900
Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
E8400 @3.87ghz
4 gig Corsair Twin-x ddr2 800 @ 860mhz
Asus EAH DK Top 4870 512mb
OS WD Caviar Black 640gig
Storage 1TB+750gig Barracuda
Win7 64bit

 

[BadTrip]

I would keep what you have for now with i5 around the corner. Prices should drop some.

 

[tonkatuffmofo]

Depends on what sorts of applications your using. Are they threaded for 2 cores or 4?

I'm running an E8400@3.8ghz also but I mostly game with mine with the odd bit of dvd formatting so I have no need yet for 4 cores.

Im also waiting for the q9650 to drop in price as this will be my next step also. Give it a few more months, they will keep dropping.

 

[megamanx00]

I think it would be better to go with the Q9550 instead. Anyway, as previously stated i5s will be out soon so you may want to wait. While prices on the Q9650 may not drop much more I think the 9550 as well as it's low power version will.

 

[bc5777]

I do pretty much the same as tonkatuffmofo, gaming and some movie encoding.
As regards the i5, "around the corner". Doesn't that put me in the same boat as i7, i.e, new mobo, ddr3 and cpu? But upping to quad core is just cpu, and at $100 cheaper, the q9550 looks very appealing.

thoughts?

 

[neon neophyte]

i would have to say no, because of the q9550. assuming you get the e0 stepping, which you should. it was revised quite awhile ago.

the q9650 always had the better stepping. which made the purchase worth it. but now the q9550 has the same stepping, overclocks just as well basically.

and is considerably cheaper.

 

[03hdfatboy]

Here is what I'm running and I am very happy with my Q9650


Cooler Master HAF932
PC Power & Cooling 1200W PSU
DFI LanParty UT P45-T2RS
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 @ 4.22GHz (my 24/7 is 3.82Ghz)
VIGOR GAMING CLT-M2I 92mm TE CPU Cooler
8Gb G.Skill PC2 8500
Vision Tek Radeon HD 4870X2
Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS w/ Fatal1ty I/O panel
Hauppauge HVR 1800
2Tb Seagate (1Tb X 2)
2 Sony/NEC Optiarc DVD/RW
Acer 24" LCD P243WAid
Logitech G15 Gamer & G9
Win7 Ultimate (Love It!!!)

 

[10tacle]

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 @ 4.22GHz (my 24/7 is 3.82Ghz)

Interesting. What temps are you seeing at that speed and what vcore setting? I'll to compare to my E8400 @ 4.4GHz ( 4.0GHz 24x7 in summer ambient heat) and possibly look at a Q9550 for $169 on sale at the local Fry's....

Thx...

 

[03hdfatboy]

>Voltage Settings:

CPU VID Control..................... - Auto 1.2450V
CPU VID Special Add................. - Disabled
DRAM Voltage Control................ - 2.11v
SB Core/CPU PLL Voltage............. - 1.55v
NB Core Voltage..................... - 1.140v
CPU VTT Voltage..................... - 1.200v
CPU Clock Ratio..................... - 8
Target CPU Clock.................... - 3800 MHz
CPU Clock........................... - 475
Boot Up Clock....................... - Auto
CPU Clock Amplitude................. - 800mV

Running 3DMark06 I've seen temps as high as 42c it Idles at 33c