Upgrade to QX9650, Q9550, or keep E7500 (3.6 O/C)

[hot120]

Hello fellow Xtreme members! Hoping to get opinions on a possible s775 upgrade. I currently have an E7500 overclocked to 3.6. I have a $300 budget for a CPU upgrade, and am looking at the two CPUs below. I don't game much. I mostly spend time web-surfing and doing small tasks such as homework and light media encoding. I don't NEED to upgrade, as the E7500 performs just fine for my requirements. However, from your expert opinions, which option would you decide on? I am holding off on upgrading the platform until the s2011 CPUs come out (I know, the end of 2011; not a problem as I figure the three choices I have will hold me over until then). Thanks for any help!

QX9650:

http://www.starmicroinc.net/cgi/comm...ion&key=QX9650

Q9550:

http://www.starmicroinc.net/cgi/comm...tion&key=Q9550

[Kain665]

If not for gaming, keep your E7500. If anything, go for the Q9550. Should hit 4ghz pretty easy with the right board, but do you need the power?

[hot120]

I don't really need the power. This is more of an 'I have money to burn' upgrade. Thanks for responding. I was awed by the price of the QX9650 though, as most retailers price it way above Starmicro's price of $235.00. If I did upgrade, I was going to pair the CPU with a XSPC Rasa 750 watercooling kit.

[OCBalmang]

If anyone tells you 9550 don't do it over a Qx9650 look at my sig for what i got with results, just keep in mind they yorkfields have bad tolerance to VTT, mines at 1.28 ....
The newer C1 Qx9650s are just as good as the 9650 retail, but have an unlocked core multi , if your goal was too hit 4.4 or 4.5GHZ on air =D which was possible till i fried my northbridge on my DDR3 Board, but honestly the price and performance of the Qx9650 is great, Don't let anyone steer you away my chip has taken a few people to eye ball on it. and i'n using a budget board till my DRR3 Board comes back from manufacturer... Plus you get an Extreme Decal and this is XTREME FORUMS!

FYI atm 70$$ budget board has 450 FSB with a quad Qx9650 at that low Vcore

imagine what i'll be pushing with this chip , with water cooling tomorrow

[Kain665]

You're not hitting 4.4ghz-4.5ghz on air unless you have a golden chip. Realistically, under water, you are looking at 4-4.2ghz. a Q9550 will be just fine for your needs, or if a Q9650 if you want to spend the cash. You want to get an E0 revision. QX9650s only come in C0/C1. If you have a good board, you should be able to do 500x8 no problem. VTT is safe on these yorkfields up to 1.4v, but in most cases, you won't need to go over 1.35. Out of the four Yorkfields I've had ( Two QX9770s, a QX9650, and a Q9550), all but the QX9650 hit 4ghz without trying, and that was because of a terrible board with the QX9650.


If you have money to blow, spend it on an I5 650, P55-UD3, and a set of DDR3 and enjoy 4.5ghz on air or higher.

Also, sorry to break it to ya, but Balmang, 1.32v for 4ghz on a Yorkfield is not low by any means. That's mediocre at best, good chips do ~1.25 or a bit lower for 4ghz. Not to say you have a bad chip - who knows, maybe it scales very well with voltage.

[OCBalmang]

You're not hitting 4.4ghz-4.5ghz on air unless you have a golden chip. Realistically, under water, you are looking at 4-4.2ghz. a Q9550 will be just fine for your needs, or if a Q9650 if you want to spend the cash. You want to get an E0 revision. QX9650s only come in C0/C1. If you have a good board, you should be able to do 500x8 no problem. VTT is safe on these yorkfields up to 1.4v, but in most cases, you won't need to go over 1.35. Out of the four Yorkfields I've had ( Two QX9770s, a QX9650, and a Q9550), all but the QX9650 hit 4ghz without trying, and that was because of a terrible board with the QX9650.


If you have money to blow, spend it on an I5 650, P55-UD3, and a set of DDR3 and enjoy 4.5ghz on air or higher.

Also, sorry to break it to ya, but Balmang, 1.32v for 4ghz on a Yorkfield is not low by any means. That's mediocre at best, good chips do ~1.25 or a bit lower for 4ghz. Not to say you have a bad chip - who knows, maybe it scales very well with voltage.

i have to agree with the I5 build.. if you got money to blow might as well go there... 775 is fun...

and for a Qx9650 C1 =P most dont perform at all as good as mine thats true... but i dont have to depend on my Front side bus to get my speeds i can fine tune the multi up to 32... not saying i'd ever try anything past 11 LOL... but yeah go for the i5 655k, same die as the 650 but unlocked core youll have fun with it... 5GHz air is obtainable with it.. i think there all the same batch just luck the draw for a bad or good one

[Kain665]

All of the Clarkdales are the same revision AFAIK. They are not binned based on model number though, and that's a shame. If you want an unlocked multi, go with the 655k. If you want to save some money, go with the 650. You get a 24x multi, and most decent boards today can hit 200 bclk with relative ease.

[hot120]

Thanks for everyone's inputs. I will sit tight until s1155 comes out, and weigh my options. Maybe the Q9650 or Q9550 will be less than $200 new then.

[Kain665]

Q9550 should be below $200 now.

You can find used for ~$150.

[PatRaceTin]

if you not hurry
you may wait for full upgrade with upcoming socket 1155

[hot120]

Yeah, I was thinking about s1155 too. The new gun-metal Gigabyte board looks sweet, save for the front-facing SATA ports.