Advice on Core processors

[Traxan]

I've done my homework, but after a while your eyes just glaze over...

So I got the new Micro Center flier and saw the Core i7-860 selling for $199, regular price $329. This is much lower than anywhere else. The 870, by contrast, is $549.

I know it's a Lynnfield and not from the Westmere era, but is there anything else to consider? I've got a Q6700 now, so it's time to retire this old man and get to a much more efficient CPU.

 

[FragKrag]

If you want to run two powerful (5870 level) GPUs in Crossfire, you may lose some performance due to the PCIe limitations. Most P55 boards can only run PCIe 2.0 X8/X8 which will bottleneck some GPUs, and a few high end boards (I think the ASUS Supercomputer) can run PCIe 2.0 X16/X16 with the NF200 chip.

 

[alyarb]

yeah, at this point we need to know exactly what apps you are going to be running, and what other hardware (specifically video/monitor/disks) you'll be using. there is no "best" value CPU because all apps are different, and CPUs are now diverse enough to be better suited than others for a given type of workload, or number of workloads.

 

[Traxan]

Ok no problem. I'm not that cutting edge. I use a Radeon 5770, no intention of overclocking. Haven't decided on the motherboard yet. Just regular apps and gaming.

 

[FragKrag]

Then there should be no problem with the i7 860 that you have chosen. I think the difference between X58 and P55 really only starts showing up when you become limited with PCIe bandwidth, stock volt overclocking, or limited by memory bandwidth.

 

[faxon]

you wont even be badly limited by PCI-e bandwidth with 2 5870s on a P55 board. look at my box lol, i see a massive boost with 2 5870s from 1, and my benchmarks arent that far behind what you see on multigpu reviews with X58 boards and an i7. gonna do some more in depth testing though sometime soon when i get time (probably late june). shmee has his 980X and an X58-UD5, so we can do some two way and 3 way scaling tests. eventually im gonna pick up an MSI 890FXA-GD70 and the new HAF X and do some 4 way tests. if only they would enable 5 way LOL, with a couple cooling mods we could run that setup as of next week after we get the board lmao

 

[Traxan]

I work at Fry's in Palo Alto. PM me with questions about products!

Wait, a Fry's employee who is helpful and has a clue? My head might explode.



So does anyone know why the 860 was cut in price? Just obsolesence in light of the Westmeres?