Better cpu upgrade.....E8500/8600 vs. Q9550......

Jessica69

Senior member
Mar 11, 2008
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OK...."secondary" machine has an Asus Maximus Formula motherboard, 4 x 2GB Mushkin DDR2-1000 RAM, ATI HD4850 video card, but a lowly E7200 cpu that is hard pressed to break 3.4GHz at 1.2V.

So, am looking at upgrading the cpu only.....well, maybe the video card, too, but that's irrelevant right now.

I'm looking primarily at the Q9550, but am considering the E8500/8600 cpus also.

What would be better for all around computer.....some gaming, some CAD designing, etc.?


For what it's worth, it's either a new cpu for this computer and a 4870 video card, along with an Asus VW266H monitor (26" screen) vs. basically rebuilding it and having it become the "main" computer.....the rebuild would be an i7 920, 3 x 2GB Mushkin DDR3-16000 RAM, and a Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R motherboard....keeping the 4850 in place (not replacing it), and scaling the monitor back to a 24", like the Asus VW246H.


 

F1shF4t

Golden Member
Oct 18, 2005
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Up the voltage a bit more. Its pretty safe to go to 1.3v, i mean my q9550 stock voltage is only 1.25v.

Otherwise q9550 would be the only upgrade which makes any sort of sence. Since your considering a dual core as well I don't think you need 8 threads. Plus the i7 rebuild will be much more expencive.
 

TidusZ

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2007
1,765
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Originally posted by: Dark Cupcake
Up the voltage a bit more. Its pretty safe to go to 1.3v, i mean my q9550 stock voltage is only 1.25v.

Otherwise q9550 would be the only upgrade which makes any sort of sence. Since your considering a dual core as well I don't think you need 8 threads. Plus the i7 rebuild will be much more expencive.

What he said. My q9550 is at 1.392 volts 24/7 btw.