How stupid am I??

[Sulaco]

Ok, so I'm getting really tempted by all the recent SB talk, and the fact that the prices seem relatively reasonable has got me seriously considering an upgrade.

Basically, I have a Core i7 950 (stock) with the system in my signature.

I'm seriously considering moving up to a SB i7 2600.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115071

It just so happens that my local MicroCenter has the same CPU for $50 less:

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0354588

Factor in relatively reasonably priced motherboards, as well as I would still probably be able to get a fair amount for my current CPU/Mobo if I were to sell them, and I'm in quite a predicament.

So what do you think? What would you do? Should I wait a few months and see what else comes down the pipes? Should I just sit on my 950 (which, honestly, I'm very happy with).

Any opinions, civil or otherwise, are welcome.

 

[sxr7171]

Ha Ha civil or otherwise. Anyway, I'm personally sitting on my i920 (@4.2Ghz on air). I don't really see the fuss unless you are upgrading from a generation before the i920/i950. I think socket 2011 is the one to get. I barely use that machine anyway.

 

[RussianSensation]

If you can sell your motherboard and that CPU and RAM and upgrade to 2x4gb sticks and 2600k on the cheap <$60-100 or so, it may be worth it imo. It all depends on how much you can sell your old parts and what you use your computer for. The longer you hold on to your old parts, the more they will depreciate. I mean that $200 board is going to drop like a rock since not many people will want to buy S1366 boards. A 4.5-4.6 2600k will be about 25&#37; faster than a 4.0ghz i7 950 with 120W less power consumption at load and about 100W less at idle.

However, if you are upgrading for games only, then of course it's not worth it. I am in the same spot as you. I don't need an upgrade, but I love playing with new hardware. Unlike you though, I don't have SATA 3.0 or USB 3.0. So I have more reasons to dump my board because I have been eyeing an SSD. Vertex 3 and C400 will push right past SATA 2.0.

If you are bored, overclock your CPU. That should keep you busy for a couple of days!

Not many reviews have compared both overclocked i7 920-950s vs. 2600k.

Here is 1: http://www.pureoverclock.com/review.php?id=1178&page=7
Here is another: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2011/01/03/intel-sandy-bridge-review/7

Put it this way, if you spend $60-100 to upgrade after selling your old parts, you will get near 980X $1000 CPU performance. Depends what you are using your computer for, it may or may not be worth it for you.

The other thing to keep in mind is that LGA2011 6- and 8-core processors will mop the floor with 2600k. So you have to ask yourself if you'll want a 6 and 8-core processor and if you are willing to pay the higher prices of LGA2011 platform (i.e., quad channel ram, prob > $400 processors, > $200 motherboards). Without a doubt, 2011 will walk all over 1155 performance wise. If you dont want the hassle of selling parts twice, just wait until 2011 and sell them then.

 

[BD231]

Not a bad move at all if you recoup the cost by selling your old parts, you'll have a lot of fun on the new 32nm process. If you don't overclock don't bother.

 

[LoneNinja]

Personally I would wait for socket 2011, you should be able to get more cores, and a more significant improvement in performance.

 

[Sulaco]

Thanks for the input guys

As tempting as it is, I think I'm leaning towards s2011.

 

[Dadofamunky]

OC what you have. The 950 is a great chip. You have to consider the hassle factor along with the possible benefit. I don't think anyone with a good i7 build should bother switching, the delta isn't high enough.

In MY case it is high enough. Here's my tale FWIW. You see the rig in my sig, which I'm actually still quite happy with. But... I used Adobe CS5 in an i7 950 equivalent Xeon at a contract gig and fell in love with it. On a 160 GB cheapo HD to boot. So I decided to start an i7 build, bought a $199 i7 950 at Micro Center and had just gotten a motherboard for it when I found out SB was a monster, outperforming 950s at stock and with great OCing.

So... I returned my unopened i7 CPU and mobo two days before Sandy Bridge's release and have just gotten my hands on an i5 2500K with an Asus p8p67 board. I have many of the other parts for the build but it'll take a week or so to get started. I'm pretty excited, this should be a significant enough jump from the E8600 that it's worth the hassle and expense.

But for you? Naaah. No real need.

 

[smakme7757]

Not worth the upgrade to SB. The only reason you want it is because it's new and everyone is saying how good they are and some are cracking 5Ghz. But the simple fact remains that the i7-950 is a great chip and has awesome performance.

If i was you i would wait until later this year and see what comes, because all good things come to those who wait

 

[Lonbjerg]

Going from socket 1336 to socket 1155 is a sidestep.
If you wan't a upgrade, hold out for socket 2011...the replacement for socket 1336.

1155 is the replacement for socket 1156 (core i3, i5 and wanna-be i7)

 

[smokin9]

I think I am stupid Well actually I'm returning my i7 950 setup which was purchased and the end of December so it's still in the window and ordering a 2600k and the Asus P8P67. Before that I had a E6400 and I don't planning upgrading for a few years so I decided to get the latest and newest right now so I wouldnt have to worry about it for another 3 yrs hopefully. I may lose out on a few $$ for restocking but I can live with a few $$ i guess.

 

[Dadofamunky]

That's basically what I did except that I returned everything unopened.

 

[smokin9]

Yea I was able to return my open CPU to newegg with a little help and pushing by the rep. Otherwise I wouldnt have ordered the 2600k and motherboard. Your right about factoring the hassle though but I dont really mind.

 

[gevorg]

I would not bother at all unless its your hobby or something and you just like building computers for fun. SB brings very marginal differences to first gen i7.

 

[zod96]

Socket 2011 probably wouldn't be out for at least another 8 months or more. So why not sell your old stuff now and get the 2600K system, then when 2011 comes out sell the 2600K system. I sold my old I7 860 and my Asus P55 motherboard for around $400. I got the 2600K and the Asus P67 motherboard for $500 shipped. So it cost me $100 to upgrade. Not bad...

 

[Lonbjerg]

Socket 2011 probably wouldn't be out for at least another 8 months or more. So why not sell your old stuff now and get the 2600K system, then when 2011 comes out sell the 2600K system. I sold my old I7 860 and my Asus P55 motherboard for around $400. I got the 2600K and the Asus P67 motherboard for $500 shipped. So it cost me $100 to upgrade. Not bad...

Because a socket 1155 Sandy Brigde is not an upgrade from a scoket 1366 i7?

 

[RussianSensation]

Because a socket 1155 Sandy Brigde is not an upgrade from a scoket 1366 i7?

Not a price/performance upgrade, but still an upgrade for sure.

A 4.6ghz 2600k is going to be equal to a 5.1ghz-5.3ghz Core i7 920 if you apply 10-15&#37; IPC advantage. If you take the low end of the spectrum, a 5.1ghz Core i7 920 is 26.5% faster than a 4.0ghz Core i7 920. If you consider 15% IPC advantage, you are looking at 32.5% faster!!

Even at stock speeds, the 2600k is nearly as fast as a 3.9ghz Core i7 930. Once overclocked, it's not even remotely close.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Damn, that's a good review Russian linked to. Just nails it in every detail. The 2600K will probably go down as one of the great "value" CPUs of all time.

 

[RussianSensation]

Damn, that's a good review Russian linked to. Just nails it in every detail. The 2600K will probably go down as one of the great "value" CPUs of all time.

The power consumption on the 1366 platform is also out of this world.

2600k @ 4.4ghz consumes 118 Watts less at load than Core i7 920 @ 3.6ghz only. Overclock even more, and the difference is almost 150 Watts.

Now considering the amount of "fighting" in our Video Forum over 20-40 Watts, haha, think about what removing 118-150 watts in your system would be like (that's what a single HD6870?) Electricity cost is prob. not an issue for most in North America, but if I could remove 100-150W from being dumped into my room in the summer from my PC, while getting faster performance, I would be pretty happy with that!