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Fastest CPU - High End Media/Gaming

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CaptainMorgan   08-09-2009 at 10:27:59 PM

My motherboard died after 3+ years of use, at the time I wasn't into media encoding and gaming, but now I am - Heavily.

I'm thinking I need Quad Core architecture but I'm unsure. I'm also thinking I need Extreme Edition (since I'm an Intel fanboy).

GPU card can be upgraded since I'm looking at a completely revamp, but that's for later. Right now I desperately need advice on mobo and cpu. So specifically, being a Gigabyte fan, what mobo supports your suggestion for a Quad Core CPU?

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Helloworld_98   08-09-2009 at 10:45:07 PM
- 2 +

get an i7 920, an Asus P6T(or SE if you don't plan on going SLI, or a Gigabyte UD4P if you really want the gigabyte mobo) and 6GB of ram.

and a Prolimatech Megahalem with two high CFM fans and an extra bracket couldn't hurt either, and that should get you to 4.6GHz with that 920.

Reply to Helloworld_98
LePhuronn   08-09-2009 at 11:00:46 PM
- 2 +

I agree with helloworld_98. Go i7 but don't bother with the Extreme Edition - a 920 D0 stepping will clock up to 4GHz with a good cooler and you can also take the QPI up to match the EEs as well.

If you're doing media-heavy stuff then go NVIDIA for the GPU as a lot of media tools are CUDA-enabled.

I'm using an Asus P6T Deluxe v2 mobo but the Gigabyte UD5 is nice too - both have 2 true PCI-Ex16 slots so you can get 2-way SLI running at full whack. Plus going with socket 1366 gives you a good upgrade path next year with the 6-core i9s.

Also memory timings have shown to be more advantageous for media than faster RAM so grab 12GB of 1600MHz RAM at CAS7 and you should be flying.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to LePhuronn
nun   08-09-2009 at 11:19:26 PM
- 0 +

i agree... get the i7 920 the Extreme edition isnt worth it

Reply to nun
PsychoSaysDie   08-09-2009 at 11:23:55 PM
- 0 +

As a former owner of a 975. 4.8Ghz+ is nice but my 700 dollar cheaper 920 can do 4.2 which is MORE then enough. Atleast till Gulftown :)

------------------------------ E8600 @ 5Ghz 1.475v
8GB DDR3 2000
Intel X25-M
XFX 5770 In X-Fire
 Reply to PsychoSaysDie
CaptainMorgan   08-10-2009 at 12:31:46 AM
- 0 +

Everyone that replied - Thank you for your advice and input.

LePhuronn wrote :

I agree with helloworld_98. Go i7 but don't bother with the Extreme Edition - a 920 D0 stepping will clock up to 4GHz with a good cooler and you can also take the QPI up to match the EEs as well.

If you're doing media-heavy stuff then go NVIDIA for the GPU as a lot of media tools are CUDA-enabled.

I'm using an Asus P6T Deluxe v2 mobo but the Gigabyte UD5 is nice too - both have 2 true PCI-Ex16 slots so you can get 2-way SLI running at full whack. Plus going with socket 1366 gives you a good upgrade path next year with the 6-core i9s.

Also memory timings have shown to be more advantageous for media than faster RAM so grab 12GB of 1600MHz RAM at CAS7 and you should be flying.



So based on the consensus combined with my independent research, here's what I'm going with at this point:

  • i7 920
  • EX58-UD5


LePhuronn, or anyone that wishes to add anything, the particular board I'm going with specifies:

  • Support for DDR3 tri-channel 2100+/1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules

taken from:
Specs

But would a 1600MHz set of sticks be compatible? I always thought not -- if the specs don't match it, I don't acquire it... even though numerically I'd assume it does since it covers the range 1333 to 2100+.

Much appreciated.

Reply to CaptainMorgan
daft   08-10-2009 at 04:45:59 AM
- 1 +

anything above 1333 is ussually supported with an overclock, which you said you will be doing, so if you do get a set of 1600 ram, then it will more than likely clock itself to 1333 at first, but you can either use an XMP value, or do the clocking yourself through the bios

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to daft
CaptainMorgan   08-10-2009 at 05:17:51 AM
- 0 +

daft wrote :

anything above 1333 is ussually supported with an overclock, which you said you will be doing, so if you do get a set of 1600 ram, then it will more than likely clock itself to 1333 at first, but you can either use an XMP value, or do the clocking yourself through the bios



Awesome! Thank you all.

Reply to CaptainMorgan
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