Should I get a 6-core 3.46GHz Xeon or a 6-core 3.46GHz Core i7?

cinicraft

Reputable
Jun 17, 2015
6
0
4,510
My Gigabyte motherboard GA-EX58-UD4P which I got way back in 2009 is really paying itself off.

I am planning on upgrading from 4 to 6 cores, and I found a very fast and powerful Xeon chip:

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-3-46Ghz-LGA1366-Westmere-Processor/dp/B00MVORFH4/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1457798993&sr=1-1&keywords=Xeon+W3690

I love the price compared to an equivalent Core i7:

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i7-990X-Extreme-Processor/dp/B004NRQDQQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1457799870&sr=1-1&keywords=990X


If I go with the Xeon, will I have more issues with overclocking? I already own a nice Liquid CPU cooler, and so overclocking is definitely what I'll be doing as I try to extend the lifespan of this old 2009 motherboard.
 
Solution
Well, it's really up to which one will give you the best performance for what you use them regardless of the overclock. You won't exactly be able to overclock a Xeon just as easily as an i7 because of the unlocked multiplier, but again, is the overclock you can get from the i7 worth not having 6 extra cores? I think it depends more on your software and what you'll do with it.

CircuitDaemon

Honorable
Feb 23, 2016
549
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11,660
Well, it's really up to which one will give you the best performance for what you use them regardless of the overclock. You won't exactly be able to overclock a Xeon just as easily as an i7 because of the unlocked multiplier, but again, is the overclock you can get from the i7 worth not having 6 extra cores? I think it depends more on your software and what you'll do with it.
 
Solution
that xeon will not overclock very well. you need them to have a unlocked multiplier. however, a x5690 will overclock just as much as any i7 will. my advice would be to sell the mobo and liquid cooler and pick up a socket 2011 mobo and a xeon E5-2670 they are crazy cheap right now