Processor

[pitacorp]

if one here had a choice of either a 32 bit, quad core, Q9650 vs. getting an I7-870 64 bit, which one would you choose and why. I would really appreciate the help...thanks

 

[Dragon965]

It depends on your situation. Are you going to be using DDR2 ram or DDR3? Also bear in mind that socket 775 is nearing its end of life, whereas the newer I7 architecture is just getting started, it will have longer use.

So on 1 side, you have lower costs with socket 775, and the ability to use some older ram if needed, on the other hand higher costs and no risk of being obsolete in a year.

Myself, I went with the AMD Phenom II 965 Black Edition, using OCZ DDR2 1066 memory and can build on this as the Phenom II AM2+ and AM3 platforms are also very young like the I7 platform.

I still run 2 socket 775 systems with DDR2-800 ram on Windows 7, I expect them to be running for another 3 years yet, but I am doing no further upgrading on them. They have everything they will ever need...

Hope this is of help, and good luck on you new build...

 

[saint19]

Hi newcomer and welcome to the Tom's hardware forum.

1- Q9650 $329.99 against i7-870 $549.99.
2- Q9650 don't have L3 cache, the i7-870 have 8MB L3 cache.
3- Q9650 is socket 775 that is a little old, the i7-870 is socket 1156 and both are 95W.
4- Q9650 don't support Intel Turbo Boost Technology, the i7-870 support that technology and with that, you can run your CPU at 3.6GHz

With that, Would the i7-870 be your best option?, not really, is very expensive. You can buy the i7-860 that have a very similar performance and the price is only $279.99. Even, with the price of the i7-870 you can buy a i7-930 that support tri-channel.

 

[shubham1401]

^+1 for i7-870 . Nice answer dude

The only reason for getting a Q9650 now is that you have a LGA 775 board with lots of DDR2 RAM and You just need to upgrade the processor.

But otherwise investing in a 860/930 is a far better option if you also need to buy the motherboard.

 

[megamanx00]

Neither. I'd probably go for an i5-750 on the mid range or i7 920 with a bigger budget. Of course, for the lower end gotta go with AMD right now ^_^.

 

[jsc]

1- Q9650 $329.99 against i7-870 $549.99.
2- Q9650 don't have L3 cache, the i7-870 have 8MB L3 cache.
3- Q9650 is socket 775 that is a little old, the i7-870 is socket 1156 and both are 95W.
4- Q9650 don't support Intel Turbo Boost Technology, the i7-870 support that technology and with that, you can run your CPU at 3.6GHz

Mostly irrelevant. Core2 CPU's do not need L3 cache.