At stock speed, in real life situation : 955 vs i5

[DetConan]

Hello,

I want to build a new PC for my wife. She loves video and photo editing with Photoshop Elements and Premiere elements. I would build the new system around the i5 or the Phenom X4 955. The benchmarks seems to make the i5 like the best choice, but I am a little afraid to put my money in a cpu that i will not be able to upgrade easily in 2 years.. So my question is this : without overclocking (because i have no taste in experimenting) and in real life situation (using video + photo editing, antivirus in the background, etc...) is the i5 really that more powerful than the 955 ? Is the difference too small to have any real impact on a daily use of the computer ? Or is the i5 powerful enough to forget its big flaw : no upgradability ?

 

[Ben90]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=88&p2=109

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Let's be honest here, if you want AMD then get AMD. If you want what is currently the best, then get Intel. 1156 is a brand new socket so it will have plenty of upgrades and you won't spend much more than on an AMD system.

 

[Cattykit]

I was going to recommand you get any but then came video + photo editing issue. In that case, you want and you need i5. Also, overclocking i5 shouldn't be hard; just follow guides you can find here and elsewhere. Unless you're very unlucky, you can easily hit 3.4ghz.

 

[lopri]

For 'majority of users' out there, i5-750 > 955 BE.

 

[nyker96]

if both cost the same I'd get i5 that's from someone who owns a x4 620 now. it will be easier to OC but at stock you might notice less difference or even the 955 BE might be slightly faster in some apps. but if you want upgradability get 1366/i7 you can go 6-core later and that 6-core isn't coming to i5 platform, intel do that to make you get the 1366 platform but it is something to consider. 1366 will get a bit more upgrade path than 1156.

 

[LoneNinja]

if both cost the same I'd get i5 that's from someone who owns a x4 620 now. it will be easier to OC but at stock you might notice less difference or even the 955 BE might be slightly faster in some apps. but if you want upgradability get 1366/i7 you can go 6-core later and that 6-core isn't coming to i5 platform, intel do that to make you get the 1366 platform but it is something to consider. 1366 will get a bit more upgrade path than 1156.

Too bad that 6 core is rumored to be arriving with only one model and priced at the top of the line extreme chip costing $1000+

To OP, I would get which ever one is in your budget. The I5 is without a doubt faster, but also costs more. I wouldn't worry much about the future upgrade argument, there isn't much confirmed for either platform right now.

 

[ShawnD1]

Too bad that 6 core is rumored to be arriving with only one model and priced at the top of the line extreme chip costing $1000+

In general, don't try to predict what's going to happen. If this computer needs to be fast, get an i7. Don't buy some other platform and say "well I think it'll get <processor> next year"

Personally I would get the Phenom 955 because it's $50 cheaper where I live, and the motherboards sold at my local parts store are $15 more for socket 1156. Buy whichever one is cheaper.

 

[MalVeauX]

Hello,

I want to build a new PC for my wife. She loves video and photo editing with Photoshop Elements and Premiere elements. I would build the new system around the i5 or the Phenom X4 955. The benchmarks seems to make the i5 like the best choice, but I am a little afraid to put my money in a cpu that i will not be able to upgrade easily in 2 years.. So my question is this : without overclocking (because i have no taste in experimenting) and in real life situation (using video + photo editing, antivirus in the background, etc...) is the i5 really that more powerful than the 955 ? Is the difference too small to have any real impact on a daily use of the computer ? Or is the i5 powerful enough to forget its big flaw : no upgradability ?

Heya,

I think it depends on your budget. If there's no budget, i7 is clearly the winner. i5 is also a little better than the 955. But, both the i5 and i7 along with the appropriate motherboard and ddr3 memory cost significantly more than a 955 with a sub-$100 motherboard and memory. You can end up spending $200~300 less on the AMD system in the end. If budget is important, that's way more RAM for your system, or more HDD's, or a big sexy huge screen to view all that work on. Think about what you want the most or what you want the most for your wife.

In real life, I think you won't notice the difference between an i5 and a 955. You might see a render happen a few seconds faster here and there. But otherwise, indistinguishable without a synthetic benchmark essentially.

If you want best, go i7.
If you want to stay on a budget and more parts, get that 955.

Very best,

 

[v8envy]

Ask yourself this: have you EVER upgraded just the CPU in any of your machines?

I haven't. Not because it wasn't possible, but because it was never cost effective. A new CPU + board was always more attractive from a price/performance/features standpoint than paying a large price premium for obsolete, lower performing parts to use on a board with aging capacitors.

For video processing i5 is the one to get (especially w/o overclocking in the mix), but I'd be lying if I said a $50 dual core couldn't get the job done too.

 

[Phil1977]

Anandtech sayd that the i5 felt "smoother" / "snappier" than the 965

 

[mav451]

The UD2 + i5 are only $255 combined. Given that the 955 is not discounted at Microcenter, that reduces the the AMD price advantage considerably.

As for future upgrades - I dont' see it as an issue.
If-and-only-if you want to get a Gulftown, I'd just patiently wait for the updated Intel chipset that has USB3/SATA6 integrated into the southbridge. Gulftown won't be in the $266 bracket for quite a while, and if you're not considering an i7/x58 system now, chances are you probably don't urgently need the Gulftown just yet.

Two if Bulldozer turns out to be good, then just sell off your i5/UD2 combo to help pay for it. The i5/UD2 should hold its value well too.

 

[Phynaz]

Ask yourself this: have you EVER upgraded just the CPU in any of your machines?

I haven't. Not because it wasn't possible, but because it was never cost effective.

This.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Heya,

I think it depends on your budget. If there's no budget, i7 is clearly the winner. i5 is also a little better than the 955. But, both the i5 and i7 along with the appropriate motherboard and ddr3 memory cost significantly more than a 955 with a sub-$100 motherboard and memory. You can end up spending $200~300 less on the AMD system in the end. If budget is important, that's way more RAM for your system, or more HDD's, or a big sexy huge screen to view all that work on. Think about what you want the most or what you want the most for your wife.

In real life, I think you won't notice the difference between an i5 and a 955. You might see a render happen a few seconds faster here and there. But otherwise, indistinguishable without a synthetic benchmark essentially.

If you want best, go i7.
If you want to stay on a budget and more parts, get that 955.

Very best,

According to newegg, you save $29 by going with a P2 965 and motherboard vs an i5 750 and a motherboard.

 

[Meghan54]

According to newegg, you save $29 by going with a P2 965 vs a i5 750.

You meant $19, right, and that's comparing Newegg's prices of the 955 vs. i5 750 ($176 vs $195)

965 vs. i5 750 is even closer, naturally......$185 vs $195

But what's really sad is that MicroCenter routinely sells the i5 750 for $149 everyday. Guess that shows how much other retailers are overcharging/gouging on their cpu prices.

But, both the i5 and i7 along with the appropriate motherboard and ddr3 memory cost significantly more than a 955 with a sub-$100 motherboard and memory. You can end up spending $200~300 less on the AMD system in the end.

Well, that may be true in part, but given that there are more than a couple of 1156 socket motherboards under $100 now and that DDR2 memory is now more expensive than comparable DDR3 memory, I think the $200-$300 less assertion is way off base. Probably be closer to $0 these days, given where one purchases the items.

Consider: $150 for an i5 750 cpu, $90 (AR) for an EVGA mATX 1156 motherboard, $75-$80 for 4GB DDR3 memory (2 x 2GB DDR3-1333 or DDR3-1600)----total comes to $320 with the faster RAM. Now how do you save $200 from $320? Did AMD suddenly start selling 955/965 cpus for $1?

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

I meant a $186 965 cpu with an $80 motherboard vs a $195 750 with a $100 motherboard.

 

[ZimZum]

Ask yourself this: have you EVER upgraded just the CPU in any of your machines?

I haven't. Not because it wasn't possible, but because it was never cost effective. A new CPU + board was always more attractive from a price/performance/features standpoint than paying a large price premium for obsolete, lower performing parts to use on a board with aging capacitors.

+1

I always look at "upgradeability" when choosing a new platform. But in reality any time I upgrade I end up building a new system. The only thing Ive ever upgraded was video cards.

 

[edplayer]

But what's really sad is that MicroCenter routinely sells the i5 750 for $149 everyday. Guess that shows how much other retailers are overcharging/gouging on their cpu prices.

or it gives you insight into how much Microcenter is willing to do to bring in customers (as in lose money?)

 

[ShawnD1]

or it gives you insight into how much Microcenter is willing to do to bring in customers (as in lose money?)

Intel's spec sheet

1ku Bulk Budgetary Price $196.00

That's how much Microcenter pays for them. If they're selling for $150, they're taking about a $50 loss on each one. It's nice they're able to do this, and I really hope they can stay in business. Newegg's price right now is $195, so basically Newegg is selling it at cost.

 

[cbn]

Intel's spec sheet



That's how much Microcenter pays for them. If they're selling for $150, they're taking about a $50 loss on each one. It's nice they're able to do this, and I really hope they can stay in business. Newegg's price right now is $195, so basically Newegg is selling it at cost.

Are we sure this is what they really pay?

Maybe there is a discount for purchasing in lots greater than 1000?

 

[Hey Zeus]

Are we sure this is what they really pay?

Maybe there is a discount for purchasing in lots greater than 1000?

Agreed. I know MC takes a hit but i doubt its a 50 dollar one

 

[grimpr]

I agree with the opinions here. Take the i5 750, a great cpu for the price in the heritage of the venerable Q6600 and many cpus before it that totally nailed and dominated their price/perfomance segment. Although the 955 BE, especially the C3 stepping, is no slouch, clocked at 3.8ghz it rips through everything you throw at it, the 750 has the extra kick.

Most people are extremely CPU centric in their buying decisions, putting their money on expensive cpus just to run their browsers and family photos through picasa, a total waste of money imho and a sad state of the modern computer industry. The key to everything is balance, building a balanced system around the 750 or a 955 from AMD, with lots of RAM, a speedy SSD and a perfomance card like the 5850 with a quality PSU, and excellent keyboard & mouse, a superb monitor, in the long run it will provide a faster and more enjoyable work and experience whatever you throw at it compared to unbalanced systems that rely on powerfull and expensive cpus with off the shelve peripherals.

 

[king smith]

Don't ever miss another episode again! The Episode Guide has all the upcoming episodes, as well as the best of past shows... so STAY TUNED!

 

[oatmealstorm]

I agree with the opinions here. Take the i5 750, a great cpu for the price in the heritage of the venerable Q6600 and many cpus before it that totally nailed and dominated their price/perfomance segment. Although the 955 BE, especially the C3 stepping, is no slouch, clocked at 3.8ghz it rips through everything you throw at it, the 750 has the extra kick.

Most people are extremely CPU centric in their buying decisions, putting their money on expensive cpus just to run their browsers and family photos through picasa, a total waste of money imho and a sad state of the modern computer industry. The key to everything is balance, building a balanced system around the 750 or a 955 from AMD, with lots of RAM, a speedy SSD and a perfomance card like the 5850 with a quality PSU, and excellent keyboard & mouse, a superb monitor, in the long run it will provide a faster and more enjoyable work and experience whatever you throw at it compared to unbalanced systems that rely on powerfull and expensive cpus with off the shelve peripherals.

Do you ever not speak in cliche's?

 

[grimpr]

Unfortunately i dont have the priviledge of being a native english speaker, living in the USA and watching tv shows.