Q9550, i5 750 or i7 860

[sticks435]

Like the subject says, I'm thinking about upgrading my current rig, and was wondering what everyone thought. I pretty much just play games currently, but may start dabbleing in video encoding and such. I read an article on Toms that said if you mostly game to go with the cheapest processor and spend the extra money on GPU which seems to make the 750 the logical choice, but what would I be missing out on? Hyperthreading and clock speed increase I know for sure.

Can I still use DDR2 for the time being with the i5/i7 or would it just be better to go DDR3?

Also, the 9550 is only $170 at Microcenter, so I was thinking of going that route, but then again, the 750 is $150 and the 860 $230. Get say a $150 mobo, and how much of a difference for the money would there be between the 9550 and that setup?

 

[rcpratt]

Well, I would go with either the 750 or 860. Which one is up to you and your budget, although I would use the 860 if I were building.

The P55 (i5/i7) chipset only uses DDR3 RAM. You could reuse your current DDR2 RAM with a Q9550, but I'm not sure that upgrade would really be worth it.

 

[pjkenned]

If you do encoding... you want the i7. x.264 encoding at 260fps is a background task that I don't even notice at this point. Video encoding loves hyperthreading.

 

[Hyperlite]

If you do encoding... you want the i7. x.264 encoding at 260fps is a background task that I don't even notice at this point. Video encoding loves hyperthreading.

true that. My general recommendation is if you've got the dough, i7 is the way to go. zing.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

if its not a burden, go for an i7 860

personally i chose the 920 but they are both great chips, i7's rock!

 

[sticks435]

Sounds good. I haven't actually gotten into doing any encoding yet, I'm still pretty lost on it matter of fact, but it seems everyone is doing it now-aday's, so I should probably read up on it. Plus if I do go with the 860, I'll be able to extend the life of my system by more.

Here's another question. I understand some motherboards will allow you to use your existing LGA775 cooler. If I'm going to be doing no to mild overclocking at first, would you all recommend it, seeing as how it sounds like thier isn't a lot of them for 1156 yet.

 

[Hyperlite]

Sounds good. I haven't actually gotten into doing any encoding yet, I'm still pretty lost on it matter of fact, but it seems everyone is doing it now-aday's, so I should probably read up on it. Plus if I do go with the 860, I'll be able to extend the life of my system by more.

Here's another question. I understand some motherboards will allow you to use your existing LGA775 cooler. If I'm going to be doing no to mild overclocking at first, would you all recommend it, seeing as how it sounds like thier isn't a lot of them for 1156 yet.

You won't have a problem finding one either way. No to mild overclock would probably imply no voltage changes, so really, you could probably use the stock cooler if your ambient temps are reasonable and you don't plan on going past 3.2 or 3.3 for now. I don't think i'd buy a mobo just for 775 cooler compatibility.

 

[Mgz]

If you do encoding... you want the i7. x.264 encoding at 260fps is a background task that I don't even notice at this point. Video encoding loves hyperthreading.

how often is he gonna encode anyway ? like 1% of his total PC usage time ?

 

[deanx0r]

how often is he gonna encode anyway ? like 1% of his total PC usage time ?

Yup, that's what I thought too. My guess is that when most people talk about video encoding, they mean video backups of their DVD or Blu-Ray. And with programs like handbrake, it may take 2 minutes of his time to automate everything and leave the PC run overnight. So it's not like he is saving himself some time unless his actually editing and post processing video.

More processing power might be more useful if he worked under lightroom or photoshop, where it may actually save some precious man hours. But hey, if the OP is a gamer, he is never going to have enough power no matter what he buys

 

[EarthwormJim]

I would just go with the Q9550, you can reuse your motherboard and memory. You'll be at the very least doubling your processing power in threaded programs.

If you go with a Core i5 or i7 system you need a new motherboard and ram. While they may be faster than a Q9550 at equivalent speeds (and barely at times), I don't feel that they are worth more than double the cost you'd have to spend to go with a Core i5/i7 system.

 

[sticks435]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I think I may go with the 9550 for now, as it should be more than fast enough for my needs at the moment, seeing as 80% of my computer use is gaming. Been reading about all the 1156 stuff, and just a little leary of jumping this early, with new MOBO's coming out left and right, and USB3/SATA3 around the corner.

 

[daughmaster77]

I was looking for advise.

Current System----------------------------------------------------

Running Windows 7 64bit build 7600
Asus A8N-SLI nforce4
Athlon x2 4200+ 2.2Ghz 64bit
Zalman 9500 CPU Heatsink and Fan
Thermaltake 480W PSU
Thermaltake 250W Video PSU
HIS 4850 Video Card
4GB (4x1GB) G.Skill DDR400
LG DVD-RW
Seagate 500G HDD IDE to Sata
WD 250 Sata
Maxtor 160 Sata
Creative Audigy 2 Sound

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upgrade Options from NewEgg.com

Option 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------

Asus P5Q Deluexe LGA 775 P45 board ----139.99 [out of stock]
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83Ghz----- 249.99
G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 ------- 85.99 (2x 171.98)
*******
Total 561.96


Option 2-----------------------------------------------------------------

Asus P7P55D Deluexe LGA 1156 P55 ------ 219.99
Intel Core i7-860 95W 2.80Ghz --------- 289.99
G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333---------- 96.99
*******
Total 596.97

Option 3-------------------------------------------------------

Asus P6T Deluexe LGA 1366 X58 -------- 159.99
Intel Core i7-920 2.66 130W---------- 288.99
OCZ Gold 6G (3x2GB) DDR3 1600------- 149.99

*requires new power???
PC Power Cooling 750W ------------ 169.99
*******
Total 878.96

------------------------------------------------------------------

what would be best option still using so of the current hardware I have and saving a little money in the process??/

Thanks

 

[Copenhagen69]

Option 2-----------------------------------------------------------------

Asus P7P55D Deluexe LGA 1156 P55 ------ 219.99
Intel Core i7-860 95W 2.80Ghz --------- 289.99
G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333---------- 96.99
*******
Total 596.97

 

[exar333]

If you are by a MC, get either the i5-750 or the i7-920. The 1366 will really have the best CPU choices down the road if you want the best, while the 1156 will have the best budget and mainstream options.

 

[MagickMan]

I recently dropped in a Q9550, replacing my reliable old E7200. Imagine my surprise when I easily pulled 3.8GHz at stock voltage with my EP45-DS3L and ancient AC Freezer 7 Pro. I know it can do much more with a bit more juice, but I'm already hitting 56C during IBT. When I get a bigger HS/fan or a Corsair H50 I'll see what it can really do.

If I had the cabbage I'd go 920, but for a little more than $200 the Q9550 is a great upgrade.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

MicroCenters CPU prices have gone up.

AFAIK

i7 920 ~ 230$
Q9550, i7 750 have gone up also...

 

[Jhatfie]

I had the same question, I am running a E8400 but wanted to update to a quad core. Based on the prices of the Q9550 being the same or more than the i5-750 and the fact that I could sell my E8400 for a decent amount on ebay still to offset some of the costs, I decided to go the i5 route.

Keeping Antec P180 case, optical drive, Samsung 1TB HDD and HD 4890.

Purchased:
Intel Core i5-750 and Biostar P55 CFX/SLI mobo combo $265
4GB Gskill ripjaw DDR3-1866 $93
Coolermaster Hyper 212 cooler $25
Antec Truepower New TP-750 750W PSU $95
Total: $478

Going to Sell E8400, MSI P35 Neo2-FR and 4GB Gskill to off set a decent chunk of that.

 

[Ranulf]

If you are by a MC, get either the i5-750 or the i7-920. The 1366 will really have the best CPU choices down the road if you want the best, while the 1156 will have the best budget and mainstream options.

Hmm so for longevity, say 2.5-4 years down the road, a1366 mobo with a i7-920 is the better route to go (with say 6gb tri channel)?

 

[lothar]

Hmm so for longevity, say 2.5-4 years down the road, a1366 mobo with a i7-920 is the better route to go (with say 6gb tri channel)?

2.5-4 years down the road?
Don't forget to pinch yourself and wake up.

The road at most is only 1 year. Expect Sandy Bridge to be electrically incompatible and require a new motherboard.

 

[Gikaseixas]

I was looking for advise.

Current System----------------------------------------------------

Running Windows 7 64bit build 7600
Asus A8N-SLI nforce4
Athlon x2 4200+ 2.2Ghz 64bit
Zalman 9500 CPU Heatsink and Fan
Thermaltake 480W PSU
Thermaltake 250W Video PSU
HIS 4850 Video Card
4GB (4x1GB) G.Skill DDR400
LG DVD-RW
Seagate 500G HDD IDE to Sata
WD 250 Sata
Maxtor 160 Sata
Creative Audigy 2 Sound

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upgrade Options from NewEgg.com

Option 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------

Asus P5Q Deluexe LGA 775 P45 board ----139.99 [out of stock]
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83Ghz----- 249.99
G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 ------- 85.99 (2x 171.98)
*******
Total 561.96


Option 2-----------------------------------------------------------------

Asus P7P55D Deluexe LGA 1156 P55 ------ 219.99
Intel Core i7-860 95W 2.80Ghz --------- 289.99
G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333---------- 96.99
*******
Total 596.97

Option 3-------------------------------------------------------

Asus P6T Deluexe LGA 1366 X58 -------- 159.99
Intel Core i7-920 2.66 130W---------- 288.99
OCZ Gold 6G (3x2GB) DDR3 1600------- 149.99

*requires new power???
PC Power Cooling 750W ------------ 169.99
*******
Total 878.96

------------------------------------------------------------------

what would be best option still using so of the current hardware I have and saving a little money in the process??/

Thanks

Option 2, my 860 owes nothing to a 920 and in 2 years time a X58 won't be the motherboard of choice.

 

[Ranulf]

2.5-4 years down the road?
Don't forget to pinch yourself and wake up.

The road at most is only 1 year. Expect Sandy Bridge to be electrically incompatible and require a new motherboard.

Interesting, I did not know that. Doesn't surprise me given Intel's penchant for chipset musical chairs.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Interesting, I did not know that. Doesn't surprise me given Intel's penchant for chipset musical chairs.

What better way to get people to upgrade - force them. That way Intel doesn't have to provide any more value in their chipsets, they can just change the CPU-chipset interconnect every time.