Q9300 vs Q9400

[Harrington]

Undecided between these two processors:
Q9300
or
Q9400

Taking into account if the price difference really worth? and which will be better overclocker?

[.:MUNDITO:.]

If you were to overclock, the higher multiplier may give way. If default is to leave, buy the cheapest. 160 mhz is not going to feel the pc faster.

[SUpER CoP]

Both 45nm build, have the same amount of L2 cache (6MB)

2.53GHz on Q9300
2.66GHz on Q9400

Q9400 build with the newer stepping.

[Harrington]

Is there any real difference between the Q9300 and the Q9400? The difference in clock speed is negligible (2.5 vs. 2.66 GHz). I plan to overclock so could I go ahead and get the Q9300 and save some money?

[Omari]

The cache does make a difference. As for your question, I have a q9300, only because I could get it as cheap as a q6600. With the q6600 so cheap, and much more overclockerble than both q9400 and q9300, it makes them seem like a stupid option. Far better to stretch and go for the q9550.

[lorenz]

I assume that Intel releases updated steppings for processors of the same family/similar specs.

It's really up to the price difference. If you can get the Q9300 for more than $20 less, then I would consider it a good deal. You could easily overclock it to Q9400 speeds by a small clock speed increase.

[JAMES_911]

Yep that is about the size of it but the overclocking will be the real difference which one can handle it better and I myself feel that the Q9400 would be better able to stand the overclock than the Q9300.

[SUpER CoP]

I assume that Intel releases updated steppings for processors of the same family/similar specs.

It's really up to the price difference. If you can get the Q9300 for more than $20 less, then I would consider it a good deal. You could easily overclock it to Q9400 speeds by a small clock speed increase.

Nope not yet...

The Q9300 is still using a older stepping than Q9400

R0 is the newer stepping.

[Harrington]

The reason I'm looking at the Q9300 is because Microcenter has the Q9300 for $169.99. I was planning to get the Q9400 but if I can get away with the Q9300 overclocked to the same speed as a OC'd Q9400 I would rather do that.

Thank you for the overwhelming response