[Help] i7 960 or i7 2600k for gaming purposes?

[ad88]

I've done some research on Intel's Sandy Bridge CPU, but it is unclear whether their socket 1366 or 1155 CPU's are better for gaming. I understand that they integrated a GPU into the CPU but what does this mean? In theory the integrated GPU cannot match today's high end Nvidia and ATI products so what good would it serve in the world of gaming? My question really is whether Intel's new Sandy Bridge CPU's is truly the way to go for gaming over their first generation of i7's? I am waiting on my shipment coming from Newegg, but before I put my rig together I want to know if it's better to return my hardware and build a rig with the i7 2600k seeing the price matches the i7 960?

 

[oopie45]

I'm not sure if you're looking to save a few dollars in the exchange, but the i5 2500k isn't a bad chip for gaming, and that at a much lower price point.

I used an i7 965 Extreme instead of a 960 (anandtech.com doesn't have the numbers for the 960). It looks like Sandy Bridge is better for gaming, but it may take someone else to respond to speak to the validity of using the 965 in the comparison:

http://bit.ly/fVYzVX

And here's a performance comparison of the i5 2500k and the i7 2600k... For $100 you get a chip that is just as capable in regards to gaming. The OC on the 2500k is nice too.

http://bit.ly/ezRdWP

 

[ad88]

I have seen people's posts about the 2500k, it does seem to rank itself among the top CPU's for gaming. At least for current games, but say we speak of a game such as Crysis 2?

 

[ad88]

When looking at the chart in the link following

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-overclocking-processor-recommendation,2866-5.html

The 2500k/2600k and i7 960 are all in the same category alongside the i7 990 extreme. I really don't know what to make of all of this...

 

[omnisome]

i5-2500K, best gaming CPU on the market. I dare anyone to disagree.

 

[ad88]

So hands down 2500k be the best gaming CPU choice? Interesting...

 

[omnisome]

Simple so. Yes!

 

[HansVonOhain]

Yes 2500k is one of the best because it has all of the cores that are needed for gaming. It is great priced for the performance that you get. AND it overclocks great!

 

[omnisome]

-Can be overclocked very easily to 4400MHz on the retailed cooler and voltage.
-Four cores, perfect for gaming.
-L3 Cache with 6MB
-Sandy Bridge architecture

etc.

 

[ad88]

I dont understand why the 2600k wouldn't be better however???

 

[Vearo]

I dont understand why the 2600k wouldn't be better however???

While technically better, the 2600k does not net as much a gain for cost in gaming as much as getting a 2500k and investing the price difference in a stronger graphics card.

 

[omnisome]

It is better, but provides no valuable improvements over the 2500K solely for gaming.

 

[oopie45]

I dont understand why the 2600k wouldn't be better however???

http://bit.ly/ezRdWP

Scroll down and look at the gaming numbers...

 

[ad88]

So basically for a 100$ difference it's not worth getting the 2600k. Now motherboard and socket wise, I do read that the 1366 socket is a better one and that I'm not sure this has been confirmed but the i9's will run on the 1366 sockets. As a short term purchase the 2500k would be the better thing to purchase but am I wrong by saying a 1366 socket CPU will be better mid-long term range? Can anyone confirm that a 2500k is the better choice when speaking of a game like Crysis 2? I'm asking a lot of questions but I want to be sure that I will do the right thing if I decide to stick with the i7 960 or return my hardware for a 2500k/2600k.

 

[ferelden]

i think you will do better switching to the 1155 socket right now since the i5-2500k is arguably the best gaming cpu atm, and if we ever need more processing power, intel's next round of upgrades will be the "ivy bridge" which are supposed to run on 1155 as well as 20-30% performance increase over sandy bridge.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20110203150914_Intel_s_Next_Gen_Ivy_Bridge_tffer_20_30_Performance_Boost_Over_Sandy_Bridge_Report.html

so what i take from that is the 1366 socket will actually become obsolete and 1155 is future proof at least for now in regards to ivy bridge.