i7 870 or 1090T x6

[Duvie]

As title suggest....

I have been out of the loop a bit. Have the same cpu I purchased in Dec 2006 when I got a QX6700 before it was available to most of the public. Sadly it was a C0 stepping Kentsfield and really the OC limit is 3.33ghz on air and 3.5ghz on water. I run it at 3.2ghz for the last 3 years and it will do it at damn near stock volts, but anything much higher and the heat is a bit much. This current cpu has outlasted 4 motherboards changes.

I am looking for something new. Something new to float in a new Coolermaster HAF 932 case I plan to buy and to run with a Quadro FX 1800 in my workstation.

I plan on ocing within a 10% max vcore boost and air cooled (at this time) I imagine both can achieve near 4ghz.

What do you guys think would be the better system for CAD apps?

What motherboards would you recommend for each cpu with budget conscience in mind. I have the money I just dont like to spend a lot if it can be achieved with mid level stuff?

What platform AM3 or sckt 1156 has the better upgradeabiity or longevity in its future path?


If you choose INtel tell me what ram is best picked to go with a 4ghz OC....If you choose AMD tell me if you think just ocing with the multi is better or HTT. If HTT what ram is best paired with a 4ghz+ OC?


Take an old-timer to school as I have been out of the game a bit......

 

[richierich1212]

Well Intel's switching from 1156 to 1155 next year, while AMD's Bulldozer 1st gen will be compatible with AM3. If you're going with 1090T, it's easy to overclock using just the unlocked multipliers.

 

[Face2Face]

Screw Intel and the never ending socket changes--> really 1155 next year?? And then 1366 discontinued next year?

Go AM3 === I am going that route--I want an affordable 6 core.

 

[Markfw]

Of those 2, I pick the 1090T. Also, is budget a concern ? If not, the 980X is the best performance, then 930@4 ghz will edge out the 1090T@4 ghz, but "edge" is they key word, and it will be about $200 more for the platform and solution to get to 4 ghz. Then the 1090T, or the 1055T if you want to work hard on the OC.

 

[Ertaz]

Of those 2, I pick the 1090T. Also, is budget a concern ? If not, the 980X is the best performance, then 930@4 ghz will edge out the 1090T@4 ghz, but "edge" is they key word, and it will be about $200 more for the platform and solution to get to 4 ghz. Then the 1090T, or the 1055T if you want to work hard on the OC.

Which of these two (920/1090T), do you like better for your day to day tasks?

 

[Markfw]

Which of these two (920/1090T), do you like better for your day to day tasks?

Well, to be honest, I only use the 1090T to do F@H, which it beats the 920 at, but I got the 1090T to a higher OC, and on a cheaper motherboard with a cheaper heatsink.

So I deduce that the 1090T is a better value.
$80 mobo + $25 HSF + $300 CPU = 17k ppd.
$170 mobo + $75 HSF + $300 CPU = 11k ppd.

So more money = less performance (granted on on app). I choose 1090T. That also would indicate to me that MOST of the time the 1090T would excel beyond the 920 at other apps, but that is not really a fair comparison. For what I do, it is.

 

[Duvie]

Basically the issue is going to be in apps that can tax all 6 cores the hex core should come out winner. In terms of power usage it is probably a bit more for the AMD....It does apper to be easier to cool based on Mark's numbers....

I would like to get one and see myself...

2 apps I run that I think may see use for 6 cores....

Architecture 2009 or REVIT in rendering process
Blue-Ray encoding of my HD home movies

These are the only that use all my 4 cores now

 

[aigomorla]

What do you guys think would be the better system for CAD apps?

What motherboards would you recommend for each cpu with budget conscience in mind. I have the money I just dont like to spend a lot if it can be achieved with mid level stuff?

im assuming this is a workstation machine duvie.

OK... Intel HT owns in encoding.. and things which HT are optimized.
Im assuming since CAD is on the simular principles of HD encoding it will follow the HT path.

The 870 will use LESS voltage when its in Idle. *looking at stock*

Duvie @ the price difference between an 870 to a 920/930, id grab the LGA1366 platform instead.
The reason is, you will be able to find the cheaper hexcores from intel later, so when you need that extra power it will be there.

The AMD System will also be a good system and will be cheaper then the i7 system. The performance will be around the same in what you will be doing with it, however im not sure if they will come out with a MC on the AM2+ platform, so that might be the EOL on that system.

If you really think your going to need that processor power in the future, id grab the i7, and wait for the hexcores to drop in price and grab those as an upgrade later on in the future.

If your looking at cost right now, nothing will beat an X6 system in the $$$ to performance aspect, however as i said that might be your EOL.

EOL = End of Line.

 

[BD231]

You don't upgrade your cpu that often so it's clear you don't need to concern yourself with socket type.

AMD Thuban is the current price/performance leader, however, Intel released their next gen architecture ahead of AMD so the Phenom II is a little slower at the same clock speed.

But with the two added cores and the much improved overclocking headroom that gap isn't really all that significant.

 

[Dadofamunky]

im assuming this is a workstation machine duvie.

OK... Intel HT owns in encoding.. and things which HT are optimized.
Im assuming since CAD is on the simular principles of HD encoding it will follow the HT path.

The 870 will use LESS voltage when its in Idle. *looking at stock*

Duvie @ the price difference between an 870 to a 920/930, id grab the LGA1366 platform instead.
The reason is, you will be able to find the cheaper hexcores from intel later, so when you need that extra power it will be there.

The AMD System will also be a good system and will be cheaper then the i7 system. The performance will be around the same in what you will be doing with it, however im not sure if they will come out with a MC on the AM2+ platform, so that might be the EOL on that system.

If you really think your going to need that processor power in the future, id grab the i7, and wait for the hexcores to drop in price and grab those as an upgrade later on in the future.

If your looking at cost right now, nothing will beat an X6 system in the $$$ to performance aspect, however as i said that might be your EOL.

EOL = End of Line.

He's right - on Intel, I wouldn't bother with anything less than the i930. Can't go wrong there.

I'm seriously looking at the 1090T X6 as my next platform. LGA1366 vs AM3, seems to me they have roughly the same lifespan left to them. I'd be very happy with either one, I think.

RAM's a tough one for me, since I haven't stepped up to DDR3. But not too much has changed since you were around, it appears Corsair tends to have the biggest following and I doubt that's by accident.

Welcome back!

 

[RussianSensation]

Why are you comparing a $500+ processor to a $300 processor? Core i7 860 or core i7 930 compete with the 1090T, not 870. For video encoding work, you can see that a Core i7 975 at 3.33ghz is slighly faster than the 1090T at 3.2ghz (so at almost similar clock speeds, the AMD loses):

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3674/amds-sixcore-phenom-ii-x6-1090t-1055t-reviewed/6

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/18799/11

Therefore, at 4.0ghz each, the Core i7 should be slightly better at video encoding.

I couldn't really find benchmarks on AutoCAD.

The two advantages AMD platform has are upgradability to Bulldozer on AM3 and cheaper motherboards. But if you have a MicroCenter near you, then Core i7 930 is what I would get. As to Aigo's comment on cheaper 6-core gulftowns, we have yet to see those being introduced (although there was a rumour of an $800 model clocked at 3.2ghz). I still wouldn't count on them being affordable. Extreme Edition CPUs generally become EOL and never really drop in price.

For Core i7 860 setup, I would look into G.Skill ECO Memory line: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-318-_-Product

At 1.35V, CL7-7-7 timings and DDR3-1600 that's one hell of a deal. For Core i7 930, you can either get the same dual channel kit (to get the performance as 860), or go with tripple channel. I am generally impressed with G.Skill DDR3 lines. OCZ is a dud this round of DDR3 (they were great for DDR1/2 ram). Corsair is another option but commands a premium over G.Skill. Don't get any RAM < DDR3-1600 and with voltages exceeding 1.6V. Core i7 1366 will offer the ability to upgrade to 6 sticks of ram though, another little bonus.

In this review, a slower ECO line kit than the one I linked reached DDR3-1800 at only 1.50V: http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_pages/gskill_eco_series_pc3_12800_cl7_4gb,6.html

 

[HumblePie]

I bought my i7 920 at launch and just now am switching it out for an i7 930 to see if I can get a better overclock on air. However, I doubt that if it wasn't my itch for trying out something new I would not have needed to upgrade my CPU for a long time to come. The I7 920 at 4.0Ghz was just great for the price.

If you don't have a Microcenter nearby to pick up a cheap I7 cpu, then there are plenty of good deals in the for sale/trade forum here.

Basically,
$200 for I7 CPU
$150 for X58 Motherboard
$130 for DDR3 1600 memory
$40 for a decent air heatsink

And you are all set if you keep everything else you currently have. Sell off what you currently have for a couple hundred and it's not that expensive an upgrade at all.