Is it worth abandoning my AMD and upgrading to Intel?

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MkUltra85

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Jun 8, 2014
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Hello,

I have a rig with a AMD Phenom II X4 965 on a ASUS M4A79T Deluxe mobo. Do you think I would see much increase in performance by upgrading to a i5 / i7 CPU and mobo?

I run a home music production studio, and I'm trying to increase my performance. My software beginning to slow down and clip on the more synth / effect intensive projects. I do a bit of gaming, but it isn't a priority.
 
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http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H97%20Pro4/
7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec), ELNA Audio Caps
Considering that (for gaming) it is considered a third tier CPU that overclocks to the same level as a second tier CPU saying there is an "enormous difference" between a 965 and a "modern" CPU is just ridiculous. There isn't and the 965 IS a "modern" CPU.

There is a significant difference, and considering the board won't support an AM3+ CPU you would want to go Intel on an upgrade. But its really up to you, and what exactly you are doing, if its just a minor annoyance or if "time is money" because you're getting paid to do it. In the later case an i7 can make a lot of sense.
 


you do realize the architectural differences between these 2 cpu's don't you? and there's more to performance than FPS........ and games and other software are coded differently now and the 965b just can't keep up..........
 

GreatestGamer

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Dec 19, 2013
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Yes, my last few Desktops and Laptops were all AMD.
Stepping up to Intel is awesome.

I have a I7 4770K and for video editing it's blazing fast, I5 is a nice addition if you only plan on gaming and other functions
 

jungleexplorer

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Jan 25, 2011
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The OP said that games were not a priority. He runs a home music production studio and that means he is strapped for cash and just needs little extra performance. There are thousands of great older games that his CPU can play and maybe a few of the newest, most graphically intense games that it cannot.
 
OP, how much ram do you have?.. are you running an SSD? what programs are you running? what opsys and 32/64?............ but we are back to the cpu........... faster/better architecture. those 4core 8thread cpus are what uou want........somebody above mentioned a newer amd cpu..........perhaps an 8320 or 8350.............. does it fit the board?............. but you also need to pile on the ram/
 


He stated it is a 790X mobo. No 8320 or 8350 option.

 

jungleexplorer

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I agree, but switching from AMD to Intel is almost a complete system rebuild from scratch and I don't know if that is what the OP is looking for. I mean we are talking about the difference in price of $100 to upgrade his AMD CPU to $1000 to switch to Intel.
 

Fr33Th1nk3r

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Feb 22, 2014
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I would get an i7 or amd 8320 imho that i5 cpu's aren't hyperthreaded and will have problems multi tasking. You said you do a music studio, so I'm sure you do editing. That is where hyperthreading and 8 core cpu's excel.

That said, I do have two computers i7 2.6(2.9 turbo)ghz @920 and i7 3.5 (4.4ghzOC) 4770k. I am building AMD systems for my in laws and wife though soon when prices drop from litecoin miners failing at life. Will get the 8320 and a $100 mobo.
 

jungleexplorer

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Wow! That's a low priced Intel MB. Most decent Intel MBs run above $150 to $400. Can't find any reviews for that MSI MB so I could not recommend it, but it is certainly a good price for an Intel MB. Of course he would have to get another heatsink/fan for the 3.5GHz processor. Something that fast will generate a lot of heat so he would need to spend money on a good one. His existing ram will work though and that is good. But as Fr33Th1nk3r suggested, he would be better off going with an i7 and that will drive the price of the cpu up.

If I were him and I were going to upgrade to intel I would go with this setup.

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz . $329 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

MB: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 $129 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293&cm_re=LGA_1155-_-13-157-293-_-Product

Heatsink/Fan: ZALMAN CNPS9500A-LED $43 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118223&cm_re=LGA_1155-_-35-118-223-_-Product


All of these products are top rated with over 1000 5 star reviews each on newegg.
 

logainofhades

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The cheap chipset boards are fine, but they come with cruddy onboard sound. The Extreme4 that you linked has the ALC 1150 which is as good as entry level sound cards. Depending on what he needs he might want that.

 

logainofhades

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http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H97%20Pro4/
7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec), ELNA Audio Caps
 
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jbrandt5

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Apr 3, 2014
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jbrandt5

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Apr 3, 2014
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When money needs to be used most effectively we want to put it in the best place. Since the CPU already waits thousands of clock cycles on information from the HDD before it can do anything anyway, Just add a SSD. I have a 790X and it is a great board.
 

WhiteSnake91

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You could pair the Xeon 1230v3 with a cheap h81 motherboard and that would smoke the old AMD. Other option would be an fx8320 along with a good 970 chipset AM3+ motherboard since the cheap motherboards are generally crap and will throttle that cpu

I like my asrock mobo, has good sound built in. Then again I'm not an audiofile

edit: Also yes an SSD would probably be a nice improvement too, and you have enough ram right?
 
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