Dilemma: Core i7 920 or Phenom II 955

[bpgt64]

We'll heres the problem, in easy terms, You have BMW, a Porche and a Ferrari, all that can do 120 mph(190 something in kph), but you still have a speed limit of 60mph(90kph).

I would buy which ever is cheapest, because in terms of gaming..it doesn't matter. Especially if all the games you run can be handled by a 9600GT..it doesn't matter, because your games aren't limited by the i7 or the 955 PII, there limited by the 9600GT....

Supporting the underdog isn't a reason to buy, but frankly it doesn't matter, if moneys no object get the i7, but you rarely would see and performance gain over the AMD equivalant in terms of gaming. You actually wouldn't see any improvement over the Q9650...really between either chip anyway.

What I'd do, is buy the AMD because more than likely its cheaper. And I'd spend the rest on a new GPU for the Q9650 rig. Possible a Nvidia 260 216 or a HD 4870.

 

[Yukikaze]

We'll heres the problem, in easy terms, You have BMW, a Porche and a Ferrari, all that can do 120 mph(190 something in kph), but you still have a speed limit of 60mph(90kph).

I would buy which ever is cheapest, because in terms of gaming..it doesn't matter. Especially if all the games you run can be handled by a 9600GT..it doesn't matter....

I fail to see any problem that is not addressed by my reasons as outlined in the previous post.

Besides, where did I say all my games can be handled by the 9600GT ? The fact that this is what the mod-rig will be getting is simply because it is what I have on hand, for now. The HD4870X2 does run everything I want it to run (and probably will keep doing it for at least half-a-year or a bit more), though, and this is what the new setup will be equipped with.

 

[bpgt64]

Upgrading the 9600GT on the secondary rig, that is assuming your going to be using it as much as the other one, would make more sense. My point is, all else being equal, go with which ever is cheaper.

 

[Yukikaze]

Upgrading the 9600GT on the secondary rig, that is assuming your going to be using it as much as the other one, would make more sense. My point is, all else being equal, go with which ever is cheaper.

I won't be, actually. Or at least, I won't be gaming on it as much as on the other.

The whole idea behind my explanation is that not everything is equal (Specifically, to a lesser extent, the switch to DDR3 and, to a greater extent, the ability to run both CFX and SLI are the sell points here, for me at least).

Much thanks for the input ! You've put a lot of effort into this thread.

 

[phanbuey]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-geforce-intel-core-i7,7624.html

That sums up how much your CPU matters vs GPU.

yeah thats always been the truth... (lol im running an E8500 with the gtx 260 sli - what they mentioned in that link). But from a purely CPU standpoint you will always want to get the best power for the money. IMO that is the i7. Its more expensive, but more powerful.

i dont think we are debating getting a CPU over a gfx... clearly gfx is the way to go for gaming unless you have a prehistoric cpu.

 

[1Kurgan1]

Who in their good mind would run an i7 at 2.66?

Do you agree that i7 OCs to 4ghz easy? so does the PII 940? 4ghz is an average OC for both right?

GUESS WHO WOULD KILL THE OTHER??? i7

PII 955 sucks (for the price I mean) so do i7 940 and i7 965

IMO, you can't go wrong with PII 940BE or 720BE

For sure OCing is the way to go, but you got to admit the test results are quiet impressive, I would like to see some OC results as even the 720 is 6 fps ahead at 1900x1200.

But the PII 955 price isn't too bad right now, remember the 940 released at $240 and it's I think only like $5 more than that, very reasonable. And it did just release, give it a week or so too cool down. The ability to run DDR2 or DDR3 and supposedly go to 3.6 - 3.8ghz on stock voltage is worth it.

And yes I am loving my 720BE, for the $140 I got it for, it destroys

 

[Binge]

I think the 720 is good value, but I can't stand idly by and watch someone go for a 940/955 while in the same price bracket as the 920. 920 is the best damn processor for over $200 and under $300. People also say they're making a gaming rig, but they end up doing everything they can with their machines. If people wanted to only game they'd save money and buy a console once every 3-5 years. That is unless we're talking about WOW addicts, and in which case they should just feed BLIZZARD money through an IV like the several million morons on this planet. The point is the i7 can game and do everything else. If you run Vista turn HT off and you're good to go.

 

[1Kurgan1]

If you read the whole OP you see it's his second rig, I would assume his first with the QX9650 would be what he is using to do anything else on. Plus whats the point of HT off when thats the big advantage to do everything else with the i7?

 

[Binge]

If you read the whole OP you see it's his second rig, I would assume his first with the QX9650 would be what he is using to do anything else on. Plus whats the point of HT off when thats the big advantage to do everything else with the i7?

The idea is that in Vista HT doesn't work well. Honestly it really doesn't work. In XP or W7 HT is fine. Come on Kur... I don't care what other systems he has. He may want two machines to balance tasks, and if one is to do tasks while he games with the other then it's obvious he should go with the i7. He can game perfectly on either the i7 or the QX9650. I'd LOVE for you to take your head out of the sand and get that I'm pushing for the better system from my view. Senseless this

 

[kid41212003]

All the benchmarks so far that ran on Vista is not real results for Core i7.

The results you saw on Vista is:

1 thread out of 8 threads of core i7 vs 1 core of Phenom II (single thread or application/games that can't use more than 4 threads).

So, that's mean half a core of Core i7 can already handle a Phenom II.

I'm sure that when Windows 7 is officially out, all Core i7 users will be happy that they made that decision.

 

[Yukikaze]

If you read the whole OP you see it's his second rig, I would assume his first with the QX9650 would be what he is using to do anything else on. Plus whats the point of HT off when thats the big advantage to do everything else with the i7?

And one could throw a bunch of senseless bashing about, shitty anime, but really whats the point? Kind of childish.

In case I wasn't clear: The Q9650 (Not the QX, just the Q) is getting exiled to the small case, with the Core i7 replacing it as my main rig.

 

[1Kurgan1]

Now anyways back on topic, your acting like the PII 955 gets tossed aside by the i7 here, and it doesn't not even close. With the HT on it does in alot of non-gaming related tasks, but with HT off, that defeats the purpose.

The 955 is a fantastic processor so I'm just missing the point. I mean as it sits like I have said i7 or PII are both great choices. The only thing it really comes down to what brand your a fanboy of. No head in the sand anywhere, I know both procs will get any job done that needs to be done, and it just seems you the one with the head buried.

I mean if it was with HT on and superior clocks I would have to say the i7 would be the better choice overall. But thats not really the case.

 

[n-ster]

DUDE... i7's advantage IS NOT HT FOR GODS SAKES.... an i7 920 at 4ghz HT OFF beats a PII 955 4ghz in 100% of FREAKING THINGSSSSSSS...

PII 955 SUCKS.... a PII 940BE is MUCH better (I'm always talking price/performance)

Binge, i7 is a great choice obviously but isn't it for the people who have the extra money to pay 60$ more for CPU 100$ more for mobo and 40$ more in RAM? I'm not comapring to PII 955 but to 940BE... so 200$ difference is significant...

i7 920 (all tax (for CPU) and ship included)
about 250$ i7 920
230$ mobo (DFI DK)
75$ RAM (crucials) or 50$ for 3gb

550$

PII 940BE
190$ pII 940BE
100 to 120$ Mobo (example Biostar 128m 790FX)
40-50$ RAM

350$

i7 OCs better than PII... an AVERAGE OC is anything between 3.8 and 4.2
HT IS NOT THE FUCKING ADVANTAGE i7 HAS THAT KILLS THE OTHERS... it's just better clock per clock and just performs much better

IMO I would have to think a long time before deciding to dish out the extra 200$ or not...

 

[Assassin48]

and you know whats funny the polls are even
ROFL!

I would go with a PII 955 just because i intel might change there mind and decide to change something that will require a whole upgrade

this way i can swap out the cpu with a 955

I bought my current setup back in october with a 9950BE and a Am2+ SB750 mobo
i had a while it was good but when the 940 was going to come out i was like NOOO i might have to upgrade my whole setup again but once i read some more all i had to do was swap out the old cpu and BAM! 940 into my old mobo and it works!
same with the 955 if i didnt want to go am3 i would just put it in my current mobo and run with it

I am not saying i7 is better nor am i saying 955 is better
All i am saying is i am Future Proof in my new am3 system or my am2 system
but if i would have gone with a lg775 i would of needed a new mobo/cpu/ram wich would of been expensive over $1300 vs 2xx for my 940

 

[Binge]

Interesting look at the situation Assassin. Can you really speculate that AMD will stay with AM3 like they held on to the latter end of AM2?

 

[Assassin48]

Interesting look at the situation Assassin. Can you really speculate that AMD will stay with AM3 like they held on to the latter end of AM2?

Kur, please do your homework. Anime is a japanese term that is short for animated cartoon. I've not once used an image from an animated cartoon.

i just really started getting into computers when i built this one and have stayed current with things now but not back in the past

I think amd is goint to stay with am3 for a while before they make us move especially they way things are going

when they see that people arent willing to PAY big for a complete new cpu/mobo/ram they take it into consideration and will most likey make it compatible with a past and future mobo

like the 720BE 955BE you dont have to upgrade right away you can wait a little and try it out on you current mobo and if you want that extra speed just upgrade when the time is right

especially if your on a tight budget like most of us are at some point

 

[Binge]

That viewpoint is definitely something to take into consideration, and I personally prefer that instead of butting heads over the processors. I'm not sure what will happen in the future, but you know I will be looking into AM3's future a little more closely now. No matter the choice the OP decides to take you probably brought up the most compelling argument for going with AM3. Hopefully intel releases better and better LGA 1366 processors to give the standard a little more life eh?

 

[n-ster]

yea I never thought about the future before... Indeed that would give a good reason going AM3... Personally, if I had to choose though, I would go 720BE

I wonder if AMD would choose to do like intel, forcing you to change mobo too... or intel doing like AMD, staying with the same sockets

 

[farlex85]

It's speculation though. Both LGA1366 and AM3 are new, it's difficult to say which will last longer as a platform. One could just as easily say that intel will at least continue 1366 through Westmere, and possibly even through Sandy Bridge (775 crossed generations). There's no guarantee AM3 will continue for longer than 2009 (although it's likely they will at least go into next year). You may see an AM3+ that would require an upgrade. Future-proofing is nice, but speculation upon upcoming procs and platforms is just that, speculation.

Anyway, I would say if it's a secondary rig and a gaming rig, a 720BE would be pretty much the perfect fit in bang/buck. Primary I'd go i7. But I wouldn't spend that much for a back-up gaming rig (wouldn't spend that much for a 955 either, they are overpriced).

 

[n-ster]

i7 vs 940BE vs 955

what would you pick price vs performance?

depends on money... i7 or 940BE

940BE vs 720BE

what would you pick?

I would go 720BE

 

[Assassin48]

yea I never thought about the future before... Indeed that would give a good reason going AM3... Personally, if I had to choose though, I would go 720BE

I wonder if AMD would choose to do like intel, forcing you to change mobo too... or intel doing like AMD, staying with the same sockets

nah i would go with the 955 DDR2 or DDR3 its more performance

what it comes down to is the OP choice he chooses what to get were not going to be using his pc maybe if he lets me OC it a little i will

 

[farlex85]

i7 vs 940BE vs 955

what would you pick price vs performance?

depends on money... i7 or 940BE

940BE vs 720BE

what would you pick?

I would go 720BE

Everybody seems to have forgotten about the C2Q since they've been out for so long, but they just as good as the PII, and in the case of the 12MB cache models, they're still faster. The Q9550 is about the same price as the PII 955 and the C2Q is faster. The 940 has now dropped to a reasonable price, but IMO the entire PII line is still pretty much useless (doesn't do anything C2Q didn't do for years now). The Triple core 720BE is a fantastic value though, especially for somebody who is primarily gaming w/ a sprinkle of multi-threading in there.

 

[n-ster]

it's true, I have forgotten about them... but isn't intel abandonning them?

paying 110$ for an extra core? (720BE vs 955) when you have a good chance of unlocking a 4th core anyways?

 

[farlex85]

it's true, I have forgotten about them... but isn't intel abandonning them?

Well i5 is supposed to replace them, but I don't think there's any rush. They haven't been pressured to do so yet, so they're taking their time until PII eclipses core 2, which could be a while still. I'd say they'll be going strong for a while still.

 

[n-ster]

I'm thinking that by the end of the year, c2Q will be old news...