790i vs. 780i

[Orbs]

Based on the AnandTech article on the 790i that went out today, I see the following reasons to buy the 790i:
1) Overclocking
2) DDR3 support

It also talked about ease of Tri and Quad SLI (though both seem to be supported on the 780i as well provided you have the right graphics hardware).

I just bought an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550. I'm not sure what graphics card to get yet (waiting to hear what the performance and price of the 7900 GTX turns out to be), but I think I'd like to have the option to upgrade to SLI in the future. I do not plan on overclocking.

Given my above plans, does anyone have a recommendation between the 780i and the 790i? The biggest reason to move to 790i seems to be DDR3 to keep the upgrade path alive given Nehelem.

 

[Owls]

Originally posted by: Orbs
Based on the AnandTech article on the 790i that went out today, I see the following reasons to buy the 790i:
1) Overclocking
2) DDR3 support

It also talked about ease of Tri and Quad SLI (though both seem to be supported on the 780i as well provided you have the right graphics hardware).

I just bought an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550. I'm not sure what graphics card to get yet (waiting to hear what the performance and price of the 7900 GTX turns out to be), but I think I'd like to have the option to upgrade to SLI in the future. I do not plan on overclocking.

Given my above plans, does anyone have a recommendation between the 780i and the 790i? The biggest reason to move to 790i seems to be DDR3 to keep the upgrade path alive given Nehelem.

Nehalem will be a whole new socket. If that's what you are worried about it makes no sense to buy DDR3 now seeing how expensive it is.

 

[Orbs]

So for non-overclockers, are there any merits to the 790i over the 780i?

 

[krnmastersgt]

Well if you wanna see how far your quad-core can go then 790i, but yeah the DDR3 outweighs the pros for most people I would think, not sure many people are gonna stray from the 780i since it is exclusively DDR3 only, now if they made it DDR3/DDR2 then almost every EVGA 780i owner would seriously think of stepping-up.

So a simple answer to your question Orbs, No. (Unless you bought DDR3 memory)

 

[Orbs]

Cool. Thanks Krnmastersgt.

Now I need to figure out what video card(s) to get, and I'm ready to build my system . I can't wait for 9800 GTX benchmarks and prices!

 

[lopri]

You don't even have to think about DDR3. The board itself is $350+. (per NV's suggestion) What is wrong with the high-end motherboard prices? It's kinda turning me off.

 

[Sylvanas]

Given your criteria i think you would be fine with the 780i. Given the intriguing new features nvidia included in the 790i in relation to reducing SLI latency, if money was not an option the 790i is definitely 'worth' it over a 780i as there are some cool features in there, so if you do intend to go SLI in the future it might cross your mind to shell out now for some *possible* benefit later.

 

[surfsatwerk]

For me the $100 step up fee to get an 790i is a no brainer... that is until I start seriously browsing prices on DDR3 memory.

Even if I break down and get 4 x 1gb sticks at 1333mhz I'm still out almost 400 bucks.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: lopri
You don't even have to think about DDR3. The board itself is $350+. (per NV's suggestion) What is wrong with the high-end motherboard prices? It's kinda turning me off.

cuz there shifting over to server platform for high end gaming:

http://www.provantage.com/intel-boxd5400xs~7ITEM0F4.htm

skulltrail anyone?


By the time neha comes around expect the higher end gaming gear to be on league with server parts in aspect to price. Thats how im seeing things right now when they split up the socket line into 2 different ones for the consumer market with high end gamer at one end, and average user on the other.