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Core 2 Duo E8400 to Core i7 920 for gaming, worth it?

Forum CPU & Components : CPUs - Core 2 Duo E8400 to Core i7 920 for gaming, worth it?

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santi28   07-28-2009 at 09:10:05 AM

Hi guys,

I am planning on upgrading from Core 2 Duo E8400 to Core i7 920 just for gaming. Will I see any significant improvements in terms of FPS worth upgrading my mobo and rams for it?

My current configuration is:
Core2Duo E8400 clocked at 3.6
Nvidia 780i Mobo (Asus striker II Formula)
4gbs DDR2
GTX280

Thanks in advance for any advice given.

-Santi

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gkay09   07-28-2009 at 09:25:15 AM
- 1 +

^ I highly doubt it would be worth the change...
Wait till September before you go for a new CPU as intel will be launching newer CPUs and then think of changing...

For now the best upgrade for you would be a Q9550...

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to gkay09
Bronze CPUs badge BadTrip   07-28-2009 at 09:46:17 AM
- 1 +

I would definitely hold off, your current rig is adequate for now. New CPUS in late August or Early September will be the best bet, even if all they do is lower prices on current tech.

Reply to BadTrip
santi28   07-28-2009 at 10:37:28 AM
- 0 +

gkay09 wrote :

^ I highly doubt it would be worth the change...
Wait till September before you go for a new CPU as intel will be launching newer CPUs and then think of changing...

For now the best upgrade for you would be a Q9550...



Thanks for the advice. It was very helpful.

Reply to santi28
Helloworld_98   07-28-2009 at 12:21:55 PM
- 0 +

just overclock that E8400 a bit more and then get a Core i7 LGA1156 when it comes out if i7 LGA1366 prices don't drop.

Reply to Helloworld_98
HundredIslandsBoy   07-28-2009 at 05:09:52 PM
- 0 +

With your OC'd e8400, you may even lose a few framrates per second if you switch to a stock i7 920. Strictly for gaming, the e8400 is the better value than i7.

Reply to HundredIslandsBoy
santi28   07-28-2009 at 05:16:00 PM
- 0 +

Thanks your advices everyone.

I'll hold off on the i7 920 then, for now.
another quick noob question.

Would I see any noticeable improvements if I upgraded to a GTX 295 instead (from 280) on my current configuration? or would I see about same result due to CPU limitations...

Thanks again.

-Santi

Message quoted 2 times
Reply to santi28
strangestranger   07-28-2009 at 06:35:06 PM
- 0 +

How much fps do you gain by dropping resolution and settings?

------------------------------ I'm a git, deal with it.

Antec 1200,PC Power & Cooling 750,Gigabyte DS4-x48,Intel Q9550@3.4 W/Xigmatek S1283,8GB OCZ DDR2 800,ATI 4870X2,X-FI>CA 640C amp>Tannoy R300/Senn 595's
 Reply to strangestranger
th_at   07-28-2009 at 06:51:36 PM
- 0 +

santi28 wrote :

Would I see any noticeable improvements if I upgraded to a GTX 295 instead (from 280) on my current configuration?



Do you see any LIMITATIONS now? Is there a game that you can't play at your desired resolution?

To me, it sounds like you got $400 burning in your pocket and you want to spend it on hardware. If that's the case: you surely don't NEED anything at this moment, so you can pretty much go nuts on whatever tickles your fancy the most.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to th_at
santi28   07-28-2009 at 07:28:51 PM
- 0 +

th_at wrote :

Do you see any LIMITATIONS now? Is there a game that you can't play at your desired resolution?

To me, it sounds like you got $400 burning in your pocket and you want to spend it on hardware. If that's the case: you surely don't NEED anything at this moment, so you can pretty much go nuts on whatever tickles your fancy the most.



well, it's not really about NEEDS but rather WANTING the best possible gaming hardware upgrade I can get for around $400 ...

That aside, FarCry 2 at highest detail setting (at 1440x900 res) still slows down on most of the intense scenes (below 30fps). Empire: Total War on highest setting also slows down when zooming in/out of battle scenes.

Any suggestion on hardware upgrades would be great.

Reply to santi28
shubham1401   07-28-2009 at 07:52:15 PM
- 0 +

I would say SLI GTX 280.
You will be wasting money if you upgrade 280 to 295.

Better not change ANYTHING.

Reply to shubham1401
roofus   07-28-2009 at 08:05:52 PM
- 0 +

single card performance you will actually take a hit. the e8400 actually runs right with the quads and exceeds them in games not optimized for multi-core operations. you aren't running multiple cards so it would be a waste from a strictly gaming standpoint.

Reply to roofus
HundredIslandsBoy   07-28-2009 at 09:54:24 PM
- -1 +

santi28 wrote :

Thanks your advices everyone.

I'll hold off on the i7 920 then, for now.
another quick noob question.

Would I see any noticeable improvements if I upgraded to a GTX 295 instead (from 280) on my current configuration? or would I see about same result due to CPU limitations...

Thanks again.

-Santi



What size is your monitor?

Reply to HundredIslandsBoy
neon neophyte   07-28-2009 at 10:12:29 PM
- -1 +

"what size is your monitor?" <----- bad question with no relevance.

"what resolution is your monitor?" <-------- relevant.


Message edited by neon neophyte on 07-28-2009 at 10:14:13 PM
Reply to neon neophyte
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