Choosing a CPU: i5, i7. 1156, 1366...

[SniperSlap]

Hey everyone! I'm hoping to get some help planning for a desktop CPU that's just-right. I'm looking around March or April to decide and buy as that's the release of GF100.

First thing...Knowing that Sandy Bridge is coming, I wouldn't mind seeing if any choices I can make now would keep it open in the future. Although I'm not hung up on it and it won't be a deal breaker. I could play that waiting game forever!

I think the most specific application I'll be facing is that I'll want to run Dolphin (Wii) emulation at a respectable pace. From what I can gather, that puts me in the "Single high performance core" camp. I suspect an on-die memory controller, stock overclockability and QPI might also be in order?

I was looking at the i7 920 and the i7 860 CPUs, but by March I suspect things may have changed slightly, if even only in prices.
Choosing between the two sockets has me worried. 1156 seems like the next Socket 754, it didn't suck for what it offered at release, but is now stuck somewhere in the middle...

The other thing to consider is that I don't want to buy overpriced CPUs on their way out.

Does anyone have some educated guesses or speculation on what I might want to keep an eye out for?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Hey Zeus]

Sandy Bridge will use a 1155 socket leaving the 1156 socket obsolete and a dead platform

 

[andy5174]

There are a lot of peoples having LGA1366 i7-920 here, but most of them got it well before the release of LGA1156 i7-860.

IMO, LGA1156 i7 is no brainer choice considering it being better most of the cases and overall(MB+CPU+RAM) cheaper.

 

[andy5174]

I always upgrade the MB with CPU even I am not forced to do so.

Thus, I don't consider the upgradibility of MB and that's why I get LGA1156 which has a compatible i7-860 that performs better than 920 most of the time and being cheaper overall.

I believe 99.99% of LGA1366 owners can't afford Gulftown in the near future. In addition, X58 will be extremely outdated by the time 32nm 6-core drop to affordable price and hence it is also a dead board IMO.

 

[SniperSlap]

I always upgrade the MB with CPU even I am not forced to do so.

Thus, I don't consider the upgradibility of MB and that's why I get LGA1156 which has a compatible i7-860 that performs better than 920 most of the time and being cheaper overall.

I believe 99.99% of LGA1366 owners can't afford Gulftown in the near future. In addition, X58 will be extremely outdated by the time 32nm 6-core drop to affordable price and hence it is also a dead board IMO.

That's a really good point with the mobo+cpu. I definitely see the rationale there. Video cards and to a lesser extent RAM get updated less frequently and in my case require updates less frequently.

That said, I tend to hold onto systems forever (I've still got a 1GHz PIII kicking around!).

But you definitely helped me out here.

 

[SniperSlap]

There are a lot of peoples having LGA1366 i7-920 here, but most of them got it well before the release of LGA1156 i7-860.

IMO, LGA1156 i7 is no brainer choice considering it being better most of the cases and overall(MB+CPU+RAM) cheaper.

The 1156 is a Lynnfield, which has the off-die memory controller. Is there anything else about this CPU that can make up for this fact? Cost-wise the 1366 isn't very different *now*, which might help me out.

Think there are any future price drops or a new CPU coming around March that doesn't make me choose? Westmere maybe?

 

[andy5174]

1. The 1156 is a Lynnfield, which has the off-die memory controller. Is there anything else about this CPU that can make up for this fact? 2. Cost-wise the 1366 isn't very different *now*, which might help me out.

3. Think there are any future price drops or a new CPU coming around March that doesn't make me choose? What about motherboard chipsets? It seems like intel is moving away from QPI?

1. LGA1156 is also with on-die memory controller.

2. However, it is still more expensive AND WORSE than 860 in most cases.

3. i7-930 might be released soon with the current price of 920 according to some peoples. If you don't need a new PC urgently, you can wait a bit longer and see if there will be a price drop on the 920 to make your final decision.

 

[biostud]

Unless you do lot of video/photo professionel 3D, or are planning on running SLI/Crossfire then i5-750 has the best to offer, .

It's low price, can overclock to same speeds as i7, and in gaming it offers the same fps. If you're planning to SLI/Crossfire, then a i7-920 + x58 board would be my suggestion.

At the time an i5-750 is not fast enough, both socket 1366 and 1156 will be obsolete.

 

[SniperSlap]

Unless you do lot of video/photo professionel 3D, or are planning on running SLI/Crossfire then i5-750 has the best to offer, .

It's low price, can overclock to same speeds as i7, and in gaming it offers the same fps. If you're planning to SLI/Crossfire, then a i7-920 + x58 board would be my suggestion.

At the time an i5-750 is not fast enough, both socket 1366 and 1156 will be obsolete.

Nah, I don't want to SLI. Single GPU is more than plenty for me.

I thought I read somewhere that the cores & uncores are hooked up by QPI anyway... That would obviously make the newer 32nm CPUs a no-brainer. ESP. if they stock-overclock better?

 

[Jd007]

Sandy Bridge will use a 1155 socket leaving the 1156 socket obsolete and a dead platform

Maybe Intel will do what AMD did with the AM2+ to AM3 transition - new socket has one fewer pin/grid so new chips will work in old sockets. Or one could hope LOL.

 

[Axon]

If you have a Microcenter near you, I think the i7 920 is the clear winning option ($230 price tag comboed with a $155 ASROCK X58 Extreme motherboard). My 920 d0 hits 4.2 and crushes anything I throw at it. I keep it moderately overclocked, and it's the best system I've ever owned.

If not, given your needs, I would go with the i5 750. Like the 920, I don't think anything coming near its price/performance ratio will be released for that socket.

Either way you're not going to lose out. Both sockets have unclear roadmaps. I don't fully understand Intel's intent with 1156, and 1366 seems poised to only provide pricey, bleeding-edge cpus (e.g. $600+ just for a chip).

However, as was noted above, by the time the i5 750, i7 860, or i7 920 are too slow, you'll be looking for a new chipset/socket anyway.

 

[SniperSlap]

If you have a Microcenter near you, I think the i7 920 is the clear winning option ($230 price tag comboed with a $155 ASROCK X58 Extreme motherboard). My 920 d0 hits 4.2 and crushes anything I throw at it. I keep it moderately overclocked, and it's the best system I've ever owned.

If not, given your needs, I would go with the i5 750. Like the 920, I don't think anything coming near its price/performance ratio will be released for that socket.

Either way you're not going to lose out. Both sockets have unclear roadmaps. I don't fully understand Intel's intent with 1156, and 1366 seems poised to only provide pricey, bleeding-edge cpus (e.g. $600+ just for a chip).

However, as was noted above, by the time the i5 750, i7 860, or i7 920 are too slow, you'll be looking for a new chipset/socket anyway.

I guess it boils down to which will overclock better, devour single threads and provide the best speed outside of the CPU then. For video & memory that is.

 

[Shmee]

920 D0's and the new 32 nm ones seem to OC very nicely in general. If you OC, and want a cheap system, try the i3. Also, it should reach the highest frequency, which will be better for single threads, and the i7's double thread count wont help it there.

I really think it is a pity there is no 32 nm quad yet. i5 or i7. However, there are still D0's and clarksdales.

I myself chose to get a C0 soon after they came out, then went for a D0 (better OC, sold the C0) and I am looking at getting a gulftown soon.

 

[Spicedaddy]

i5-750 or i7-860

 

[Dasda]

Umm for most people clock rate doesn't matter because they will o/c to 4.ghz anyways. So the 860 has hyperthreading over the i5-750 for a extra $100. I wish I knew if it is worth the extra money. I am trying to figure it out myself too. With that said, a i7 860 is a better option than i7-920 if you don't care about future upgrade cause you will save probably a $100 on mobo and $40 on ram.

Yea I couldn't answer your question. Sorry

 

[Hey Zeus]

X3440 > 860 > 750

 

[tweakboy]

Wait it out a bit if you can, prices will drop my friend... gl

 

[Axon]

I guess it boils down to which will overclock better, devour single threads and provide the best speed outside of the CPU then. For video & memory that is.

Yeah. On those points, the i5 750 has gained a nice reputation for overclocking, as has the i7 920. I can't speak on the i7 860, but I'm sure it does well in that area. Of course, no one can guarantee what precise clock speed your particular chip will hit.

Single threaded apps...http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=109&p2=47

You can see from the benches that, in many ways, the i5 750 trumps the i7 920 when both chips are at stock (this result is heavily related to the i5's turbo mode). I have never put benches together with both overclocked, but I have a feeling the story would be a little different. (I'm sure someone has a bench of the i5 v. the 920 when both are OCed) Nonetheless, there is no question that they are both mammoth chips.

 

[SniperSlap]

Yeah. On those points, the i5 750 has gained a nice reputation for overclocking, as has the i7 920. I can't speak on the i7 860, but I'm sure it does well in that area. Of course, no one can guarantee what precise clock speed your particular chip will hit.

Single threaded apps...http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=109&p2=47

You can see from the benches that, in many ways, the i5 750 trumps the i7 920 when both chips are at stock (this result is heavily related to the i5's turbo mode). I have never put benches together with both overclocked, but I have a feeling the story would be a little different. (I'm sure someone has a bench of the i5 v. the 920 when both are OCed) Nonetheless, there is no question that they are both mammoth chips.

Both of them appear to be in the same price range. Wouldn't I want to play the numbers game then and go for socket 1366? The socket seems to decide whether I'm taking an on-die memory controller or an on-chip one.

What about this 750S CPU I'm seeing on the nehalem wikipedia page? It's almost the same as the 750 and costs way more?

Wow, just looking here: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3634

That pretty much says it all. On-die memory controller, on-die PCI express. That makes the 750S the best single-GPU option?!

This is all starting to come together. Now I just need to isolate any advantages an 860S would have, which appears to follow the same technique? Although it's the same socket... And then there's Clarkdale with the i5 670...

Any thoughts there? Think a price drop might happen by March?

 

[tweakboy]

Yes, I still say wait it out my friend. The new year just started. Let prices fall I bet there will be a Intel price drop in March , to bring out their new line. gl

 

[SniperSlap]

Yes, I still say wait it out my friend. The new year just started. Let prices fall I bet there will be a Intel price drop in March , to bring out their new line. gl

I definitely agree and with the GF100 coming out then, they have a good reason to time it with new system builds. Although my price point will gladly accomodate any new hardware coming out.

As I stated originally, April/March is my hope but I'll gladly play outside through summer if I have to!

I have a friend who might be doing a system build in fall. Nothing more fun than doing it "times two"!

 

[Axon]

Both of them appear to be in the same price range. Wouldn't I want to play the numbers game then and go for socket 1366? The socket seems to decide whether I'm taking an on-die memory controller or an on-chip one.

What about this 750S CPU I'm seeing on the nehalem wikipedia page? It's almost the same as the 750 and costs way more?

Wow, just looking here: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3634

That pretty much says it all. On-die memory controller, on-die PCI express. That makes the 750S the best single-GPU option?!

This is all starting to come together. Now I just need to isolate any advantages an 860S would have, which appears to follow the same technique? Although it's the same socket... And then there's Clarkdale with the i5 670...

Any thoughts there? Think a price drop might happen by March?

I had not heard of the 750S until you mentioned it. I'm not certain what it is, but the figures on the wiki don't make it seem all that appealing. Perhaps someone else better in the know can advise you.

The i5 750, running at stock, is the best single-GPU option on the market at the $200 price point, yes. My understanding, however, is that the i7 920 can again be had for $200 at a Microcenter - their insane $200 price point on the 920 is why I ultimately bought it. However, if I had to pay $280 for the 920, I would easily have gone i5 750.

i5 670 is a dual-core processor. It has an aggressive turbo mode, but it is not worthwhile at its price point: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3704

The true difference between the i5 750 and the i7 860 is hyper-threading - e.g., you will only have four worker cores on your i5 750, but the i7 860 will have 8 workers (4 physical cores + 4 "virtual" cores.) Specifically, on a CPU featuring hyper-threading, the OS addresses two virtual processors for each processor core that is physically present, and shares the workload between them when possible.

What does this mean in the real world? I really cannot tell you, as I don't do that much encoding/multi-threaded work and could care less about synthetic benchmarks.

Price drop by March 2010? Not sure, but given Intel's current competition and recent product refresh on the i5 line, I'd say no.

 

[grimpr]

Can't go wrong with the i5 750. At its price point, 4 full Nehalem cores, ocability and performance, its a Q6600 revisited. Unless you want to pay the premium for Hyperthreading which is nothing too serious to consider on a Quadcore.

 

[Dasda]

One of the best discussions I have ever read on anandtech. Very accurate info and smart spending too.

HT is very premium to pay for as Axon said and I am not really sure how helpful Hyperthreading really is on a Quad Core.

 

[Hey Zeus]

Can't go wrong with the i5 750. At its price point, 4 full Nehalem cores, ocability and performance, its a Q6600 revisited. Unless you want to pay the premium for Hyperthreading which is nothing too serious to consider on a Quadcore.

I'll say it again. X3440

A higher binned processor then the 750 and 860 because it's a Xeon

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819117225