Q6600 to Q9550 for $40

[Smartazz]

Hi guys, my brother has an old Core 2 motherboard that he bought off of somebody very cheaply. Since the Q6600 is one of only a few quad core processors that works with the motherboard, he wants to buy mine for $130 and I can get a Q9550 for $170 at a MicroCenter near me. My current Q6600 runs at 3GHz at 1.35 volts under a Tuniq Tower. It has a VID of 1.325v. I play any genre game on my computer and do some lighter video work. Do you think it would be worth upgrading for $40? How high do overclocks usually go on the Q9550? The Q6600 only gets up to 3.34GHz before it starts requiring a lot more voltage.

 

[lopri]

I'd do it, yes.

 

[California Roll]

I'd be all over that.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Hell yes. You should be able to get a minimum of 3.4Ghz with the Q9550, if not more.

 

[Ayah]

For 40$ hell yes.

 

[Eddie313]

Hell yes i love those deals :}

I have my Q9550 running at 3.53ghz on 1.20 volts EO

I got mine at microcenter also so see if you can get them to you a EO stepping.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

I wish I had a Microcenter nearby...

My Q8200 3ghz settings would put me at 3.65ghz if I had a Q9550.

 

[dbcooper1]

I'd go for it; I've been running my Q9550 at 4.0 on air for months now. It runs cooler at a lower voltage than my Q6600 did at 3.2.

 

[Schmide]

I did the exact same upgrade without the sale. The q9550 overclocks much better than my q6600.

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: Eddie313
Hell yes i love those deals :}

I have my Q9550 running at 3.53ghz on 1.20 volts EO

I got mine at microcenter also so see if you can get them to you a EO stepping.

So, it's possible to ask them specifically for an E0 stepping?

 

[Rike]

You can ask to look at the box before you buy.

 

[dbcooper1]

Originally posted by: Smartazz

Originally posted by: Eddie313
Hell yes i love those deals :}

I have my Q9550 running at 3.53ghz on 1.20 volts EO

I got mine at microcenter also so see if you can get them to you a EO stepping.

So, it's possible to ask them specifically for an E0 stepping?

E0 should be all that's out there by now, especially Microcenter or anyone else who deals in any kind of volume.

 

[cubeless]

be careful... i've seen them have old ones back on the shelf after they only had newer ones days before... i don't know if it's just they don't put new stock in the back of the shelf in the stockroom or what, but always check and ask them to look in the back if they don't have the right stepping...

 

[tigersty1e]

Just give it to him.

He's your bro. lol

 

[RussianSensation]

E0 = S-Spec: SLB8V

Remember that most P35 boards will not overclock beyond 415-420 FSB with FSB termination voltage less than 1.40V (+0.2V) (and going beyond this may be too dangerous for 45nm quad). Therefore, unless you have a P45 board or Abit P35 board, you will likely be limited to 3.4-3.5ghz on the Q9550. Still the upgrade is worth it for $40 imo.

 

[Schmide]

The one I bought from MicroCenter 2 weeks ago was a SLBV8 = E0 stepping.

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
E0 = S-Spec: SLB8V

Remember that most P35 boards will not overclock beyond 415-420 FSB with FSB termination voltage less than 1.40V (+0.2V) (and going beyond this may be too dangerous for 45nm quad). Therefore, unless you have a P45 board or Abit P35 board, you will likely be limited to 3.4-3.5ghz on the Q9550. Still the upgrade is worth it for $40 imo.

I have a P45 board. Good to hear that it should work well.

 

[Eddie313]

I bought it when they first went on sale and they had older stepping there.
One guy lets me pick my stepping but he was not working that day.
So i asked if i can pick stepping he said no so i looked at the box and said i don't like that one it has a scratch on the box, get me another one and the next was EO :}

Most of them don't care and there look for the stepping you want as long as there not super busy.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: Smartazz

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
E0 = S-Spec: SLB8V

Remember that most P35 boards will not overclock beyond 415-420 FSB with FSB termination voltage less than 1.40V (+0.2V) (and going beyond this may be too dangerous for 45nm quad). Therefore, unless you have a P45 board or Abit P35 board, you will likely be limited to 3.4-3.5ghz on the Q9550. Still the upgrade is worth it for $40 imo.

I have a P45 board. Good to hear that it should work well.

Oh then you are set!! A good P45 board like UD3R or UD3P will do 475+FSB x 8.5 multi = 4.0ghz

 

[spinejam]

i have both chips -- definitely worth it! :thumbsup:

 

[richierich1212]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
Just give it to him.

He's your bro. lol

+1 or sell it for cheaper....Jeez

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
Just give it to him.

He's your bro. lol

did you even read the post? This isn't like the OP decided to upgrade his own computer and would have a Q6600 to spare, he has to go out of his way to replace his CPU for his brother, selling his brother his old Q6600 is still quite a favor.

 

[California Roll]

I'd be all over that.

OP's question gave me the idea to try this. Put my Q6600 up for sale and got a buyer for $130. Went to MC the same day and picked up a Q9550 for $176 after tax and coupon.

I was planning to upgrade to an i7 in about a year or two but this should me hold over till then quite nicely.

 

[robertk2012]

Anyone want to pick up a Q9550 for me?

 

[acole1]

+1 to Buy It!

My Q9550 is awesome! Top clock (only casual OCing) was 4.2GHz and it was limited by the OS not booting. I have run at 4.0 for 12+ mo, and about 6 mo of it was 24/7 up time with no crashes.