Best CPU upgrade???

[Delavan]

Hi,

I finally ordered parts for my new build last night, only thing missing is the CPU (awaiting price drops on the 19th of this month). I PMed everything to death...got everything from NCIX (mostly using DC as the PM source/lowest price)

ASUS P5Q Pro
2 X 2 Gig GSkill F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ DDR2 1000 @ 5-5-5-15
Xigmatek Dark Knight S 1283 (with included backplate kit)
Antec 300
2 X 120mm Antec Tri-cool fans
Arctic cooling MX-2 Thermal compound

(I'm re-using my Antec TPIII-650W, 250Gig SE16 WD HDD and (1) Evga GTX260 C216 SC)

I want to get a Quad, probably the Q9400 or the Q9450 (12Mo L2 cache)...I read somewhere that the Q9450 is supposed to go EOL...maybe the price will be good on the 19th (date where Intel drops the prices on some CPU, and introducing a few new models).

I want to OC this CPU as much as I can. I don't really want to get a Q8200 or Q8300, because the multi is too low...

My Ram can go to DDR2-1000 (even 1066 as seen in OC reviews) and the mobo is good enough to venture a little bit above the 400 FSB...So I'm aiming for around 450 FSB X 8 multi to get a decent 3.6Ghz...
Does it sounds right? Should I go Q9550 (multi is just 0.5 higher than Q9400 series)

The Q9400 can be seen at around $280 Can, Q9450 at $360 and Q9550 around $340...
So what can be expected for price drops in CAN dollars (I seen the US dollars price drop list) We can't just convert the US to CAN prices to compare, as there is more than exchange rate in the equation... and I don't want to spend more than $275 on a new CPU...so what do you think? Will April 19th will bring the deals of the century? Is it even worth waiting/holding my purchase?

[Realityshift]

Go with a Q9550 why go with something thats lower binned but higher price, i seriously couldnt find a Q9450 for under $400 when I was looking. With the Q9550 you atleast get double the cache and will last you a long time. Id stay away from the Q8200 and 8300s their low multies and top out at like 3.4-3.5 where as the Q9s get upwards of 4ghz. What about a Q6600? its cheap fast and that xiggy should cool it just fine.

[Delavan]

The oldie Q6600 is still around of course, but mostly goes up to 3.6 right?
And you're telling me that the Q9 series are know to reach close to 4.0GHZ?

I assume the Q9xxx series Quads are running cooler newer steppings (don't they have a few more supported instructions???), that's why I prefer them...

BTW I use Shotbot or pricebat for PMing and found those prices using those sites...

[rjbarker]

Are you dead-set on a Quad Core?....If yuor not and simply gaming and a few Apps just get a E8400 Duo Core and OC to 3.8 - 4 Ghz.

[Delavan]

Yes I want a quad.
I got a E6420(4 mo cache L2)@ 3.2Ghz right now and I know the E8400 is a nice CPU, able to reach a 4.0GHz OC. I'm upgrading for the long run...I'll probably keep that rig for a long time...I just got lucky to get the un-expected $$$ to upgrade. I'm mostly a gamer and I know gaming is Dual-core territory right now...only hoping more multithreaded games will come out and make me appreciate the Quad in the long run.
I guess a quad might be good to take care of the Xfire/GSC voice chat/background tasks while I play, go through virus scans faster, and maybe encode/rid DVDs (safety backups of my OWN DVDs) faster.

[rjbarker]

I'm upgrading for the long run...I'll probably keep that rig for a long time...

Then consider an I7 upgrade.

[mo' power]

I think that switching from his current rig to i7 would be considered a new build and not an upgrade. He would have to change his board, ram and cpu.

Delavan, I also plan on upgrading my cpu to a quad. I'm not sure which one to get so I'll be following this thread.

[FiXT]

May this assist in your quest?

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/charts/


EDIT: Hurm - Just realized there are none of the 6MB LGA775 quads up - We will work on that asap - I'm curious to see the results myself.... how much different does cache really make

[Delavan]

Thanks for your help anyway!

Well, the Q9400, Q9450 and Q9550 are close, but the new Quad intel will lauch (Q8400) will even have less cache than Q9400...cache is good!

I jsut want to price of that Q9550 to drop! And if the rumor that the Q9450 goes EOL, It could be the time to get one of those "larger" cache CPUs...

It would be nice if you add those CPUs up!!!!

Edit!!!! It's being done !!! THX
The Q9450 and 9550 are really close...the major diff being the multiplier...and a extra 0.5 on the multi is NOT really significant!

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by Delavan

Thanks for your help anyway!

Well, the Q9400, Q9450 and Q9550 are close, but the new Quad intel will lauch (Q8400) will even have less cache than Q9400...cache is good!

I jsut want to price of that Q9550 to drop! And if the rumor that the Q9450 goes EOL, It could be the time to get one of those "larger" cache CPUs...

It would be nice if you add those CPUs up!!!!

Edit!!!! It's being done !!! THX
The Q9450 and 9550 are really close...the major diff being the multiplier...and a extra 0.5 on the multi is NOT really significant!

With the way computer changes so often there is no "long term" viable solution.

If all you do is play games there really isn't much point in buying a quad and save your money and get a 8400 as suggested then put more towards something else.

If you actually HAVE a use for a quad then sure.