I7 and 1090t questions

[Joslock]

Hello everyone!
For my first post, and since I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to PC hardware I have a question
I'm gathering info for my new homebuilt rig (which I'll be buying in december) and I was wondering: why the i7 950 (quadcore) and the 1090t (sixcore) have so silmilar benchmarks?

I'm having a hard time deciding wich one will perform best and which one will last me longer (socket life span and all that)
6 cores sounds so good in theory but why this results in the benchmarks?

 

[Emperus]

It may be because the app(s) used for benchmarking could not make full use of the extra two cores available on the 1090T.. Meanwhile, i7 950 can process on 8 threads (4 physical core threads and 4 virtual core threads) when hyper threading is turned ON.. Further, its based on a more complex and efficient architecture compared to the Phenom which results in better and faster performance across the board.. If your query is processed from a buyers perspective then i guess it'll be the i7 950 which will be recommended by majority (if you can afford ofcourse).. The simple reason being that the platform is just more versatile (support for both SLI and Crossfire, a higher maximum RAM count) and fast compared to its AMD counterparts..

 

[unknown_13]

In gaming, the i7 wins 'cause of the better architechture, and most games don't use more than 3 or 4 cores.

In apps, the 1090T will come in front of the i7 950 only in apps that use more than 4 cores, or when running many, many programs at the same time.

I'd say wait for Sandy Bridge. Though if you're in a hurry, get the i7 950 if you're gaming most of the time, the 1090T if you're running alot of apps at the same time (if you're a heavy multitasker).

 

[Joslock]

Should I really wait for sandy bridge? I'm concerned about the price and the release date.
I'm on a budget (1000 €) and my current PC is a pentium 4 (3.2 Ghz) with an AGP graphics card. It sucks and I can't even play most of the new games (no Crysis/Metro 2033/Stalker/Mafia II/etc for me )

 

[unknown_13]

Should I really wait for sandy bridge? I'm concerned about the price and the release date.
I'm on a budget (1000 €) and my current PC is a pentium 4 (3.2 Ghz) with an AGP graphics card. It sucks and I can't even play most of the new games (no Crysis/Metro 2033/Stalker/Mafia II/etc for me )

Well it seems that you mostly play games. Get the i7 950.

 

[Joslock]

Yes, games are my main focus but I also do: recording with FRAPS, video editing, video rendering, 3d aplications (3DS Max, Maya) and of course watch movies/listen to music.

 

[unknown_13]

Yes, games are my main focus but I also do: recording with FRAPS, video editing, video rendering, 3d aplications (3DS Max, Maya) and of course watch movies/listen to music.

Hmmm.... if you also do those things then maybe you're better off with the X6 1090T.

 

[Joslock]

The 1090t is tempting since the price of mobo+cpu is cheaper and I can invest that money in the case, power supply, etc.
I won't buy untill decemeber, so should I expect any price drop in the CPUs/graphic cards??

 

[unknown_13]

The 1090t is tempting since the price of mobo+cpu is cheaper and I can invest that money in the case, power supply, etc.
I won't buy untill decemeber, so should I expect any price drop in the CPUs/graphic cards??

Prices on the 5xxx and GTX4xx series will slam 'cause of the 6xxx series that are coming out soon. Also there may be more price drops on AMD and Intel CPU's.

 

[Joslock]

Prices on the 5xxx and GTX4xx series will slam 'cause of the 6xxx series that are coming out soon. Also there may be more price drops on AMD and Intel CPU's.

That would be awesome.

Also, what is better?:
- more cores, normal Ghz
- less cores, extra Ghz

 

[Emperus]

That would be awesome.

Also, what is better?:
- more cores, normal Ghz
- less cores, extra Ghz

The X6 1090T is both more cores and more GHz.. However the very analogy that more cores and/or more GHz relates to better performance is somewhat sketchy.. The very architecture the processors are based on plays an important role..

 

[23mike]

The 1090T wins when the app can actually use 6 cores, there's only 2-3 benchmarks I've seen where this takes place.

Neither will have a life span because both sockets are being replaced early 2011.

I thought the AM3 socket was going to be around for a while?

 

[xaero1ne]

might i suggest the 1055t, much cheaper and can overclock very easily beyond 1090t specs.

 

[popatim]

You're already waiting until december, might as well wait a little more for Sandy Bridge IMO.

 

[Joslock]

Since my pc is old, I've trained myself not to multitask :lol:

One thing that must be said is that I will spend 80% of the time either playing games (and recording with FRAPS) or rendering the raw footage into .mp4.
I do 3d modeling and video editing as an sporadic/rare thing and since my pc is crappy, anything will be an improvement.

 

[unknown_13]

You're already waiting until december, might as well wait a little more for Sandy Bridge IMO.

+1

 

[Joslock]

You're already waiting until december, might as well wait a little more for Sandy Bridge IMO.

The thing is that when Sandy Bridge comes out it will be expensive and I'll have to wait until it gets cheaper which I don't know when will happen.
When is Sandy being released??

 

[unknown_13]

The thing is that when Sandy Bridge comes out it will be expensive and I'll have to wait until it gets cheaper which I don't know when will happen.
When is Sandy being released??

Core i7 and PII X4/X6 prices will drop quickly after Sandy Bridge release. So, were saying just wait 'till 2011 and get a inexpensive i7 9xx CPU or a PII X6, not the brand new (and expensive) Sandy Bridge.

 

[Joslock]

oh, I see! I didn't think about that I've been waiting soo long for a new PC that now I'm impatient I suppose I'll have to wait

Any other advantage/disadvantage for the i7 or the 1090t? Can I use bulldozer on an AM3 socket?

P.S.: thanks everyone for all your input. Belive me, your help is most appreciated!

 

[unknown_13]

oh, I see! I didn't think about that I've been waiting soo long for a new PC that now I'm impatient I suppose I'll have to wait

Any other advantage/disadvantage for the i7 or the 1090t? Can I use bulldozer on an AM3 socket?

P.S.: thanks everyone for all your input. Belive me, your help is most appreciated!

Well as said above (not just by me, but from other members also) the i7 950 will be better for gaming 'cause of the better architecture, but if you run alot of apps along with your games then the 1090T (or the 1055T as someone suggested) will be the better choice.

About that Bulldozer question, i think there will be a separate AM3+ socket, 'cause of the onboard GPU (though the onboard GPU will be integrated only in mainstream and low end bulldozers, but there are also some other reasons).