E8400 vs Q9550

[superj]

Quad all the way... At stock clocks the mhz gap is pretty small and the Q9550 should overclock to the mid to high 3.x range while the e8400 will do 4+ if you are lucky (my E8400 needed 1.4+ volts to push past 3.7Ghz, while my Q9450 does it on less).
I am often surprised when I look down at the screen on my G15 keyboard and see all 4 cores doing significant work during gaming. If you are like me... you'll buy the cheap dual and then get the upgrade itch for a quad a couple months later. I would saved significant money if I just got the quad right away. I've seen the Q9550 for $239 at canadacomputers a week or two ago.

[Gellidius]

since my first pc i've always had single core cpu's and always had problems cause i couldn't refrain myself from multitasking.

since i got this q6600 quad, never had problems multitasking.

Buy a quad.

[crazyhorsejohnny]

Originally Posted by shayan288

And the e8400 can sometimes be had for like $110... but yeha I still vote for the q9550.

e8400 new? q9550 was $200 a couple weeks ago at ncix and direct canada.

[shayan288]

No i meant, on a forum or on craigslist, and I thought 200 for a q9550 for a forum of craigslist aswell...

[CroSsFiRe2009]

I wouldn't touch a cpu off craigslist even if it was offered on a golden plate but that's just me

[Realityshift]

I wouldn't touch a cpu off craigslist even if it was offered on a golden plate but that's just me

+1...

Having owned an E8400 I can honestly say this is a BEAST of a CPU, and I have a hard time seeing it falling behind much over the next 2 years. That being said I am currently looking at picking up a Q9550 and selling off my E8400 possibly this week. 2nd video card or quad.... so hard to decide.

[shayan288]

I hated my e8400. I couldnt go past 3.6 no matter what and I was watercooling, but that is probably just cuz I had a 'bad chip'

[Eagle Eye]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't 790i chipset not a great chip for qauds as far as overclocking is concerned?

EO stepping solved that, I hit 4.25GHz on mine.

EE

[enaberif]

We still have not hit a point where quads are benefiting over a dual in most cases.

It comes down to user preference of what they use their computer for and the software used.

So much software isn't multithreaded yet and only a select few games are finally going there.

You'll honestly see little difference in stuff unless its specifically written to use multithreads.

Go for the 8400 and you'll be PLENTY happy.

[Jake_HT]

Quad... 4 sho.