Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > Other Components > I7 920 or C2Q Q8400? Which ones better value???

I7 920 or C2Q Q8400? Which ones better value???

Forum Homebuilt Systems : Other Components - I7 920 or C2Q Q8400? Which ones better value???

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madass   05-28-2009 at 12:00:41 PM

Here are two rigs-
RIG 1
Core i7 920 2.66 GHz
GeForce GTS 250 512/Radeon HD 4850 1GB
3 GB RAM DDR3 1066
MSI X58 Pro SLi
~USD 800

RIG 2
Core 2 Quad
GeForce GTS 250 SLi(2 cards)/Radeon HD 4850X2/GTX 275
4 GB RAM DDR2 800
MSI P7N/P45 Neo 2
~USD 750

Which ones the better rig as far as gaming and future proofing is concerned? I'll be keeping the rig for the next 5-7 years, only doing minor upgrades like RAM or GPU. Is it worth compromising on the GPU for an i7? I intend to get a DX 11 card sometime in 2011 after bugs and performance issues are ironed out.

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Helloworld_98   05-28-2009 at 12:06:51 PM
- 0 +

definitely go for the i7, since you are upgrading the gfx card later.

however I doubt it will last 5 years, 5 years ago the Athlon 64's came out and they sure as hell don't survive in gaming at today's standards.

Reply to Helloworld_98
madass   05-28-2009 at 12:21:29 PM
- 0 +

Games today dont even use the 2nd, 3rd or the 4th core, not even multi threading support-the difference between the i7 and the Q9450 is 2 fps at best. Also, the i7 can do a total of 8 threads versus the C2Q's 4. When games do support multithreading in the next 3-4 years wont there be an appreciablr bump up in performance?

Reply to madass
madass   05-28-2009 at 12:22:40 PM
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Also I intend to play at 800*600 with 2x AA or 1024*768 without AA, so I dont need psycho fast bleeding edge tech.

Reply to madass
rags_20   05-28-2009 at 12:31:05 PM
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First thought that crossed my mind- NOOB. 800 x 600 with 2xAA and you're talking a Quad core and a 275? That really got me cracking. And games will support multithreading inthe next 3-4 yrs? They do so now. Burnout Paradise uses 3 cores, GTA IV does 4, Crysis does 2.

I'd say E6600, 4650, 2GB RAM.

------------------------------ Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4 | Thermalright Ultima 90 120mm fan | Intel DG31PR | 4 GB DDR2 @ 800MHz | HD 4850 512 GDDR3 | Corsair VX450 | Samsung 22x DVD RW | Windows Vista HP 32-bit/ Windows 7 64-bit dual boot | Samsung SyncMaster 19" LCD VGA 920NW |
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mlcloud   05-28-2009 at 12:34:04 PM
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Since the question here is futureproofing rather than merely playing certain resolutions, I'll tell you this now: no one will suggest the C2Q. It's a technology at the end of its game, you'd have to be a complete idiot to suggest it.

 

On the other hand, if you're only playing games at 800*600 or 1024*768, you don't even need the GTS 250. Hell, you'll probably run fine with a 9600 GT. Up to 1280 * 1024 is a joke for modern GPUs (edit: and CPUs. You don't even need the e6600. Go with the e5200 and just overclock the bloody daylights out of it.)

 

If you sit tight though, there should be a few more interesting processors coming out in 2010.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by mlcloud on 05-28-2009 at 12:35:37 PM
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Helloworld_98   05-28-2009 at 12:35:50 PM
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and FSX supports 32 threads.

 

while quite a few games will support 4 by the end of the year, maybe 8 threads 18 months after.

 

and even the GTS 250 will run most games at max at 1440x900, the 275 will run most games at max at 1680x1050.

 

edit: @mlcloud, yup, who won't enjoy having one of AMD's 12 core processors.


Message edited by Helloworld_98 on 05-28-2009 at 12:36:59 PM
Reply to Helloworld_98
madass   05-28-2009 at 12:42:12 PM
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1) The 8600GT was a pretty good budget card 2 years ago....now it can barely run current games at 800*600. The card need to be able to max out everything for the next 2-3 years or so. Hence the extra power.
2)And as for mmulti threading-
http://www.overclockersclub.com/re [...] _i7/18.htm

Read the second paragraph. Also look at benchmarks of games between 2 cores and 4. The difference is 1-2 fps at best.
3) Where I come from, the Q6600 is rougly Rs 18000(~USD 350). The i7 is Rs 14000(~USD 290)

Reply to madass
madass   05-28-2009 at 12:45:02 PM
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And BTW I might buy a 22 inch next July ( if dads satisfied with my marks). And the systemneeds to last at least 5 years orso. Hence the overkill.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by madass on 05-28-2009 at 12:47:15 PM
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Bronze Home Brew badge Outlander_04   05-28-2009 at 12:52:52 PM
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madass wrote :

And BTW I might buy a 22 inch next July ( if dads satisfied with my marks). And the systemneeds to last at least 5 years orso. Hence the overkill.




He wont be happy with your marks for spelling .

Have a look at an AMD phenom X4 or X3 build . These will out perform the ci7 and the intel quad you mention
http://www.overclockersclub.com/re [...] _955/8.htm

phenom x3 720 + 790 series mb
4 gig of 1066 mHz ram

and since you are running such low resolutions for now all you will need is an ATI 4770 gfx card for around $100.
Later you can add a second in crossfire

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to Outlander_04
Helloworld_98   05-28-2009 at 12:53:06 PM
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the reason why there's a difference in those games is because there is less stress on the two Cores which the game is using as it is only a dual threaded game.

now go look at benches comparing an E8400 or above and a Q8200 at FSX and GTAIV.

you'll get my point about why it's better to get an i7.

Reply to Helloworld_98
madass   05-28-2009 at 12:53:49 PM
- 0 +

mlcloud wrote :

Since the question here is futureproofing rather than merely playing certain resolutions, I'll tell you this now: no one will suggest the C2Q. It's a technology at the end of its game, you'd have to be a complete idiot to suggest it.

On the other hand, if you're only playing games at 800*600 or 1024*768, you don't even need the GTS 250. Hell, you'll probably run fine with a 9600 GT. Up to 1280 * 1024 is a joke for modern GPUs (edit: and CPUs. You don't even need the e6600. Go with the e5200 and just overclock the bloody daylights out of it.)

If you sit tight though, there should be a few more interesting processors coming out in 2010.


Wont overclocking on a regular basis damage the processor? I'in 11th grade-I wont buy another processor till I finish college.

Reply to madass
Helloworld_98   05-28-2009 at 01:02:01 PM
- 0 +

no it won't, providing the voltage and heat output is low enough, but most of the D0 i7's can reach 3.9ghz on stock voltage providing you have a good cooler anyway.

Reply to Helloworld_98
madass   05-28-2009 at 01:02:16 PM
- 0 +

Outlander_04 wrote :

He wont be happy with your marks for spelling .

Have a look at an AMD phenom X4 or X3 build . These will out perform the ci7 and the intel quad you mention
http://www.overclockersclub.com/re [...] _955/8.htm

phenom x3 720 + 790 series mb
4 gig of 1066 mHz ram

and since you are running such low resolutions for now all you will need is an ATI 4770 gfx card for around $100.
Later you can add a second in crossfire


Ever heard of a typo error?
AMD's arn't exactly easy to come by- most people here buy branded Intel systems with onboard graphics thinking they can max out Crysis at 2560(Shakes head in disbelief)

Reply to madass
madass   05-28-2009 at 01:03:10 PM
- 0 +

Thanks. Going for i7 then.

Reply to madass
Helloworld_98   05-28-2009 at 01:09:07 PM
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actually wait a sec, since you're going to using it through college won't you need a Small Form Factor build so it's easier to carry around?

You might want to spend the extra money then by going for an i7 build based around the 920 and an MSI X58M with a well cooled M-ATX case while going for a 4870.

Reply to Helloworld_98
mlcloud   05-29-2009 at 02:24:02 AM
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I'm planning on taking my full tower desktop to college =(...

Reply to mlcloud
madass   05-29-2009 at 05:00:07 PM
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I dont mind the extra size. Dont like m-ATX-had some bad experiences with them. Call it stubbornness but id prefer to avoid it.

Reply to madass
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