CPU choice: Core i7-860 or i5-2400

[Traxan]

My current system is a Core i7-860, but I've since obtained a Sandy Bridge i5-2400. No motherboard, so I'd have to make motherboard a purchase. Question is, is it worth it? I don't want to go off just benchmarks, there are other intangibles, given the internal GPU.

 

[Mopetar]

What you are using the system for will probably make the biggest difference. If it's for professional work, the upgrade can definitely pay for itself if you're only upgrading the board and CPU. If it's for gaming, you most likely won't see enough of an improvement to justify the cost.

If you're on the fence and don't need the upgrade, waiting isn't bad either. Intel will have their 2011 parts out before the end of the year and AMD will most likely be releasing their new architecture no later than this summer. Either could be a more compelling upgrade depending on what you want to do.

 

[CurseTheSky]

What are the rest of the system specs and what are you planning on using the system for?

 

[Traxan]

What are the rest of the system specs and what are you planning on using the system for?

8GB dual channel DDR3
Regular HDD, no SSD
P55 mobo for the i7
Radeon 5870 1GB

General purpose use and gaming, mostly.

 

[Rifter]

OC the i7, that 860 at near 4Ghz will beat the 2400 in anything, and you cant OC the 2400. If leaving at stock clocks then the 2400 is the better CPU.

 

[-Slacker-]

The difference in performance should be minute, probably not enough to warrant getting a new mobo and going through the hassle of stripping your components again to mount the 2400 on.

 

[smakme7757]

With the 2400 you get a pretty much guarenteed 3.9Ghz overclock by increasing the turbo multipliers across the chip to x39.

But the 860 has Hyperthreading so i would have just sold the 2400 and put the cash in your savings account!

 

[ShadowVVL]

so non of the SB i5s have hyper threading?

 

[Castiel]

so non of the SB i5s have hyper threading?

None of the I5s have HT

 

[ensign_lee]

With the 2400 you get a pretty much guarenteed 3.9Ghz overclock by increasing the turbo multipliers across the chip to x39.

But the 860 has Hyperthreading so i would have just sold the 2400 and put the cash in your savings account!

you can't overclock the 2400...

 

[Castiel]

you can't overclock the 2400...

He didn't say you could. He stated you could set the turbo multiplier to 39X which you can.

 

[perdomot]

Definitely OC the 860. I would sell the 2400 and use some of the money to get a premium heatsink to max out the OC. Maybe a Noctua D14 or Silver Arrow heatsink. Also might get a better case if airflow isn't the best.

 

[betasub]

None of the I5 quads have HT

Fixed.

 

[AkumaX]

None of the I5s have HT

the dual core i5's have HT

edit: and what betasub said above