Intel Quad Q9950, should I go for this CPU

[Ground 0]

How is the Intel Quad Q9950? Will it be a good choice for my config. I have this old config lying idle and the cpu gone useless. Will it be good to go for this Quad Q9950 which I am getting at a cheaper price from my friend?

[Baltazar]

Intel Quad Q9950 is a nice processor to go for if it is getting cheap for you. It's 45nm and that's a substantial power and clocking improvement over 65nm, regardless of the multiplier unlocking. That extra cache and other tweaks also help instructions-per-clock. Meanwhile, how do you know your old processor died while other components did not?

[gygabite]

However you have not mentioned what is your config? I think you forgot to write that. About Q9550, get it and do some serious overclocking with it. Forget the ram.. the 4gb will be enough. Buy a decent cooling gear for it.

[Ground 0]

However you have not mentioned what is your config? I think you forgot to write that.

Oh yes, I forgot !!
My previous CPU is E8400 with 4GB of Ram. Since you have mentioned that 4GB of ram is enough, that means I only have to go for a decent cooler, rite?

[Amd Athlon]

Looks like you already have a pretty sufficient machine for gaming purposes. E8400 is better for gaming than a Q6600, however, the quad is better for everything else. The Q6600 might catch up to the E8400 in gaming if you found a really good overclocker. The Q9550 would definitely be better for both gaming and everything else.

[gygabite]

See for more information on Intel Quad Q9950 here Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550