Ok. First off I would like to say that I will be running @ stock speeds. Will I notice any performance differences between the Q9650 or the Q9550 and which one should I go with. Money isn't really a factor here (but I don't want suggestions for different CPU's or QX series).
Q9650 vs Q9550
45nm
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Ok. First off I would like to say that I will be running @ stock speeds. Will I notice any performance differences between the Q9650 or the Q9550 and which one should I go with. Money isn't really a factor here (but I don't want suggestions for different CPU's or QX series).
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I would go with the Q9550 until the price of a Q9650 comes down to a more attractive price point. The extra 170 MHz for a couple Benjis doesn't equate to a good buy in my book.
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q9550 all the way, and you can squeeze it once you decide to do it.
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stock means at factory speed.
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Originally Posted by rpm666  What is this "STOCK"? |
Ok so I am assuming this scenario would have been different if no price cut had taken effect on the Q9550 then it would be probably be the Q9650 that would have come out as the winner. My main uses for this quad core will be gaming , CAD , video and media encoding etc....
The Q9650 costs more than a dollar extra for each additional MHz. The difference between 2.83GHz and 3GHz is virtually nonexistant.
The reason many enthusiasts choose the 9650 over the 9550 is that the the 9650s (not the QX, just the Q) are all E revision, where as the 9550 can be C or E. The rev E chip use somewhat less power and tend to have noticeably more overclocking headroom.
If you aren't OCing, the advantages of the Q9650 mostly evaporate, if you are on anything resembling a budget.
The reason many enthusiasts choose the 9650 over the 9550 is that the the 9650s (not the QX, just the Q) are all E revision, where as the 9550 can be C or E. The rev E chip use somewhat less power and tend to have noticeably more overclocking headroom.
If you aren't OCing, the advantages of the Q9650 mostly evaporate, if you are on anything resembling a budget.
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If you plan on putting a 9550 or 9650 on one of the boards listed in your sig and NOT overclocking it, then I would call the board extreme overkill and a waste
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You're buying a Ferrari but ONLY driving in school zones at 20mph. Doesn't make any sense to me, if money was the issue I'd say 9550 OC'd to 475FSB x 8.5. Since money is not an issue then get the 9650 and do the same thing.
Personally, I'll be buying the 9550 E0 stepping from TankGuys OR FRY's if they let me go through their stack of chips
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Originally Posted by 45nm Ok so I am assuming this scenario would have been different if no price cut had taken effect on the Q9550 then it would be probably be the Q9650 that would have come out as the winner. My main uses for this quad core will be gaming , CAD , video and media encoding etc.... |
You're buying a Ferrari but ONLY driving in school zones at 20mph. Doesn't make any sense to me, if money was the issue I'd say 9550 OC'd to 475FSB x 8.5. Since money is not an issue then get the 9650 and do the same thing.
Personally, I'll be buying the 9550 E0 stepping from TankGuys OR FRY's if they let me go through their stack of chips
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I never really ruled out the option of overclocking. If I need to I will overclock , otherwise I won't. Too bad that the E0 Q9550 is not available here otherwise I would have jumped on it right away.
| If you plan on putting a 9550 or 9650 on one of the boards listed in your sig and NOT overclocking it, then I would call the board extreme overkill and a waste You're buying a Ferrari but ONLY driving in school zones at 20mph. Doesn't make any sense to me, if money was the issue I'd say 9550 OC'd to 475FSB x 8.5. Since money is not an issue then get the 9650 and do the same thing. Personally, I'll be buying the 9550 E0 stepping from TankGuys OR FRY's if they let me go through their stack of chips |
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519 Posts
Its not a matter of need, but a matter of should. You should overclock your Q9550 or 9650 when you get it because the difference from 2.8 and 3.0 is small... but from 3.0-3.4/3.6 is much more noticable in all things gaming,apps,3d,ect. If you get a Q9550 you can use the cash you saved from getting the 9650 to get a good cooling setup and overclock to 3.4ghz at least and be good for a long o time.
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With all that and you plan to run it at stock? That's sacrilege!
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Kick that Q9550 up to 3.4 for a nice easy stable 24x7 OC.
Originally Posted by 45nm Ok so I am assuming this scenario would have been different if no price cut had taken effect on the Q9550 then it would be probably be the Q9650 that would have come out as the winner. My main uses for this quad core will be gaming , CAD , video and media encoding etc.... |
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just get the Q9550. cheaper and can be OCed to the level of a Q9650...
oh, and with that board, not overclocking is a waste, tbh
oh, and with that board, not overclocking is a waste, tbh
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If not overclocking then get the Q9550.. It's been on sale for $279.99 at frys.com for the last 2 weeks off and on for the weekends. thats a great deal. I had this same choice. but I wanted the E0 stepping. As I'm overclocking. I didn't wanna wait any longer for the Q9550 to come out with the E0 stepping. so I got the Q9650. but the Q9550 can get Just as high.. maybe slightly less. but still you could get to 4.0 Ghz on the Q9550 with either revision. So might as well get the cheaper. But if you can get the E0 version. Then thats even better, cuz later if you wanna overclock. then you have the best chance. Me with my Q9650 E0 stepping I've clocked it past 4.2 Ghz on AIR. and I'm 24/7 stable at 4.0 Ghz (Fly's through all games and benchmarks) at 4.0 Ghz and idles around 35c. thats a job well done by Intel.
Get the Q9550, and overclock it. with everything set at stock voltage. with no changes. you'll hit 3.4 Ghz Easy. then leave it on that for 24/7 usage.
Get the Q9550, and overclock it. with everything set at stock voltage. with no changes. you'll hit 3.4 Ghz Easy. then leave it on that for 24/7 usage.
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