Quad Core, to upgrade or not?

[Van Diemen]

I currently have a Q6600 (G0) @ 3.6GHz, (will do 3.8, but I'm happy with 3.6).

I have the opportunity to upgrade to any one of the following at relatively low cost.

Q6700
Q9400
Q9450
Q9550

Do I upgrade or shall I stick with what I have?

Will any of the above chips be faster than my Q6600 clock for clock?

 

[MooMoo444]

The Q9xxx series will be faster than your Q6600 clock-for-clock. Plus they're 45nm so use less power for higher clocks.

Going from a Q6600 to a Q6700 is as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike tbh.

Still, I would recommend just sticking with your Q6600. I know personally they are pretty good at 3.6, you wouldnt see enough of an improvement out of a Q9xxx to warrant the cost tbh.

 

[RizlaKing]

Stay as you are tbh i have a Q9450 and while it's a nice chip i am not sure it wouold be worth you upgrading to it.

 

[Tetras]

I have the opportunity to upgrade to any one of the following at relatively low cost

How low?

 

[Van Diemen]

How low?

Upgrading from Q6600 to Q9550 will cost me about £60

 

[jrwagh333]

I still would stick with what you got. as the good ol' saying goes. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[AgedIdiot]

Upgrading from Q6600 to Q9550 will cost me about £60

Given current cost of 9550 ,that would be a good deal.

If you got a (semi) decent clocker the newer cpu should run @3.8 and with larger cache might run things a little faster. It should also use less volts (might take you a bit to recoup the extra £60 though) and run cooler/quieter.

Overall would agree with jrwagh333 - then again it's something 'new' to play with and there's the possibility of '4ghz' etc.

Personally although my head says forget it - in your position I'd buy the Q9550

Don't listen to me though - the fool who bought a 8400 to sell it 3/4 weeks later and buy a Q9550.(the 8400 was a good cpu as well ; just could not resist the temptation of a quad - fool - No regrets though )

 

[ConTRo13R]

don't the q9550 and q9450 have lower L2 cache than the q6600?

If so then surely that'd be a downgrade!

 

[psychas]

NO point man i have q6600 at 3.8 ghz+ and it handles anything u trow at it is gpu that needs constant upgrade not cpu, upgrade your gpu instead

 

[AgedIdiot]

don't the q9550 and q9450 have lower L2 cache than the q6600?

The Q9550/9450 have 12mb L2 cache .

The Q6600 has 8mb L2 cache.

 

[ConTRo13R]

The Q9550/9450 have 12mb L2 cache .

The Q6600 has 8mb L2 cache.

My mistake, thanks for correcting

 

[Kelt]

Upgrading from Q6600 to Q9550 will cost me about £60

Stick with the Q6600.

Save your money for an upgrade in a couple of years, when an upgrade will probably be worth it.

 

[Firegod]

Stick with the Q6600.

Save your money for an upgrade in a couple of years, when an upgrade will probably be worth it.

That's what I'd suggest as well. Save and get yourself an X58 rig or something next year when it falls in price.

 

[XILLAX]

stick to your current cpu