core i7 or deneb

essai2008

Junior Member
Oct 28, 2008
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Do you guys think it is a good idea to pick up a core i7 or is it better to wait for the AMD Deneb? correct me if im wrong but i heard that the quickest deneb will be priced very competitively with the lowest core i7 processors. Im guessing the AM3 motherboard will "last longer" than the lga13xx. I dont have a big budget and i feel that AMDs are aimed towards people with tight pockets.
 

Markfw

Moderator Emeritus, Elite Member
May 16, 2002
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I think you should wait until benchmarks are out, and both products can be purchased. Otherwise, its all guesses.
 

stipalgl

Member
Jul 17, 2008
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Depends on what you do honestly. It's not a just a black and white case. For instance, if you're more into the gaming side of things, then to be perfectly honest, an i7 processor won't even show too much of a performance gain than a similarly clocked Core 2 even. If you're going more along the lines of multi-threaded applications and legitimately need 4 cores + 4 additional cores via hyperthreading, then yes, i7 might make sense.

Also, you have to consider price and it's pretty well known at this point that a Core i7 system will not come anywhere close to cheap. Even taking into account the lowest priced processor, one still has to consider the fairly expensive x58 motherboards, DDR-3 ram (which is still costlier than DDR-2) and last but not least, the infamous price gouging that's likely to take place in the first few months upon release.

Not much info has been released for Deneb yet, so some things are still in the dark regarding that processor. You could wait for some reviews before deciding if AMD's new chip is right for you.

So ultimately, it's your call, based on your needs, wants, and budget.

Personally, I think a Core 2 system would suffice for the time being.

Good luck.
 

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
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You don't need an AM3 motherboard for the 1st Denebs (plus I don't think AM3 motherboards are coming out with the 1st Denebs)...the newer AM2+ motherboards that are out now should support Deneb with a BIOS update. If you're on a budget then Deneb might be better...i7 is no doubt gonna be more expensive.

As others have said though...wait for benchmarks.
 

essai2008

Junior Member
Oct 28, 2008
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Thanks for the responses. I was wondering if anyone knew the release dates of the deneb?? I am kinda leaning more towards them only because i "think" its cheaper than Intel. The only reason i don't want to settle for a core2 system, is because i am more of an AMD fan boy, but i do admit that core 2 is amazing and core i7 is beyond amazing.
 

Cogman

Lifer
Sep 19, 2000
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IMO it all depends on when Deneb is released. If AMD pulls a rabbit out of their hat and gets something that outperforms Intels i7 (not likely) or at very least puts pressure on them, we could see aggressive pricing. I would say wait just long enough to know if Deneb is a stinker or not, if not, wait just that much longer for prices to settle.

However, I wouldn't fault you for just getting i7 immediately. Already from early benchmarks it looks like it will be a gem.
 

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
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Originally posted by: essai2008
Thanks for the responses. I was wondering if anyone knew the release dates of the deneb?? I am kinda leaning more towards them only because i "think" its cheaper than Intel. The only reason i don't want to settle for a core2 system, is because i am more of an AMD fan boy, but i do admit that core 2 is amazing and core i7 is beyond amazing.

Deneb is supposed to launch at the beginning of 2009.
 

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
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The server version of Deneb I think is late this year...AFAIK desktop versions are early next year.
 

Martimus

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2007
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Originally posted by: thilan29
The server version of Deneb I think is late this year...AFAIK desktop versions are early next year.

Yeah. I heard either January 6th or 7th for the Deneb. Shanghai is scheduled for a November 16th release, I believe.
 

Concillian

Diamond Member
May 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: essai2008
Do you guys think it is a good idea to pick up a core i7 or is it better to wait for the AMD Deneb? correct me if im wrong but i heard that the quickest deneb will be priced very competitively with the lowest core i7 processors. Im guessing the AM3 motherboard will "last longer" than the lga13xx. I dont have a big budget and i feel that AMDs are aimed towards people with tight pockets.

A LOT of assigned value of a CPU on these forums comes from overclock potential. You can't predict this kind of thing before release. You're going to have to be patient.

As far as worrying about which socket will last longer? I can't remember the last time I did JUST a CPU upgrade. There's always a need for new RAM to unlock the potential of the CPU or a higher FSB requirement or a new motherboard that supports the lower voltage of the die shrink or some other incompatibility that keeps you from using that motherboard with the next gen.

IMO choosing anything CPU or motherboard related based on any 'futureproofing' concept is not the right way to go about it.
 

gramboh

Platinum Member
May 3, 2003
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Honestly, if you are on a budget I would not consider either. With i7 as said you are going to be hammered on the CPU, motherboard AND RAM costs. The premium will be huge for the smallish performance boost over current Core 2 setups where you can get a good motherboard and RAM for cheap.

If you are a gamer, I'd get a current generation quad core with 4 or 8GB DDR2 and spend as much on the video card as you can.

With Deneb/Nehalem, even if they come out relatively soon, everything will be ridiculously expensive until next spring/summer.
 

Martimus

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2007
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Originally posted by: gramboh
Honestly, if you are on a budget I would not consider either. With i7 as said you are going to be hammered on the CPU, motherboard AND RAM costs. The premium will be huge for the smallish performance boost over current Core 2 setups where you can get a good motherboard and RAM for cheap.

If you are a gamer, I'd get a current generation quad core with 4 or 8GB DDR2 and spend as much on the video card as you can.

With Deneb/Nehalem, even if they come out relatively soon, everything will be ridiculously expensive until next spring/summer.

I would be highly surprised if deneb based systems are expensive. They should be competitive in price and performance to current Yorkfield systems.
 

JPB

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2005
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This is the exact reason there is a 95% chance I am purchasing the M3A79-T Deluxe tonight
 

dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
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I would be incredibly surprised if Deneb was even 95% as fast as Yorkfield clock for clock, let alone Nehalem.
 

Idontcare

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: dguy6789
I would be incredibly surprised if Deneb was even 95% as fast as Yorkfield clock for clock, let alone Nehalem.

Why is that? I thought Phenom was already 95% as fast as a Kentsfield when it came to IPC for a good number of applications.

Doesn't seem like much of a stretch to get Deneb's IPC up to 95% of a Yorkfield's IPC...that just means parity with Kentfield's IPC and the 2MB->6MB L3$ increase alone ought to provide that easy.
 

ajaidevsingh

Senior member
Mar 7, 2008
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Go with Deneb if ur on a budget... LGA775 is about dead so u will have to buy a whole new kit at least with Deneb you can reuse the processor with a AM3 m/b to gain more advantage....
 

sunnn

Member
Oct 30, 2008
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Originally posted by: Idontcare
Originally posted by: dguy6789
I would be incredibly surprised if Deneb was even 95% as fast as Yorkfield clock for clock, let alone Nehalem.

Why is that? I thought Phenom was already 95% as fast as a Kentsfield when it came to IPC for a good number of applications.

Doesn't seem like much of a stretch to get Deneb's IPC up to 95% of a Yorkfield's IPC...that just means parity with Kentfield's IPC and the 2MB->6MB L3$ increase alone ought to provide that easy.

okay, if we are going to assume that the 20pct ipc increase for deneb is true, then we can safely conclude if deneb is faster, or slower, and by how much, compared to yorkfield by running a benchmark comparing a 2.5ghz yorkie to an oc b3 3ghz phenom. or if someone has data already showing previous benchmark figures of the 2 cpus at their aforementioned speeds. well, approximately, we will have a pretty good idea.
 

harpoon84

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2006
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Originally posted by: Idontcare
Originally posted by: dguy6789
I would be incredibly surprised if Deneb was even 95% as fast as Yorkfield clock for clock, let alone Nehalem.

Why is that? I thought Phenom was already 95% as fast as a Kentsfield when it came to IPC for a good number of applications.

Doesn't seem like much of a stretch to get Deneb's IPC up to 95% of a Yorkfield's IPC...that just means parity with Kentfield's IPC and the 2MB->6MB L3$ increase alone ought to provide that easy.

http://www.tomshardware.com/re...eaves-web,1728-22.html

http://img.tomshardware.com/us.../tabelle_q6600_new.gif

Well according to the THG test suite, Phenom is about 10% behind in IPC compared to Kentsfield, so ~15% against Yorkfield, so its certainly possible, in fact I expect Deneb to come very close to Yorkfield after all the talk from AMD of 15 - 20% IPC gains, which frankly I find rather optimistic, but time will tell.
 

sunnn

Member
Oct 30, 2008
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can someone point link of a b3 phenom oclock to 3ghz side by side with a yorkfield running at 2.5ghz?
 

dguy6789

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2002
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I find 20% ipc gain to be extremely optimistic. I'll believe it when I see it. The only time in recent history where all the hype for a processor has actually been true is when the Core 2 launched. AMD hasn't done something amazing like a 20% ipc increase since the original Athlon 64.
 

Accord99

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2001
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Originally posted by: sunnn
can someone point link of a b3 phenom oclock to 3ghz side by side with a yorkfield running at 2.5ghz?

This French language website has overclocked Phenoms results compared with a number of Yorkfields:

http://www.matbe.com/articles/...4-a-3-2-ghz/page17.php

Legion Hardware has a nice comparison of AMD and Intel dual-cores and quad-cores at stock, underclocked and overclocked in games with the 4870X2:

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=770&p=3