I3, i5, i7 Holy Hell Batman HELP!

Hmm, what's you budget. Any of the above could be excellent gamers depending on the budget, though in the mid/low area AMD is also an option.

Let's just assume I want the best bang for my buck and the ability to stretch my dollar beyond the yen. Which processor has the best probability to outlast the others, so that when I do need to upgrade again I'm not having to replace everything in my box. Currently I have P4 with an AGP card talk about feeling hosed!! Suggestions?

You already answered your own question. Obviously the i7 is gonna outlast the rest.

Supposedly, Intel is going to stick with the 1366 socket. The i7 920 is a very good all around CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Keep in mind, the 1366 socket motherboard uses triple channel memory.

intel sticking with a socket???

That's the word going around.

OK based on these opinions, here are the two builds I'm contemplating. Both systems can be built for about $1200.00.

CPU: i7-920 2.66 GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366
HDD: 64 GB Solid State Disk
MoBo: Asus P6T SE Intel X58
RAM: 6GB DDR3/1600MHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX275 1792MB 16X

OR

CPU: i5-750 2.66 GHz 8M L2 Cache LGA1156
HDD: 32 GB 2.5 inch SATA Gaming MLC Solid State Disk
MoBo: GigaByte GA-H55M-S2H Intel H55
RAM: 4GB DDR3/1600MHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 1.7GB 16X

Six in one half a dozen in the other? Opinions?

How about?

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P
Intel Core i5-750
Intel X25-M G2 80GB
4GB RAM
HD5850

That would probably be a nice rig however, a couple of things that I didn't mention before as they seemed irrelevant at the time. I'm having to build the entire system ground up - excluding mouse/KB/Monitor/7200 rpm HDD. Ati and I have reached a mutual understanding ... I don't use them and they don't randomly crash my system   (no offense to the ati fans out there, I just have better luck with nVidia gpu's). Thanks for the suggestion though.

GTX295 and GTX275 are very bad in cost-performance ratio IMO.

Is there any chance for me to convince you?

If not.... Wait for Fermi if you are willing to pay for the price of a GTX295.

BTW, it is the first time I heard someone call me ATI fanboy!  

^+1

If you're willing to spend that much on a GPU, Fermi might be the perfect match.

Nope you did that through your own admission   lol

The willingness to pay for that GPU was in hopes of having a vid card that would not have to be updated in the next year or two. I looked hard at the 250 - 260 (216) just wasn't convinced it would last even in sli. Fermi looks promising (honestly had to look it up to see what the heck you were talking about - my ignorance) however not sure I want to wait (I was going to order Monday).

I can always scale down the GPU and add more RAM (or a bigger SDD  ).

Ati - well.....the AGP's were simply horrid with any of my systems or at least with the games I frequently play - Battlefield Series, COD Series, and a few flight sims. Convince me that the ati pci-e cards don't have these issues and i may be willing to try them again.

The reviews of the 58xx series ATI cards have been good. There was an issue with grey screening on the 58xx and 57xx series cards. A fix has been issued for the 58xx series card.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/ATI-Grey-Screen-Lines-...

ATI has progressed nicely since the AGP days.  

Do you plan on using a secondary drive to go with the SSD?

Yes I was going to use my existing drive as storage and put the OS and most frequented games on the SDD.

As for ati I'm not sure that is convincing LOL

I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other. That's your decision to make. I think you should consider ATI, as they have better prices than NVIDIA.

If this helps, here's a hierarchy chart for the current video cards.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-graphic...

To concur with the above, it's ultimately your call on the GPU but SERIOUSLY consider the 5800 Radeons - ATI have come a very, very long way and they are top of the pile.

I honestly think Nvidia will have to pull out something special with Fermi (and the rumours aren't looking very promising - 8 and 6-pin power connectors? Custom cases just to keep them cool? Silicon not clocking up to where it's designed to be?) and even then ATI have a big lead.

I've never had the grey screen issue on any of the 5770s, 5850s and 5870s I've used/built but nonetheless they've been fixed for the 5800s so buying a card now makes it a non-issue.

If you want a card that will last you for at least a year or 2, you honestly can't go wrong with the 5850 then Crossfire the bugger later on when the prices crash.

Bear in mind you may slow the system down a bit if you recycle your old storage - 1TB SATA II drives (like the Samsung SpinPoint F3) are dirt cheap and very fast, and personally I don't see the point in adding time to the boot sequence to fire up a JMicron IDE controller just for an IDE optical drive when SATA ones are like £15.

OK....Careful or my ignorance might explode out of your fpd's and get all over the place.

Great chart very helpful - had to look at the reviews and benchmarks - Thanks for the eye opener  

My apologies to andy5174 and the suggested rig - no doubt you know your stuff.

Considering these rigs

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P
Intel Core i5-750
Intel X25-M G2 80GB
HD5850

or

CPU: i7-920 2.66 GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366
HDD: 64 GB Solid State Disk
MoBo: Asus P6T SE Intel X58
RAM: 6GB DDR3/1600MHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX275 1792MB 16X

OR

CPU: i5-750 2.66 GHz 8M L2 Cache LGA1156
HDD: 32 GB 2.5 inch SATA Gaming MLC Solid State Disk
MoBo: GigaByte GA-H55M-S2H Intel H55
RAM: 4GB DDR3/1600MHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 1.7GB 16X

Which build is going to last?




Wahchu tokkin bout willis? I'm guessing you dislike the SDD's however, not gonna pretend to be right.

absolute GAMING performance: 3rd(GTX295) > 1st(HD5850) > 2nd(GTX275)

Best bang for the buck: 1st

All of them will last longer than 2 years for sure!

For the 1st option, you can add in another HD5850 later after 5850's price coming down. This will makes your system better than the 3rd with significantly lower cost.

I think the assumption is being made that this is for gaming. The best choice depends on the intended uses of the PC.

What are you going to use it for, in order of priority?

GTX275 and GTX295 will disappear soon and therefore you won't be able to SLI them later. Thus, we all suggested you get HD5850 which is the best bang for the buck in DX11 gfx so far.

.

No assumptions this is a game rig.

Then, I'd agree with Andy.

Though, for less cost, you could swap out the gtx 295 for a 5870.

Agree.

However, I still recommend i5+HD5850 more than the rest 2 setups.

+1 i5-750 + 5850

The only reason to chose nvidia today is if your mobo is sli only. Ati is winning the price/performance crown hands down.

The main difference between i7 (1366) and i5 is tripple channel memory and htm which both make nearly no difference in games.

Nobody suggesting AMD setups?
It has best price / performance, depending CPU you chose. AMD motherboards are cheaper than Intel core i5-i7 motherboards.

If you choose AMD, you will be more futureproofed. Because thuban going to be on AM3 and bulldozer will be on AM3+ or AM4. But it will work on AM3 too.

Since we also consider to add in another HD5850 to make CF later and AMD is not good enough for 2 high end cards, we recommend Intel only.

You said



I said




I never said anything about SSDs or your OS drive.


As there's talk on here now about AMD systems, I'll just throw out there a Phenom II X4 955 on a nice Asus AM3 board, 4GB Patriot Sector 5 Viper II 1600MHz RAM. Won't work out much cheaper than an i5 750 system though.

Here's the verdict.


CPU: Intel Core i5-750
MoBo: Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P
HDD: 1TB SATA II 3.0GB
GPU: ATI HD5850
RAM: 8GB Corsair DDR3/1600MHz

Dumped the SSD and added 4GB RAM

You won't see the difference between 4GB and 8GB in gaming. In addition, the difference between the so expensive Corsair and other brands are minimal.

I suggest you get 4GB G.Skill eco 1.5V 1600 CL8/CL7 RAM and get some ice cream with the money saved.  

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

It is just my suggestion though and you are the one to choose whether to take it or not.

BTW, SSD will help loading/botting time but not gaming.

My take:

CPU: Intel Core i5-750
Mobo: Asus P7P55D
SSD: Patriot Torqx 64GB or Intel X25-M 80GB
Data: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB
GPU: ATI Radeon 5850
RAM: 4GB Patriot Sector 5 Viper II 1600MHz CAS7
PSU: Corsair HX650 (ready for Crossfire with another 5850)

and if you drop on a good socket 1156 cooler you can overclock that bitch to at least 3.4GHz for some serious gaming kick.

Here's the Cart GROUND UP even OS  

DVD Sony 24x (not a blue ray so who cares lol) $23.99
Case Thermaltake Element G $119.99
GPU Sapphire Toxic HD5850 $349.99
PSU Antec 650w $74.99
RAM G. Skill 4GB $119.99
MoBo GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P $184.99
CPU Intel Core i5-750 $194.99
OS Windows 7 64bit (Pray for stability) $104.99
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 $34.99
HDD Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB
another $10.00 for thermal paste

Total Cost of Build $1309.00 + Shipping ($40)

Totally spaced off the HDD

I'd suggest switching the cooler to:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

since it should be a better and quieter cooler.

Here's a review of it:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-r...

Don't like the sound of that cooler - 92mm fan sounds a bit puny for a Lynnfield CPU.

You can save a bit of cash getting the standard Sapphire 5850 and overclocking it through Catalyst.

Other than that it seems fine to me.

+1

@op: Or you can get a prolimatech Megashadow instead of ice cream with the money saved on RAM.  

note: Prolimatech Megashadow is just the BLACK version of Prolimatech Megahalems.

Yep, both are excellent (top) coolers, though obviously the PM is a little better. All depends on what you want to spend.

Ok all sounds good, kept the Toxic (price variation wasn't too bad $30-$40) I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks for all the advice!

Good luck!

You need to get a 120mm fan separately for the Megahalems/Mega Shadow which does push the price up - IF you're not interested in high-end overclocks it might be a bit overkill for the money.

Ahhhh changed to the Coolermaster

Good pick. It should be enough for any OC below 3.6GHz and I don't recommend you go above 3.6GHz.

Best answer selected by Slight_Disturbance.

Thanks for the help it was certainly spot on what I needed here is The Build Thanks again!