Poll: E8500 vs Q6600

I've seen this question a couple times, and I was wondering what you guys thought was a better buy. Both have a very similar price (~190-195).

The E8500 is a Dual-Core Wolfdale at 3.16Ghz.

The Q6600 is a Quad-Core Kentsfield at 2.4Ghz.

For purely gaming, the E8500 is better.

Games- E8500

Anything else- Q6600

It really depends on the user. For someone who's not a big overclocker and mainly games, the E8500 is the superior choice. For someone who is a fairly confident overclocker and might use it for something other than gaming (or is planning on keeping it for several years), I'd go with the Q6600.

There is no clear-cut "one is better than the other" answer to the question. For me, I'd opt for the Q6600 given how often I upgrade, how well I know I can overclock, and given some of the things I do.

E8500 for gaming.

Q6600 for the all-around PC user - desktop/movie editing/games/graphic design/multi-tasking.

To be honest, I would rather wait for the Q9550 price to drop and get that. I think that will be the best choice.

E8500 for gaming.

Q6600 for the all-around PC user - desktop/movie editing/games/graphic design/multi-tasking.

To be honest, I would rather wait for the Q9550 price to drop and get that. I think that will be the best choice.

Elann2008

Off topic, sorry, but didn't Intel Price drops already happen on the 22nd of July? Oh, and i choose quad :D.

Q6600 is only 1066 FSB; E8500 is 1333 and has a higher clock, so it will be better for games.

I'm waiting for the Q9550 to come down in price and then I'll get one and overclock it to 3.Ghz :)

Q6600 is only 1066 FSB; E8500 is 1333 and has a higher clock, so it will be better for games.

I'm waiting for the Q9550 to come down in price and then I'll get one and overclock it to 3.Ghz :)

machine_B

Wow. That's gona be one hell of an upgrade from ur E8400...

well the e8500 beats the q6660 in a divx benchmark so more cores aren't always better even when its not gaming. itunes even the e8200 beats the q6600, power point to pdf all the wolfdales win over the q6600 same with photoshop and supriingley pinicale studios the q6600 falls behind the e8500 and e8400 and is only just in front of the e8200, but in premiere the quad wins. winrar all the wolfdales win again and same happen in xvid.

so basicly most of the time there is no reason to buy a q6600 over the e8500 and e8400 and often even the cheap e8200 beats the quad. basicly its seems its only really video editing program that the q6600 is the better choice.

tomshardware.com

well the e8500 beats the q6660 in a divx benchmark so more cores aren't always better even when its not gaming. itunes even the e8200 beats the q6600, power point to pdf all the wolfdales win over the q6600 same with photoshop and supriingley pinicale studios the q6600 falls behind the e8500 and e8400 and is only just in front of the e8200, but in premiere the quad wins. winrar all the wolfdales win again and same happen in xvid.

so basicly most of the time there is no reason to buy a q6600 over the e8500 and e8400 and often even the cheap e8200 beats the quad. basicly its seems its only really video editing program that the q6600 is the better choice.

tomshardware.com

imprezawrx500

[QUOTE="imprezawrx500"]

well the e8500 beats the q6660 in a divx benchmark so more cores aren't always better even when its not gaming. itunes even the e8200 beats the q6600, power point to pdf all the wolfdales win over the q6600 same with photoshop and supriingley pinicale studios the q6600 falls behind the e8500 and e8400 and is only just in front of the e8200, but in premiere the quad wins. winrar all the wolfdales win again and same happen in xvid.

so basicly most of the time there is no reason to buy a q6600 over the e8500 and e8400 and often even the cheap e8200 beats the quad. basicly its seems its only really video editing program that the q6600 is the better choice.

tomshardware.com

raynimrod

I've also seen a weird thing on tomshardware which I didn't believe ,the e8400 beats q6600 in Supremme commander the only game that ultilizes four cores !!!

For purely gaming, the E8500 is better.

bungie93

Here's how I see it. My E6320 @ 2.4 handles every thing I have thrown at it just fine. So for now, I don't think you can go wrong with either CPU. It is more of what you think is going to happen in the near to distant future.

If you think that games will use quad more efficiently in the next year or two, then the Q6600 is the way to go, if you think it will take many years for quad to be fully used, then the E8500.

I just don't see that there is any clear cut winner now. But that's just the way I see it.

I say e8500 for gaming. My e8400 4.05Ghz eats any so far i have jugged at it and spit it out.

Quad for workstation apps on the professional side as more than just a random thing to do.

you people are starting a topic fire XD Il show you something . BENCHMARK TIME it come a time where i must come to set the fire down or something.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2quad-q9300_9.html#sect0
time to remind the folks ther 3 new cpu incoming
Q9550 is 310-330$
E8600 is 300$
E8500 is now 200$
Q9650 499$
With OC potential near the Qx9750 in theory
"note" those cpu are not before August & september the price
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3283&p=8
this show the e8500 4.0ghz perform well but the QX9750 get an extra 10 fps for Gaming. so q6600 for gaming = out of mind

[QUOTE="raynimrod"][QUOTE="imprezawrx500"]

well the e8500 beats the q6660 in a divx benchmark so more cores aren't always better even when its not gaming. itunes even the e8200 beats the q6600, power point to pdf all the wolfdales win over the q6600 same with photoshop and supriingley pinicale studios the q6600 falls behind the e8500 and e8400 and is only just in front of the e8200, but in premiere the quad wins. winrar all the wolfdales win again and same happen in xvid.

so basicly most of the time there is no reason to buy a q6600 over the e8500 and e8400 and often even the cheap e8200 beats the quad. basicly its seems its only really video editing program that the q6600 is the better choice.

tomshardware.com

Games_pro

I've also seen a weird thing on tomshardware which I didn't believe ,the e8400 beats q6600 in Supremme commander the only game that ultilizes four cores !!!

And comon an E8500 is no sloutch for your normal computer usage and multitasking.

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]

E8500 for gaming.

Q6600 for the all-around PC user - desktop/movie editing/games/graphic design/multi-tasking.

To be honest, I would rather wait for the Q9550 price to drop and get that. I think that will be the best choice.

Snosavan24

Off topic, sorry, but didn't Intel Price drops already happen on the 22nd of July? Oh, and i choose quad :D.

Price drops didnt happen yet. At least not for the Q9550 or else it would have been MINE. :D I opted for the E8500 because of it's massive overclocking ability and honestly because I couldnt wait any longer. lol.

you people are starting a topic fire XD Il show you something . BENCHMARK TIME it come a time where i must come to set the fire down or something.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2quad-q9300_9.html#sect0
time to remind the folks ther 3 new cpu incoming
Q9550 is 310-330$
E8600 is 300$
E8500 is now 200$
Q9650 499$
With OC potential near the Qx9750 in theory
"note" those cpu are not before August & september the price
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3283&p=8
this show the e8500 4.0ghz perform well but the QX9750 get an extra 10 fps for Gaming. so q6600 for gaming = out of mind

marcthpro

I presume you mean QX9650 and QX9770? The QX9650 is about $1,000 USD if I'm not mistaken, with the QX9770 being significantly more.

I don't get why anyone would buy the E8500, well unless it was for the same price .... I mean the E8400 is the same processor just a bit underclocked. Takes 2 minutes to overclock it.

I don't get why anyone would buy the E8500, well unless it was for the same price .... I mean the E8400 is the same processor just a bit underclocked. Takes 2 minutes to overclock it.

whitey_rolls

e8400 = 3.0ghz , 9.0 multiplier

e8500 = 3.16ghz , 9.5 multiplier

Higher multiplier = More stable, and higher overclock.

[QUOTE="whitey_rolls"]

I don't get why anyone would buy the E8500, well unless it was for the same price .... I mean the E8400 is the same processor just a bit underclocked. Takes 2 minutes to overclock it.

Jamiemydearx3

e8400 = 3.0ghz , 9.0 multiplier

e8500 = 3.16ghz , 9.5 multiplier

Higher multiplier = More stable, and higher overclock.

9x multiplier is enough unless your motherboard sucks. If your motherboard is good then doing a 8x500 or 8x525 is better than running 9.5x422 or 9.5x442 in my opinion.

If you didnt know.. higher FSB is better performance! Also many on the e8400 reported better vcore to clock ratio stable by going 8x500 then 9x445. Also not all motherboards support a .5 multiplier so that can cut off alot if they do not know and buy.

Both of them have the same vcore limits. However as I said.. 8x500 will yield better bandwidth, thus raises everything, compared to just the mhz. Alot of factors to overclocking.

[QUOTE="marcthpro"]

you people are starting a topic fire XD Il show you something . BENCHMARK TIME it come a time where i must come to set the fire down or something.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2quad-q9300_9.html#sect0
time to remind the folks ther 3 new cpu incoming
Q9550 is 310-330$
E8600 is 300$
E8500 is now 200$
Q9650 499$
With OC potential near the Qx9750 in theory
"note" those cpu are not before August & september the price
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3283&p=8
this show the e8500 4.0ghz perform well but the QX9750 get an extra 10 fps for Gaming. so q6600 for gaming = out of mind

raynimrod

I presume you mean QX9650 and QX9770? The QX9650 is about $1,000 USD if I'm not mistaken, with the QX9770 being significantly more.

[QUOTE="raynimrod"][QUOTE="marcthpro"]

you people are starting a topic fire XD Il show you something . BENCHMARK TIME it come a time where i must come to set the fire down or something.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2quad-q9300_9.html#sect0
time to remind the folks ther 3 new cpu incoming
Q9550 is 310-330$
E8600 is 300$
E8500 is now 200$
Q9650 499$
With OC potential near the Qx9750 in theory
"note" those cpu are not before August & september the price
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3283&p=8
this show the e8500 4.0ghz perform well but the QX9750 get an extra 10 fps for Gaming. so q6600 for gaming = out of mind

marcthpro

I presume you mean QX9650 and QX9770? The QX9650 is about $1,000 USD if I'm not mistaken, with the QX9770 being significantly more.

Now I'm disappointed that I got the Q6600 :( I don't really do much other than gaming, and now it looks like the E8500 would have been better. Well maybe the Q6600 is more future proof...hopefully.fatherearth

You can always OC Q6600 to 3.0ghz or above, with decent mobo, ram and psu.

But there's no Q9650 or QX9750 :oraynimrod

[QUOTE="fatherearth"]Now I'm disappointed that I got the Q6600 :( I don't really do much other than gaming, and now it looks like the E8500 would have been better. Well maybe the Q6600 is more future proof...hopefully.domke13

You can always OC Q6600 to 3.0ghz or above, with decent mobo, ram and psu.

He's right, just bump up the Q6600 to 3.0 and you'll be fine. Besides, that E8400 on newegg is like $169.00, chump change man.