Grab a Q9550 now from MC for $169 or wait?

mazeroth

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2006
1,821
2
81
I'm currently running an E3110 (Xeon version of E8400) @ 3.6 ghz. with a GTX 260 192 and GTA 4 isn't playing how I would like it to. I run at 1920x1200 and it's playable but there are slowdowns all the time. I have a local Microcenter that has the Q9550 in stock for $169.99. I could probably get $100 for my E3110 that has a brand new HS+F so I'd only be out around $80 after paying tax. Do you think this is a wise move or should I wait a few months to get an i7 setup? Thanks.
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,377
126
Awesome deal, there's really no better chip (after overclocking) than the i7s, and for gaming that's pretty marginal.
 

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
8,771
54
91
where are you getting that price? i dont even see a q9550 listed on the microcenter website...

is it an in store deal only? and whens it ending?
 

vj8usa

Senior member
Dec 19, 2005
975
0
0
Originally posted by: mazeroth
I'm currently running an E3110 (Xeon version of E8400) @ 3.6 ghz. with a GTX 260 192 and GTA 4 isn't playing how I would like it to. I run at 1920x1200 and it's playable but there are slowdowns all the time. I have a local Microcenter that has the Q9550 in stock for $169.99. I could probably get $100 for my E3110 that has a brand new HS+F so I'd only be out around $80 after paying tax. Do you think this is a wise move or should I wait a few months to get an i7 setup? Thanks.

If I were you, I wouldn't bother. You're essentially spending $80 for a single game, which to me doesn't seem like it'd be worth it. I want to upgrade to a quad as well, but I'm going to wait until more than a tiny handful of games actually need it.
By the way, I played through all of GTA4 on my much weaker rig. It slowed down a good deal at times, especially in the rain, but it was completely playable by my standards.

edit: I just did an ebay search, and it looks like quite a few people managed to sell their E8400s for $140 or more. If you can upgrade to a Q9550 for only $30 out of your pocket, I'd go for it.
 

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,926
146
106
Originally posted by: vj8usa
Originally posted by: mazeroth
I'm currently running an E3110 (Xeon version of E8400) @ 3.6 ghz. with a GTX 260 192 and GTA 4 isn't playing how I would like it to. I run at 1920x1200 and it's playable but there are slowdowns all the time. I have a local Microcenter that has the Q9550 in stock for $169.99. I could probably get $100 for my E3110 that has a brand new HS+F so I'd only be out around $80 after paying tax. Do you think this is a wise move or should I wait a few months to get an i7 setup? Thanks.

If I were you, I wouldn't bother. You're essentially spending $80 for a single game, which to me doesn't seem like it'd be worth it. I want to upgrade to a quad as well, but I'm going to wait until more than a tiny handful of games actually need it.
By the way, I played through all of GTA4 on my much weaker rig. It slowed down a good deal at times, especially in the rain, but it was completely playable by my standards.

edit: I just did an ebay search, and it looks like quite a few people managed to sell their E8400s for $140 or more. If you can upgrade to a Q9550 for only $30 out of your pocket, I'd go for it.

:thumbsup:
 

mazeroth

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2006
1,821
2
81
Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
where are you getting that price? i dont even see a q9550 listed on the microcenter website...

is it an in store deal only? and whens it ending?

You literally have to search for "Q9550 Microcenter" in Google to get this link:

http://www.microcenter.com/sin...tml?product_id=0299412

Granted, you can get there from their site but it's kind of hidden.

I did pick one up last night and will be installing it this weekend. Can I pop the new chip in for a few weeks while I finish GTA4 and wait to install Win7 afterward?
 

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,926
146
106
Originally posted by: mazeroth
Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
where are you getting that price? i dont even see a q9550 listed on the microcenter website...

is it an in store deal only? and whens it ending?

You literally have to search for "Q9550 Microcenter" in Google to get this link:

http://www.microcenter.com/sin...tml?product_id=0299412

Granted, you can get there from their site but it's kind of hidden.

I did pick one up last night and will be installing it this weekend. Can I pop the new chip in for a few weeks while I finish GTA4 and wait to install Win7 afterward?

Sucks that it is only in store pick up. I don't get why?
 

zagood

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2005
4,102
0
71
Originally posted by: pcslookout
Sucks that it is only in store pick up. I don't get why?

So when you walk into the store you also pick up a USB drive, and some cables, and a laptop cooler, and some cans of compressed air...
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,086
310
126
Originally posted by: mazeroth
Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
where are you getting that price? i dont even see a q9550 listed on the microcenter website...

is it an in store deal only? and whens it ending?

You literally have to search for "Q9550 Microcenter" in Google to get this link:

http://www.microcenter.com/sin...tml?product_id=0299412

Granted, you can get there from their site but it's kind of hidden.

I did pick one up last night and will be installing it this weekend. Can I pop the new chip in for a few weeks while I finish GTA4 and wait to install Win7 afterward?

Are you going to sell it to LOUISSSSS after?
 

Spook

Platinum Member
Nov 29, 1999
2,620
0
76
I had this same question last week. New processors right around the corner, just upgrade my Socket 775, or get the i7?? I ended up getting the c2q from microcenter. In the end, I don't feel so bad lapping a $170 chip, or spending all the extra money to get an i7 chip(new expensive MB and Ram). I OC'd the chip to 3.8G(probably could have done 4ghz, but the temp/voltage was getting higher than I would like). Plus with the i7 chips they run very hot, also allot hotter than I would like. I think I will be sitting out until 32nm becomes mainstream. So, I probably have 1-1.5 years with this chip.