Trying to make the jump to i7..

[jojo29]

Okay, I'm currently running the following system:
A Wolfsdale Core2Duo E8600
HIS 4870

NOTE: if you don't want to read the wall o text my sum up is near the bottom, scroll down for it if you just want to skip the pleasantries

Its no sloucher of a system, but a couple generations behind. Now I would like to be able to hop onto the Core i generation, mostly because Intel is being a little bitch and not dropping the price on the C2Q I would like, a 3.1 ghz quad core that runs $350+...

Now, for that price, or around that price I can either pick up ATI 5870 or do a "processor refresh" in where I can pick up a mobo/i7/ddr3 ram...So first question is, which would I benefit more from a 5800 series gpu or a processor upgrade??

Now my second question is, I wanted to get a quad core as close to 3.0 as possible without overclocking...

The processors I'm looking into is either the i7 860 or the i7 920? Now, I do know they are on different sockets on is on 1156 and the on 1366 or something like that? Another question is which socket would be the better one to go with?

So to sum up my freaking wall of text here is my following questions:

*So first question is, which would I benefit more from a 5800 series gpu or a processor upgrade??

* Which should I go with the i7 860 or the i7 920? My goal is to have an i7 processor as close to 3.0 ghz as possible..

* Is there an Asus mobo that can support both 1156/1366 sockets? If not then..

* Which socket would be the better one to go with the 1156 or 1366?

 

[SunnyD]

Microcenter has the Q9550 for $179. That seems fairly reasonable if you don't want to go all out with the new platform.

Anyway, to address your questions:
1. The i7 will benefit the most from a 5800-series upgrade.

2. The 920 is a better choice for running multi-GPU if you're going that route, otherwise they will be for the most part the same. Both should do 3.0GHz without issues.

3. No. The actual platforms behind 1156 and 1366 are different. 1366 uses QPI as it's primary bus, while 1156 uses DMI as its front side bus. The two require different chipsets and motherboards.

4. The enthusiast platform with Intel is 1366. As such, 1366 seems to be on Intel's roadmap for a while. The is a chipset refresh in the works (the X68) to bring it up to speed with current technologies and such (USB3.0, SATA3). There also is a fairly strong upcoming lineup for future chips on 1366 (hexa-cores and further), while 1156 being the more consumer/value oriented position has fewer high end options coming. Intel will be focusing more on value and integrated (CPU+GPU aka Clarkdale) types of chips on it. Being that the platform for 1156 itself is somewhat weaker, odds are you're going to see less high end chips on there, and more likely to see more chipset options and possibly more socket changes in the long run.

If you want high end with flexibility and future upgradability in mind, I'd say LGA1366 is your preference. If cost is more of a concern (motherboard in particular, plus lower end CPUs), LGA1156 is your platform of choice.

Hope this helps.

 

[jojo29]

Microcenter has the Q9550 for $179. That seems fairly reasonable if you don't want to go all out with the new platform.

This does seem really reasonable...this might be my overall pathway...

Anyway, to address your questions:
1. The i7 will benefit the most from a 5800-series upgrade.

See this is where im kinda stuck at, i m not gonna be able to get a 5800 series card, mostly because i have my eye on the 5970 ( or whatever model number, but yes that monster) and i know it wont be coming down in price for awhile, i can settle for a 5870, but also at the price point, i can get more benefit from a processor upgrade, all the while the gpu prices will come down, which is faster than cpu prices are dropping lol

2. The 920 is a better choice for running multi-GPU if you're going that route, otherwise they will be for the most part the same. Both should do 3.0GHz without issues.

i do intend for multi-gpu, but mostly for gaming...so the 820 sounds a bit more enticing, based on price...

3. No. The actual platforms behind 1156 and 1366 are different. 1366 uses QPI as it's primary bus, while 1156 uses DMI as its front side bus. The two require different chipsets and motherboards.

Doh, i was afraid of this.

4. The enthusiast platform with Intel is 1366. As such, 1366 seems to be on Intel's roadmap for a while. The is a chipset refresh in the works (the X68) to bring it up to speed with current technologies and such (USB3.0, SATA3). There also is a fairly strong upcoming lineup for future chips on 1366 (hexa-cores and further), while 1156 being the more consumer/value oriented position has fewer high end options coming. Intel will be focusing more on value and integrated (CPU+GPU aka Clarkdale) types of chips on it. Being that the platform for 1156 itself is somewhat weaker, odds are you're going to see less high end chips on there, and more likely to see more chipset options and possibly more socket changes in the long run.

thank you for the explanation, this really does help me make a more informed decision...but makes it that much harder, on one hand with the 1156 socket i have a price advantage, somewhat, whereas in the 1366, i have a price advantage over time, as i wont have to upgrade as frequently....it mostly depends, my ultimate goal is just to have a quad core over 3.0 without oc'ing lol dont ask me why that is my target, i just feel that is the sweet spot of quad core lol

So again to sum up my further questions, if you would further assist me:

* Between the 860 and 920 processors, how close are they in terms of performance? If its not that big a difference, the 820 seems more and more enticing...

*For a 1156 Motherboard, what would your recommendations for motherboards be? I really do try to stick with Asus, so an Asus recommendation would be greatly appreciated, but, if a different brand mobo is that much better, or that much 'top dawg" by all means recommend it

*What would be the recommended 1366 Asus (or equivalent) motherboard?

They don't have to be expensive mobo, just enough to get the job done and run stable

Also a couple of side questions:

The Core i7's are Intel's TOP processors correct? Just want to know the "ranking order" of the Intel line from best to last, is it i7/i5/i3 ? in order of top to last?

What is that new type of motherboard with the H55??
What is the fuss about the H55??

 

[SunnyD]

A couple things - it's not that the i7 920 is the better CPU for multi-GPU, it's the X58 chipset being better for multi-GPU.

The only other question I can probably safely answer for you is that Intel will be releasing i9's next month. They will also be on LGA1366, other than that, you're pretty much on the ball.

 

[jojo29]

Wow, thank you, you have been extremely helpful...well in the case of the i9s being released next month, it might just be safe to wait it out and see the i9 processor lines and prices, but now that the i9s are being released buying into a 1366 mobo seems the more reasonable route, hehe the i9 just changed the landscape for me..

Well, that just leaves me with one question: what Asus motherboard (or equivalent) would you or others recommend??

 

[jojo29]

Wow, thank you, you have been extremely helpful...well in the case of the i9s being released next month, it might just be safe to wait it out and see the i9 processor lines and prices, but now that the i9s are being released buying into a 1366 mobo seems the more reasonable route, hehe the i9 just changed the landscape for me..

Well, that just leaves me with one question: what Asus motherboard (or equivalent) would you or others recommend??

 

[Shmee]

yes the i9's will be awesome with 6 cores, but they will also be very pricey at first, I understand. they will start first with the $1000+ extreme edition afaik.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

the i7 920 is 199$ at MicroCenter
also, I picked up a Q9550 (179$) the other day from MC and after tax it was $193.94 OH tax; I might be returning this.

 

[AlucardX]

what resolution do you play at?

a 5850 may be all you need..

 

[jojo29]

Right now I play at the 1600x1050 as that's how high my monitor runs...I'm eyeing the 5970 or 5870..

I do have another question, kind of a real technical one: seeing as buying a i9 rig will take a while, would how would this rig be for gaming:

Intel E8600
4870

Intel Q9550
5870

i7 quad core
Either card

Which of these systems would run these games smoothly with everything on?? How much of a performance difference between just looking at the paper stats??

The games i m currently planning for and/or am playing are the following:
Warhmmer online
Alien vs predator
Bad company 2
Starcraft 2
Diablo

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I'm currently gaming on my Q9550 with a 1900XTX (at 3.4Ghz)

Today, I am going to install my 5870 on the machine and see how it performs with Unreal Tournament III. I will be comparing it with how it ran in my i7 920 rig (rig3 sig) TBH, I don't think it will be as smooth as on the i7

I'll let you know later on tonight.

EDIT: running on XP Pro sp3 & a 19" tn panel (2ms)

 

[soccerballtux]

I'm currently gaming on my Q9550 with a 1900XTX (at 3.4Ghz)

Today, I am going to install my 5870 on the machine and see how it performs with Unreal Tournament III. I will be comparing it with how it ran in my i7 920 rig (rig3 sig) TBH, I don't think it will be as smooth as on the i7

I'll let you know later on tonight.

EDIT: running on XP Pro sp3 & a 19" tn panel (2ms)

UT3 ran great on my e2180@3.4ghz so I doubt it'll run worse.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

UT3 ran great on my e2180@3.4ghz so I doubt it'll run worse.

Less the video card comparison.

 

[soccerballtux]

UT3 ran great on my e2180@3.4ghz so I doubt it'll run worse.

Less the video card comparison.

??

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

OP

Going from my 3.4Ghz Q9550 with a 1900XTX to this 5870 is about 70% of what the i7 920 & 5870 was at stock (in UT3)

I'd say the card would be the biggest factor in your decision.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

If you only care about gaming performance, toss in a 5850/70 and call it a day.

 

[jojo29]

Cool, thank you all for your input I think im gonna decide to go ahead and grab that Q9550, to get me up to at least a Quad Core status, OC to at least over 3.0GHz, And swoop up a 5870, we seen them at Frys for i think 289..i believe is what my bro paid for it...Seems like a decent enough upgrade from my E8600/4870

 

[AlucardX]

if you got the money than that seems reasonable.. though in terms of priority a new video card will make the most difference, then the cpu. it looks like the others above agree with me.

of course i'm a bit biased, as i have an E6850 @ 3.6GHz and this is me trying to justify not having to buy a new mobo/cpu setup and just get a new vid card when the prices come down a bit

 

[Dadofamunky]

Jojo, at that 1680 resolution a 5850 will still be overkill. You do not need a 5970 for that kind of display. You'll be utterly CPU limited at that resolution with any 58xx card.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

of course i'm a bit biased, as i have an E6850 @ 3.6GHz and this is me trying to justify not having to buy a new mobo/cpu setup and just get a new vid card when the prices come down a bit

Not at all. I had an E6600 @ 3.6GHz on an ancient a*s board (965P-DS3 Rev 1.0) - started life with an X1900XT, then G80 8800GTS, 4850 and 4890.

 

[Jacky60]

I went from E8400 at 4ghz and 4870 512mb to 4890/4890xfire then 5970 with i7 920 at 4ghz. Huge improvement BUT 5970 WAAAAy better than 4890 xfire. Every increment was really significant in terms of framerate/ playability at 1920/1200 4/16.
Was playing Arma 2 and it(like crysis but more so) really uses 4 cores.

 

[jojo29]

Jojo, at that 1680 resolution a 5850 will still be overkill. You do not need a 5970 for that kind of display. You'll be utterly CPU limited at that resolution with any 58xx card.

This is where im a bit confused on how/where the cpu/gpu handle the graphics/data/games...

@1680 Resolution what do you mean i will be cpu limited? I'm not entirely sure how the relationship between cpu/gpu and what loads they handle work, please explain it to me.

Also, what if i end up with a Q9550/5970 combo? Will i still be cpu limited?

 

[betasub]

Yes, but just go with a 5850 and enjoy games.

 

[Phil1977]

Wolfdale is still one of the best gaming chips.

I think you will feel disappointed if you upgrade to i7 at this point of time...

You will get a lot more out of your current machine by buying a 5850.

If you look at any gaming benchmarks that have the E8600 in it, you will see that it's right up there with i5s and i7s.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Wolfdale is still one of the best gaming chips.

I think you will feel disappointed if you upgrade to i7 at this point of time...

You will get a lot more out of your current machine by buying a 5850.

If you look at any gaming benchmarks that have the E8600 in it, you will see that it's right up there with i5s and i7s.

Wolfdales are no i7 920s. Get that out of your head. My Q9550 @ 3.4Ghz is no match for my i7 920 @ 2.8Ghz (turbo) For my particular argument, I play UT3 and there is a noticeable difference. Even when I had one of my 5870's on the Q9550.But when you play a game like COD WAW or MW, there is no difference. And for the non-enthusiast, get the 5850. You'll be happier when you get a 5870