Q9550 SLB8V/E0 - opinions please

[wolvers]

I have the opportunity to buy a Q9550 that's a guaranteed SLB8V/E0 but it's £180 all in. OcUK have theirs at £172 but it's not stated what the stepping is and neither are the ones on other sites (some even cheaper).

Some people have said that they got E0s from OcUK recently but my question is this, is it worth paying the extra for a chip that is guaranteed to be the stepping of choice? Also bearing in mind that I can order a chip of unknown stepping for £162+del.

 

[wolvers]

You could always send OCUK a webnote to confirm the stepping. The Q9550 has been out for a long while now and they changed to E0 pretty early, so there is a very good chance of it being E0.

However, £172-180 is a lot to pay for a last generation chip. What is the motherboard and RAM you are currently using? As it may be worth your while looking to an i5/i7 upgrade as it is current tech and overclocks like a dream.

I'm not really keen to upgrade the whole lot as I don't see the performance warrants the outlay.

I don't think OcUK would say which stepping they had would they? I mean if they had just E0 then they might say but if it's both then they wouldn't cherry pick.

A rival has them listed as C1s.

 

[wolvers]

OK, I've sent them a note. Lets see.

If they won't say then I'll get the one I know for sure is an E0. It's only 8 quid more.

 

[wolvers]

Here's the reply

Unfortunately not, if they were the E0 stepping, they would be advertised as such, and I don't believe were going to be getting this batch of chips in to our warehouse. Apologies for any inconvenience caused by this, and thanks for the web note.

Regards,

 

[wolvers]

I reckon it means they've got both but won't cherry pick.

 

[wolvers]

Got one from the bay for £150 inc. Listed as new and SLB8V.

Just hope it's not a blatant lie.

I've had a C1 and it clocked OK but they're too hot running for my HTPC. With decent cooling it'll do 3.8ghz 24/7 on very respectable vcore. I wouldn't be surprised if it did 4ghz. I'm hoping the E0 will run much cooler.

 

[wolvers]

LOL, yeah that's me.

Also LOL at the guy who tried to buy both for 150 sheets and the other one who got turned down for 150 quid for one! Strange.

Lets both hopy they are E0s. lol

They'd have to refund if they're not as that's what they've listed them as.

 

[wolvers]

What did you first offer as you changed it.

Have you paid yet.

I offered 150 first and it accepted straight away so I offered 140 to see if I could get the other one cheaper, which it declined so I withdrew that one. Paid up so they can get on with delivery.

 

[wolvers]

I've had both C1 and E0 and they really clock about the same, but the big differance is that the E0 does run considerably cooler.

Going by the reading up I've done, and the temps of my C1, I reckon it could be as much as 15C.

Can you remember what the difference was with yours?

 

[wolvers]

Is the Tuniq any better than the TRUE?

 

[wolvers]

Crikey, if I see 20C difference I'll be well chuffed.

I will also get some money back via quidco.

I thought you'd just out done me by 5p! Good skills mate.