q6600 or q9400

[joey40949]

i decided i wanna new rig and go with quad core im currently which cpu should i get for gaming either q6600 or q9400? couple friends suggested e8400 dual core for gaming but rather have quad core i noticed the q6600 is about 80bucks cheaper but is 2.4ghz where as the q9400 is 2.66ghz id rather not overclock even tho im going with a good overclocking board do u think 2.4 would be enough to play latest games im gonna go with 9800gtx for the graphics card possibly 2 for sli. or should i spend extra 80 for the q9400 what do yall think

 

[enigma067]

i decided i wanna new rig and go with quad core im currently which cpu should i get for gaming either q6600 or q9400? couple friends suggested e8400 dual core for gaming but rather have quad core i noticed the q6600 is about 80bucks cheaper but is 2.4ghz where as the q9400 is 2.66ghz id rather not overclock even tho im going with a good overclocking board do u think 2.4 would be enough to play latest games im gonna go with 9800gtx for the graphics card possibly 2 for sli. or should i spend extra 80 for the q9400 what do yall think

Q6600 is not a quad core processor.......


"The question still lingers “but this isn’t a true quad core CPU right?”, and as with the QX6700 the Q6600 is basically two Core 2 Duo processors built into a single multi chip module."
http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/Q6600/index.php

Save yourself $900!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq_XG411Lik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivx0XYMCZJw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi4yxKNWehU

 

[Zecow]

Actually depends. I bought my rig recently and I chose the Q6600 - I overclock anyways. If you have the budget for it, then the Q9400 would be a better choice as its based on the 45nm technology and it is faster than the q6600. Since you're not OC'ing, I would go with the Q9400.

 

[Zecow]

Q6600 is not a quad core processor.......


"The question still lingers “but this isn’t a true quad core CPU right?”

The OP asked for some suggestion... coz he plans to buy a rig.. and you just gave him an advice to ditch it?

The fact that Core2 has 2 cores... therefore 2 Core2 = 2x2= 4 cores. If you plan to disect everything then 1600 FSB isn't true FSB would it? as 400 quad pumped= 1600Mhz... No?
The way the trend goes - what is inside the chip is the CPU - if it has 3 seperate cores.. the cpu is still called Tri-Core or if it has 8 cores its called Oct-Cores. Thats how the trend determine the core. In the engineering world.. yeah.. you can disect it as you want.

Gaming - Dual core is better, but there are more advantages of quad and you can see performance boost in some newer games.

 

[bobbknight]

Yea right like I'm gona use info from 2002 and listen to a PR guy.

LOL

 

[one-shot]

Q6600 is not a quad core processor.......


"The question still lingers “but this isn’t a true quad core CPU right?”, and as with the QX6700 the Q6600 is basically two Core 2 Duo processors built into a single multi chip module."

So what if this "single multi chip module" had...lets say 4 chips...and these chips can also be cores. Now, there is four of them...four=quad. Is it safe to say quad core?

 

[captaincharisma]

one way is if your not afraid to over clock a CPU then you can get the cheaper Q6600 and over clock it to the speed of the Q9400.

 

[RetiredChief]

If you are not going to overclock, I would go with the 9400 which has SSE4 and the slightly higher clock. If there was a chance you might want to try Oc, then the 6600 might be easier.

To emigma067
I normally do not respond to garbage, BUT For you i"ll make a one time exception.
(1) If it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, and you shoot it, roast it and when you eat it it taste like a duck - WHO CARES!!
(2) It sure the heck BEATs the "Real thing" so BFD

 

[enewmen]

The q9550 is even better if you can scrape up a few extra dollars. Also has 12mb cache.

 

[Youraputz]

I just built a new rig with the Q6600 and couldn't be happier. I went with an ocz vendetta2 aftermarket cooler for it, and on stock voltage I raised it to 9x333 (3.0ghz), and runs at a cool 30C, 42C under full load.

If you're not going to OC at all then the one with a higher stock frequency would clearly be better, but in all honesty this 2.4->3.0ghz overclock was quite possibly the easiest I have ever done.

 

[aeiouandxyz]

If you get either, you should seriously consider learning to overclock because the CPU's low frequency will bottleneck your GPU. If you get the CPU to 3.0-3.2 Ghz with either CPU, it will raise your fps by 5-15 frames. The Q6600 is the best bang for your buck if you overclock.

 

[SeanTN]

I am trying to decide the same thing.

In stock (not overclocked) form which processor is better?

Going by the numbers...

The Q6600 - 256kb of L1 & 8mb of L2 cache, 2.4Khz clock, 1066 FSB, 65nm lithography & draws 105 watts

The q9400 - no L1 & 6mb L2 cache, 2.66Mhz clock, 1333 FSB, 45nm lithography and draws 95 watts

The big question is, which performs better in stock form?

Does the L1 L2 cache make more difference than having a faster clock rate, FSB and 45nm lithography?

I think we're splitting hairs here, thoughts...