I7 920 or 950....

[Beitzel15]

Im building a new system and Im wondering about these two CPU's... The price difference is close to $300, My question is will I notice a difference from 2.66ghz to 3.06ghz?

It'll be used for gaming, and some of my work programs that slow my current work pc down, which has a 3.0 Pentium 4 cpu.....

I know most people go with the 2.66 but will there be a noticeable difference in performance?

Thanks

EDIT,

I will not be OC'ing.

 

[WR2]

It's for certain that you wouldn't get a $275~300 sized increase in performance. 15% higher CPU speed = 90% price increase.
If you're moving up from that Pentium 4 3Ghz CPU (which CPU?) even the Core i5 750 is going to be a very large, very nice upgrade.

For less than the price of the Core i7 920/X58 you could get the Core i7 860 and a P55 motherboard. The faster CPU and more aggressive Turbo Mode (auto-overclocking) would get you more performance, essentially for free.
Gaming performance i5 750 / i7 860 / i7 920
Overall productivity comparison

 

[Beitzel15]

It's for certain that you wouldn't get a $275~300 sized increase in performance. 15% higher CPU speed = 90% price increase.
If you're moving up from that Pentium 4 3Ghz CPU (which CPU?) even the Core i5 750 is going to be a very large, very nice upgrade.

For less than the price of the Core i7 920/X58 you could get the Core i7 860 and a P55 motherboard. The faster CPU and more aggressive Turbo Mode (auto-overclocking) would get you more performance, essentially for free.
Gaming performance i5 750 / i7 860 / i7 920
Overall productivity comparison

Why is the 860 faster, and the same price?

Also, am I going with an older product when it comes to going from the X58 to the P55?

Im building this computer for my dad and he's wanting to future proof it, in a way... so I guess that's why he want's the fast core i7 so it'll be good for a few years. But im building it as a surprise, so Im trying to stay close to what he said he wanted, but I thought if the 2.66 would be just as fast as the 3.06.. then why not do the 2.66 and save $275.

I have a build with the 950, and for everything, it's right under $1600.

Explain more about the P55, if it's not an older technology, I'd be glad to do it, but I did notice that on the P55 mobo's, there's not 3 slots for ram.. only 2.. so That does away with getting 6 gigs

 

[WR2]

The X58 based system is for the 'enthusiast' while the P55 based system is 'main stream'.

The P55 motherboards and i5 750 / i7 860 are actually 'newer', more recently released items than i7 920 and X58 motherboards.

On a P55 MB and it's Dual Channel RAM you'd go with 4GB and 2 sticks of RAM, 6GB of RAM with 4 sticks of RAM or 8GB of RAM with 4 sticks.
With X58 and its Triple Channel RAM you'd go with 3 sticks for 3GB, 3 sticks for 6GB or 6 sticks of RAM for 9GB (using a 3x2GB and 3x1GB) or 12GB (using a 6x2GB)

The issue of the 2.66Ghz vs 3.06Ghz and $275 falls into that "it's certainly fast enough' category I think. After all, you're not talking about getting the even faster i7 975 Extreme 3.2Ghz for $975.

 

[WR2]

Check this article and it's first chart: Maximum Single Core Turbo Frequency and it's explanation of Turbo Mode (auto-overclocking)
860 is 3.46GHz and 920 is 2.93GHz. And Win7 is 'smart enough' to use Turbo Mode to it's best advantage.
The 860 has the advantage of being more recently engineered to use Turbo Mode more aggressively.

 

[overshocks]

"On a P55 MB and it's Dual Channel RAM you'd go with 4GB and 2 sticks of RAM, 6GB of RAM with 4 sticks of RAM or 8GB of RAM with 4 sticks.
With X58 and its Triple Channel RAM you'd go with 3 sticks for 3GB, 3 sticks for 6GB or 6 sticks of RAM for 9GB (using a 3x2GB and 3x1GB) or 12GB (using a 6x2GB) "

you made a mistake here.."6GB of RAM with 4 sticks of RAM"

funny here no one uses this kind of set up..."or 6 sticks of RAM for 9GB (using a 3x2GB and 3x1GB)"

that's a stupid setup 9gb 3x2 and 3x1..the config will bad..and maybe even lose performance..


to OP, post in this format..it gives us a better idea of what you want..
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice

what does your dad do with this "new" computer, gaming..designing..etc..remember edit your post to that format.

 

[WR2]

you made a mistake here.."6GB of RAM with 4 sticks of RAM".

6GB RAM, 4 sticks for P55 MB

Any reason why 3x2GB + 3x1GB would be any worse than 6x2GB? Whats your basis for saying it will be 'bad' or 'maybe even lose performance'?

 

[overshocks]

6GB RAM, 4 sticks for P55 MB

Any reason why 3x2GB + 3x1GB would be any worse than 6x2GB? Whats your basis for saying it will be 'bad' or 'maybe even lose performance'?

that will be a bad config..like i said before..the mobo runs 3x2 then suddenly on the third channel it runs 1x3gb. unbalanced. read some articles/reviews. no standard config will be 9gb..like i said it might even lose performance ..in the end its either 3gb or 6gb or 12gb for the X58 or 24gb with 4gb sticks

and here"you made a mistake here.."6GB of RAM with 4 sticks of RAM"
its the same case here.. its either 4gb or 8gb for the p55 mobo. using 2x2gb then 1x2gb? thats just too funny. bad config again.

 

[WR2]

Got review to back up that claim?

 

[overshocks]

Got review to back up that claim?

google is your friend. ask anyone else here that's an expert.
you ever see a review using 9gb on x58 ? or 6gb on p55? ur suggestions are unique

unbalanced is the key word here.

 

[WR2]

So you don't have any reviews to back your position?
If it was as bad a practice as you suggest you'd never expect to see it as an option on a warrantied main stream computer.

 

[Beitzel15]

So with the P55, I'll have to go with 4 gigs, or 8gigs of ram... no 6?... I guess that could be done with the money I'd save from going from X58 to P55....

My dad games, not heavy load games, but he does play and he does a lot of work, config. blueprints.. etc, He's a building material salesman.

And as far as the "turbo" and Win.7 goes.... Let me get this straight... when he installs window's 7, It will take that 2.8ghz cpu and OC it as needed, then go back to 2.8?
Example: He's starts up a game, or a program for work, will win.7 up his cpu speed?

 

[WR2]

Example: He's starts up a game, or a program for work, will win.7 up his cpu speed?

If that game is single threaded (many are) and there isnt anything else happening in the background (anti-virus scan for example). Win7 will understand it can use 1 core of the CPU and bump up it's speed (turbo) as it starts to work the program. If 2 cores are in use the turbo mode limit will be lower, and so on till 4 cores are active and it runs at stock speeds to stay within the thermal design envelope.

You could run with 4, 6, or 8 GB of RAM but I'd recommend starting out with 4GB. You can always add RAM easily, later.

 

[overshocks]

If that game is single threaded (many are) and there isnt anything else happening in the background (anti-virus scan for example). Win7 will understand it can use 1 core of the CPU and bump up it's speed (turbo) as it starts to work the program. If 2 cores are in use the turbo mode limit will be lower, and so on till 4 cores are active and it runs at stock speeds to stay within the thermal design envelope.

You could run with 4, 6, or 8 GB of RAM but I'd recommend starting out with 4GB. You can always add RAM easily, later.

you are right with the first paragraph, but it's a BAD practice or CONFIG for 6GB on p55..like i said UNBALANCED...and you said i cant back up? go google. review some hexus and anandtech reviews. they suggest either 3gb or 6gb or 12gb for x58. 4gb or 8gb for p55.

 

[WR2]

google is your friend. ask anyone else here that's an expert.
you ever see a review using 9gb on x58 ? or 6gb on p55? ur suggestions are unique

unbalanced is the key word here.

It seems 9GB on X58 doesn't hold back overclocking the i7 920. Thats usually where I'd expect to see problems if the RAM is un-balanced as you claim.

From the HardOCP forums - a member there running i7 920 @ 3.75ghz - Gigabyte x58-UD4P - 9gb RAM- GTX 285

 

[overshocks]

So you don't have any reviews to back your position?
If it was as bad a practice as you suggest you'd never expect to see it as an option on a warrantied main stream computer.
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9849/ss008i.jpg

haha good job you found a noobie website that sells computers with 9gb..obviously this website just wants to get more money from novice users

 

[overshocks]

It seems 9GB on X58 doesn't hold back overclocking the i7 920. Thats usually where I'd expect to see problems if the RAM is un-balanced as you claim.

From the HardOCP forums - a member there running i7 920 @ 3.75ghz - Gigabyte x58-UD4P - 9gb RAM- GTX 285
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9656/ss009.jpg

good job here too. someone oc'd 3.75 with 9gb, logically why using 9gb to make system unbalanced? could get 12gb for a little more. go check hexus or anandtech reviews or any other good review sites/articles

 

[WR2]

If Dell and HP are selling X58 systems with 9GB (HP offers free 9GB upgrade at the moment) it can't possibly be the problem you say it is....can it?

 

[overshocks]

If Dell and HP are selling X58 systems with 9GB (HP offers free 9GB upgrade at the moment) it can't possibly be the problem you say it is....can it?
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7254/ss010e.jpg

i love the fact you go into websites to show pcs sellin 9gb ..

it just proves that companies sell 9gb, but it doesnt prove 9gb is a good config. its just the company earns more money when people buy 9gb. 3x2gb + 3x1gb i mean come on honestly you think that's logically correct? also find me any reviews/articles that use 9gb for testing. because that's just ridiculous

why don't you link me to the website instead of imageshack?
why it say 9gb for 5 dimms?

 

[WR2]

You think Dell and HP would risk their reputation putting selling bad systems? I don't think so.

How about give us some references to show Dell and HP don't know what they're doing?

 

[Beitzel15]

You think Dell and HP would risk their reputation putting selling bad systems? I don't think so.

How about give us some references to show Dell and HP don't know what they're doing?

Im going to use 8gigs if I go with the P55. Doing a P55 build came out about $400 cheaper...... Im just not sure how the 2.8ghz i7 will hold perform...

Compare the 2.8 i7 to a 3.0ghz Q9650 quad core.....

Will the i7 be faster?

 

[overshocks]

Im going to use 8gigs if I go with the P55. Doing a P55 build came out about $400 cheaper...... Im just not sure how the 2.8ghz i7 will hold perform...

Compare the 2.8 i7 to a 3.0ghz Q9650 quad core.....

Will the i7 be faster?

2.8 i7..you mean i7 860???

 

[overshocks]

You think Dell and HP would risk their reputation putting selling bad systems? I don't think so.

How about give us some references to show Dell and HP don't know what they're doing?

i never said bad system..its just that it's not smart to use 9gb.
dell and hp reputation sucks anyways (dell for its cheap air dissipation(explode dell laptop) , its for people who can't a computer on their own, but the trend is changing more DIY

edit: i'd love to keep arguing with you, but you honestly think 9gb is good?

 

[WR2]

Im going to use 8gigs if I go with the P55. Doing a P55 build came out about $400 cheaper...... Im just not sure how the 2.8ghz i7 will hold perform...

Compare the 2.8 i7 to a 3.0ghz Q9650 quad core..... Will the i7 be faster?

It's a mixed bag. Probably most of the time the i7 860 will be faster and in the future with new programs it's like to be even more effective.

The Q9650 quad core vs i7 860 comparison can be seen in the two benchmarks I linked in my first and third posts.

 

[overshocks]

theres no point gettin i7 860 if you think about it, it's around the price of i7 920. only that ram and mobo will cost a little more. and i7 920 is more future proof. in the end i5 750 will fit your needs. best bang for the buck

to WR2, why you think 9gb isn't used for testing? umm...because it's stupid. 3x2 + 3x1. either get 3 , 6 , or 12 for x58

now OP said he's going for 8gig for p55 so no point arguing getting 6gb here.