Q9400 V.S. Q6600

[NukaCola]

Q6600 Kentsfield:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115017

Q9400:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115131

I'm planning on upgrading my computer soon, and I'm set on getting a quad core, I just don't know which one to get, although I am leaning towards the Q9400 (the price doesn't bother me, seems to be much better than the Kentsfield, and it comes with UT3 free!).

I would like your input on this matter. For my upgrade I don't plan on overclocking from the get-go, but I maybe venture into it eventually. The Q9400 seems to be the best bang for my buck. What do you think?

 

[RussianSensation]

What are you going to be using your system for? What are the other components (i.e. graphics, monitor, hard drive)?

Q6600 is by far the easiest processor overclock since XP2500+ -> XP3200+ days. All you'd have to do is raise the voltage and FSB. 400FSB x 9 will give you 3.6ghz (if you can even get there). This means that neither a P45 motherboard nor DDR2 800 ram will be the limiting components in Q6600 overclocking. However, electricity costs for Q6600 will play against it in the long term against Q9400.

But if you aren't going to be overclocking I would probably get the E8500 for $190 and pocket the difference from Q9400 towards a future upgrade or a faster graphics card. Plus it'll be the most cost effective processor from electricity costs perspective.

 

[z1ggy]

Agreed. But we need to know what you do on your computer before somebody can give you any real advice.

 

[NukaCola]

Gaming/Multi-purpose. I made a topic in General as to parts to pick out for my upgrade:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2218202&enterthread=y

Some of the things I'm almost settled on:
(My Current PSU is 600W)
Mobo: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
Graphics: DIAMOND 4870PE5512 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
RAM: OCZ Platinum Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
CPU: ???

 

[fakester01]

I know a few people who have upgraded from a Q6600 to a Q9450 and they say it was totally worth it. Apparently with some benchmarks they have conducted and gaming they said the Q9450 at 3.6GHz is equivalent to a 3.8-4GHz Q6600 and achieving those speeds on the Q6600 isn't exactly easy, especially on air.

Here in Australia the Q9450 is a good $150-200 more than the Q6600 and I don't think its worth it, but if you could sell your current CPU or somehow gain some money it will be well worth it. It also runs cooler and consumes less power if it helps.

If all you do is game than its not really worth it as any C2D at 3GHz+ can handle most games. But if you do heavy multitasking, ripping and encoding than it'll be a good buy.

 

[RussianSensation]

If you like to keep your processors/system for > 2 years, go for the quad. Otherwise for what you described, I still stand by my recommendation to grab an E8500 for now. Without overclocking you are comparing a 3.16ghz Penryn E8500 (which has roughly a 10% speed advantage over Kentsfield) => ~ 3.4ghz equivalent vs. a 2.4ghz.

 

[rudder]

The Q9400 has SSE4 multimedia extensions. Software that uses that will run faster... but first the software has to be written to utilize it and second you have to have a need for that software.

 

[NukaCola]

Hmm, yeah I may have to go with the 8500 to cut costs a bit. Is a 600W PSU enough to handle the 8500 along with the other parts I've listed?

EDIT: The reviews say it's a pain in the ass to install the heatsink and that the fan isn't great...also says that temperature monitoring is all screwed up for it...what do you all think?

 

[Cheex]

Originally posted by: NukaCola
Hmm, yeah I may have to go with the 8500 to cut costs a bit. Is a 600W PSU enough to handle the 8500 along with the other parts I've listed?

Yes a 600W PSU should be more than enough. :thumbsup:

 

[SanDiegoPC]

Originally posted by: NukaCola
Hmm, yeah I may have to go with the 8500 to cut costs a bit. Is a 600W PSU enough to handle the 8500 along with the other parts I've listed?

EDIT: The reviews say it's a pain in the ass to install the heatsink and that the fan isn't great...also says that temperature monitoring is all screwed up for it...what do you all think?

My Quad is clocked at 3.2 and runs great. I'm using stock heat sink/fan and have no cooling problems with it at all.

I do however, have 5 auxiliary 80mm fans blowing good, cool air into the case.

 

[Tempered81]

q6600

 

[NukaCola]

Oh jeez, all this time I didn't know the E8500 was a Core 2 Duo, lol. I'd rather really have a Core 2 Quad, so I think I'll go Q6600.