Just to put my story in context: I’m working for a company who made casino gaming machine. I’m an electronic hardware engineer and my hobby is to build and fix PC, from hardware to software.  
At my job, we have an IT department, like every other industry, who is managing PC and network. We have decent PC, fast server, viability…
A basic PC for programmer is: E6700, 1Gig, WD Raptor 36 Gig (to be forced to save files on network), case Thermaltake wing, Antec Phantom 500W and a Intel 975X mobo. Graphic card is a nVidia Quadro nv280/285/290.
For our department, we got some better PC. Back to 2005, they begin to build PC with P4 EE edition, like the 955. At this time, I do not really understand what the Extreme mark on CPU was meaning. The only thing I knew is that CPU cost a lot for a little performance gain over a normal version and consumes a lot of power.
 
Three years later, they continue to build insane PC. Now I can really say that they really really don’t understand what the meaning of Extreme and globally how to build a PC who will suited our needs.
 
They have installed, to my coworker, a Core 2 QX9650, on an Intel X38 mobo, 4 gigs (running XP 32 bits by the way), with a monstrous  Thermaltake 1000W… So when I’ve seen this setup, I’va asked: “are going to overclock it, this is why is build for? This is the only reason to get an Extreme CPU, to get a unlocked multiplier and the easiest way to push the machine to 4GHz… You have the power supply and the mobo to do it, so lets’go”
 
They reply “no, we only got this processor for the gain of performance over the …” they cannot tell me from what they need to get a more performance… So you don’t want to overclock OK… Why the X38 mobo? It’s made to do crossfire, for gaming... Hello a P35 mobo will do the job and  it cost 50% of the  X38… And so what’s the **** meaning of the 1000W in that PC? To run a Quadro nv290… Suckers… they are using the second X16 slot to put a COM card at PCIe x1…
 
I’m very frustrated because it’s a big waste of money. For a fraction they could buy a E8400 (a dual core is more than enough for our jobs), a P35 mobo with one PCIe x16 and 2 PCIe x1 and a corsair 550W…
 
This is not the end of the story. One week later, I’ve got an upgrade on my PC: a beautiful QX6700, to be not overclocked because it’s bad… My previous CPU was aE6700 so basically I pass from 2 cores to 4, at 2.66GHz… And my CPU runs at 70°C idle, moving to 88°C at 75% load with 5 minutes load. I said it to the marvelous IT manager but he said: your PC is working? Yes but the temps are very high, maybe a new heatsink or at least reseat the actual ones?” “No your PC works, that’s all ” No comments…  
 
You know what: I really hate them. In fact the manager and the buyer. Because they buy the costly PC without knowing the capacities or the need of the worker.
 
That’s my horror story of the last month.  
 
 
 
 

Big deal, at least those will do the job ! Try needing that power and doing your job on crappy pentium 266 mhz, because the company is too cheap, that is worse !

what you should do is buy yourself an e4600 or something cheap and swap it out when they're not looking.  then when they are going to upgrade your machine swap them back again.  you just scored yourself a qx9650... w00t
 
j/k

^+1
 
Im pretty sure they won't know

Wow... thats a huge waste. But atleast it isn't your money but that makes me cry inside thinking they have a Qx9650 and aren't even oc it at all. Just switch out the processor. I switched my friends Q6600 with my e4300. He never noticed But i did give it back after a week

well i hate to break this to ya but in the "company world" they make absolutely sure that everything is to not make any since and be costly for no particular reason.
 
the company i work for actually has meetings about a previous meeting to make sure that nothing is to ever make since! so you do have to give them credit for going to great lengths to find ways to waste money.
 
and i tell you no lie either! another thing my company likes to do when it comes to wasting money is when all the executives like to relocate their whole departments around 3 buildings once every year. and sometimes even twice. how can anyone get any work done when they gotta move to a new cubicle every year?

@OP+doubletake 33 : What company's do you work at ?!?!

Talk them into buying machines from you amd make some serious bank.

Shadow I'm working for a company in Quebec, Bluberi Gaming Technologies. Globally it's a good company, 250 workers. Just the IT had too many power and nobody check what they are doing with money
 
To Reynod : first I'm not a programmer, second no progs that I’m using are multithreaded, third I'm just saying that the IT should care of what they are buying and not using stuff because it the more expensive on the market. Take the QX6700, are you going to tell me that CPU is in a good environment right now. 70C at idle is normal? Those people should understand PC and hardware better than me.
 
Yes I have thiniking of buying a Q6700 and pick the QX6700 for myself. Nobody will notice the difference. Same thing when the Q9650 will be released. A QX6700 for 300$CAD. A bargain !

Sounds to me like maybe the employees get the first crack at buying the "old" hardware from the company, or make that "certain" employees

yeah, but if you ever need the power at least you have it, better than needing it and not having it.

I work in the TSS (Technology Support Services) Department at Ernst and Young and by no means do we use or need anything like that, but what you guys are using doesnt bother me that much. Yea they cost alot, but apparently the company can manage to budget them or they wouldn't buy them (Hopefully). What bothers me the most is the compelte and total disregard for how hot that he processor was running and the comment of "No your PC works, thats all!" That is not at all how that should be handled, but alas...I digress!  

Best,

3Ball

qx6700 is not a good cpu, the q6600 g0 is better
 
ps: new sticker on my machines:

But at least the QX6700 has a unlocked multiplier. Would be helpful for me right about now.

What is the use if it is running hot and you can not push FSB or voltage one notch

yeah, what i wanted to say, if i start with horror stories with companies. then they will never end. i mean my company just blocked all the other Ports. i wont be able to use any online gaming, video over ip, voice over ip, FTP. (i do online gaming after working hours. believe me. lol). but thing is it is stupid. n they have beautiful 32MBps link!
 
o well. just swap the processors. they wont even know.

 
Push the voltage a notch, give the a fsb a bump, fry that cpu. The board will reset when you change cpu anyway. Then say to the IT guy " I told ya it was running hot !!".
 
Pretty wicked, a scene for "The Office".

I would bet that the IT staff kindly take the old hardware off the companies hands....they are doing the company a favour....really.