Is it worth it for me to get a Q9550

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ibex333

ibex333

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2005
4,094
123
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Well I can get one right now for $170, but I am wondering if it's worth it for me.

1)Is $170 really a good deal? Is it really a price discount, or is it likely that it is going to stay at this price since LGA 775 is getting more and more outdated with the releases of i7, i5, i3 CPUs?

2)Just how much performance increase in games and apps am I going to get with this CPU when compared to my current CPU in sig at it's current OC'd speed? Is a Q9550 a good overclocker? What is the max REALISTIC average overclock I can get on AIR?

3)Just how much is a Q9550 slower when compared to the i7? What are some other disadvantages when compared to the i7?

The main reason why I want a Q9550 is because the price doesn't seem to be too bad, I can keep using my LGA775 setup, and I can hopefully remain "future proof" for at least another year or so.
 
Soulkeeper

Soulkeeper

Diamond Member
Nov 23, 2001
6,738
156
106
I think you can find a better deal.
For that price you can get a athlon II x4 and motherboard
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
I actually just went from an E6300 @ 2.9GHz to a Q9550 yesterday. I overclocked it so far to 3.4GHz and still ganna tweak it. In general computing it seems snappier but no huge difference except when I have a ton of stuff open. The biggest difference is when I'm playing RTS's like Company of Heroes or World in Conflict. Big difference in games like those. I didn't want to have to have to buy a new mobo/ram all over again and can put the money into a better video card next week. I'm happy that I went with it. Just swapped out the processor and I'm set. 775 isn't going to go down in price at all. They will increase in price just like AGP cards have and older processors like the 939 stuff.
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
ibex333 said:
Well I can get one right now for $170, but I am wondering if it's worth it for me.

1)Is $170 really a good deal? Is it really a price discount, or is it likely that it is going to stay at this price since LGA 775 is getting more and more outdated with the releases of i7, i5, i3 CPUs?

2)Just how much performance increase in games and apps am I going to get with this CPU when compared to my current CPU in sig at it's current OC'd speed? Is a Q9550 a good overclocker? What is the max REALISTIC average overclock I can get on AIR?

3)Just how much is a Q9550 slower when compared to the i7? What are some other disadvantages when compared to the i7?

The main reason why I want a Q9550 is because the price doesn't seem to be too bad, I can keep using my LGA775 setup, and I can hopefully remain "future proof" for at least another year or so.
Click to expand...

1. 170$ is a great deal for that chip. Don't forget you can get 40/50$ for your chip

2. a stock q9500 will outperform a e5200 @ 3.1 in any application ,even gaming due to the cache size.
The q9550 should easily hit 3.5 ( see mine in signiture).
You have the motherboard and ram to overclock the q9550 also.

3. A q 9550 is not that much slower then a core i7 especially overclocked.
It should last you another year or two.

Future games and apps will use 4 cores. Its well worth it now and will be better later on this year.
 
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S

ShreddedWheat

Senior member
Apr 3, 2006
386
0
0
That is an awesome deal for $ 170. I saw that earlier and am in the same boat. e5200 oced to 3.4. Though I just spent 299 on a 5850 about 1.5 months ago so really don't want to splurge on quad core yet (broke now :(. I live near frys and will wait for another i5 deal with mobo for 200 bucks.

Very tempting @ $170!!!!
 
exar333

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
8,518
8
91
Soulkeeper said:
I think you can find a better deal.
For that price you can get a athlon II x4 and motherboard
Click to expand...

And have a slower system to boot (cache starved Athlon II x4).

The OP already has the 775 setup, and could just drop this chip in. For this price, he would get one of the better CPUs available for the socket, period.

Go for it, and you should be set with performance for a while, unless you really need a lot of encoding performance. If this is the case, and it fits your budget, go for a whole new setup (i7).
 
Soulkeeper

Soulkeeper

Diamond Member
Nov 23, 2001
6,738
156
106
I dunno I guess I just feel different.
I went from an e4300 to a Q9450 back when they cost $300
Q9550 being essentially the same chip, it just don't seem like a reasonable reaction in price for 2yrs time.

Either way, I won't argue that it it isn't a fine chip (love mine).
good point on him selling his old chip, that'll make it worth it.

:)
 
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A

alyarb

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2009
2,425
0
76
170 is an outstanding price. typically a Q9300 is $160 to put you in perspective. go for it, you have a solid motherboard that will get you 4 ghz if you can live with ~1.265-1.325


also you don't mention which heatsink you're using
 
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aclim

aclim

Senior member
Oct 6, 2006
475
0
0
I say do it!!!! You have a sweet mobo and will be able to OC nicely on it. Get a nice heatsink and let it fly
 
lopri

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,314
690
126
In this case I'd advocate the Q9550. OP's got a relatively weak dual-core CPU yet his/her platform is very capable of handling the (new) quads.
 
xCxStylex

xCxStylex

Senior member
Apr 6, 2003
710
0
0
That's a crazy nice price. I thought E8400s and Q6600s were still that price, even a year ago when q5500s were $250+++ a year ago.
 
F

F1N3ST

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2006
3,802
0
76
I got my 9550 at $170. It's nice, I too upgraded from an E6300 @ 2.8.

It's nice.

Worth it IMO.
 
Jayzbent

Jayzbent

Member
Sep 12, 2009
28
0
0
I snatched one up today at Microcenters and so far so good I haven't OC'ed it yet but I agree for that price why not.
 
F

F1N3ST

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2006
3,802
0
76
Jayzbent said:
I snatched one up today at Microcenters and so far so good I haven't OC'ed it yet but I agree for that price why not.
Click to expand...

I never ran mine not OC'd. Just kick it up to 400 FSB and join the 3.4ghz Q9550 club.
 
E

EnzoLT

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2005
1,843
4
91
$170 is a mighty fine price for a mighty fine processor. have mines running at 3.9 GHz @ 1.248 V and will go up higher in FSB once i get a new cooler.
 
K

Kenmitch

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,505
2,250
136
BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
AFAIK the Q9550's are no longer at that price and have gone up.
Click to expand...

Still 169.99 when I just looked.

For those who already have a good S775 MB anyways running a Dual core chip I'd say it's a good value. For those already running a quad I'd say not worth the upgrade.

Maybe you'll get lucky and get one that'll do 4ghz with reasonable voltage....I did :D
 
Axon

Axon

Platinum Member
Sep 25, 2003
2,541
1
76
I can confirm the 9550 for $170 at the New York location...shit, I might have to grab one at that price. Must resist...E8500 still good backup rig...I only game on it...NOOOOOOOOOO (runs to MC)

As to your question OP, you would see a performance improvement. I don't know if it would be a quantum leap because of your current clock speed, but it would be a noticeable change.

benches:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=66&p2=50 e5300 v. q9550

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=47&p2=50 i7 920 v. q9550

Actually, it might well be a Quantum Leap :p
 
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