According to this site, a Q9550s is more than twice as fast as the 3.06GHz C2D chip that ships on a stock iMac. Of course benchmarks are what they are: YMMV.
Some other comparisons:According to this site, a Q9550s is more than twice as fast as the 3.06GHz C2D chip that ships on a stock iMac. Of course benchmarks are what they are: YMMV.
+ The E8600 (upgraded C2D chip) is about 20% faster than the standard C2D chip (E7600)
+ A Q8400s is almost 75% faster than the E7600
+ A Q9550s is about 65% faster than the E8600
+ A Q9550s is about 17% faster than a Q8400s
IMHO, the Q8400s offers the best performance to value ratio. The Q8400s runs about $250, while the Q9550s runs about $350. To me, an additional 20% isn't worth $100. Just my .02.
The low voltage models are more expansive than the standard voltage models (65W TDP vs 95W TDP). They are tricky to find, as Google wants to show you the more popular/common Q9550 model, but you can find them. Google Shopping links for the Q9550s and the Q8400s.
The more I write about this, the more I want to do this... if someone could answer my RAM question.
I was having an email exchange with the iFixit guys about this. In it, they said that they replaced the CPU with the same model the unit shipped with. They said they are planning to do some more extensive testing of CPUs to see what works, what doesn't, but they haven't gotten to that yet. Didn't sound like they were going to get to it in the near future.
I recently downsized from a 2.8ghz octomac to the 21.5" iMac, 4670 Ati Model (which I'm really loving, nice to have my desk back!) but of course the urge to tweak never leaves once you start. I've built countless PC's starting from back in '95 with a 100 mhz Pentium so it's kind of hard not to think of how to make a computer better. It all started with the Amiga, but I digress...
In '07 I did (presumably) the first write-up on how to upgrade the hard drive in the Aluminum 24" iMac that had just been released (24" iMac HD Upgrade). After having 8 cores in my MP, I am definitely liking the idea of picking up a Q9550s and an SSD (which is the one thing I miss more than anything with the MP) and take my iMac to a different level.
That said, if I do I'll definitely be taking many pics and will post my results here first!
I've got a 3.06 C2D 27" iMac in my lab right now, just tried upgrading with a 9505s C2Q I have here - no go. Fans come on, black screen, no chimes, no nothing.
....Here's an update: a Q9505s won't work
....
E7600 (yes that 3.06GHz one) has A 1066 MHZ FRONT SIDE BUS BUT THE 9505s REQUIRES A 1333 MHZ FSB.......
Okay I know this thread has been there since 2009, but the fact no test of Q9550s has been performed on a freaking 3.33GHz E8600 iMac 27" is just totally, totally sad
If any one in the distant future will test it out:
1. You need a iMac Late 2009 27" with 3.33GHz E8600
2. You need a CPU with SAME TDP, SOCKET TYPE, FSB (QS series such as Q9550s)
PLEEEEEEEEEASE!!
If you want it that badly, knock yourself out and tell us about it.....
E7600 (yes that 3.06GHz one) has A 1066 MHZ FRONT SIDE BUS BUT THE 9505s REQUIRES A 1333 MHZ FSB.......
Okay I know this thread has been there since 2009, but the fact no test of Q9550s has been performed on a freaking 3.33GHz E8600 iMac 27" is just totally, totally sad
If any one in the distant future will test it out:
1. You need a iMac Late 2009 27" with 3.33GHz E8600
2. You need a CPU with SAME TDP, SOCKET TYPE, FSB (QS series such as Q9550s)
PLEEEEEEEEEASE!!
