time for an upgrade

[jamie]

Been a while.....enjoying the Goodlife.:qqq:
Keeping everything in my sig except the CPU/Motherboard and ram..
I will have around $1500 but I need new Keyboard/wireless mouse and Speakers and Windows 7 and 24" monitor..in that $1500
The rest can go to board cpu and ram..
I'm thinking around $800
What can I get for around that price and what would you guys go for now a days..:)
Is it worth going to the i5 2.66 or the i7 2.80ghz socket 1156 from what I have now?

[AMD]

Seems like a great system as is. :p

How does the i7 compare with the older quad core chips?

[networkguy]

I upgraded from a C2D to an i7 setup and WOW what an upgrade it was. If you are into overclocking, get the i7 920 D0 stepping CPU, a good board, say maybe something like the EVGA classified is a good board, there are many others, do your research, get good DDR 3 RAM from maybe Corsair, again do your research. You'll have to get a new CPU cooler as well, again more research. I wouldn't bother with the i5 if you are after performance, they are not as fast and powerful as their i7 brothers.

NG

[compygeek]

Everything that networkguy said, plus the fact that the socket 1156 for i5's future is not set... they're only supporting quadcore right now, whereas i7 boards (the newer ones that is) should support the new hexcore cpu's coming in Q12010, which is when I will be retiring my current desktop and building a new one.

[jamie]

Thanks guys...
Well this is what I just purchased so far..
i7 920 not sure what stepping it is or where to look on the box, I think it's SLBEJ if that makes sense..
Patriot Viper series DDR3 1333mhz 6Gig kit
Asus P6T Deluxe V2 motherboard
H50 water cooling kit from Corsair
I haven't opened them yet so if you guys can think of anything before opening let me know..:)

[networkguy]

Yeah SLBEJ is what my box has too, so you should be good for a D0 stepping. Have you done much research on the Asus boad, from what I have read there are other boards from Gigabyte and EVGA that will overclock more easily and with better results then the Asus, but if your an Asus guy then get it. Patriot RAM is good, its what I have in my system.

[jamie]

Well to be honest I did not research mobo's at all..:hmy:
I've always had good luck with Asus although I would like to try another brand I looked at Gigabyte and Evga and those boards were almost $100 more and I reached my absolute max budget, welll $40 over..:)
I read the reviews on the Ram and it's all good with it..all Pro's and no Con's..

So you are saying I should see a nice increase over my Q9450 DDR2 setup?



Yeah SLBEJ is what my box has too, so you should be good for a D0 stepping. Have you done much research on the Asus boad, from what I have read there are other boards from Gigabyte and EVGA that will overclock more easily and with better results then the Asus, but if your an Asus guy then get it. Patriot RAM is good, its what I have in my system.

[networkguy]

Oh yes, you'll see a dramatic increase over your existing quad core. Yes the boards are a little more expensive, but it's a pretty heft investment and if you are looking to overclock (the boards don't really matter from one to the next, its all about the CPU) find a board that has the features you want and go with it.

[jamie]

Awesome....I'll try and post some benchies by the weekend if I get it built in time..:)
Thanks



Oh yes, you'll see a dramatic increase over your existing quad core. Yes the boards are a little more expensive, but it's a pretty heft investment and if you are looking to overclock (the boards don't really matter from one to the next, its all about the CPU) find a board that has the features you want and go with it.

[jamie]

Well rig is built now:)
Been a while since I benchmarked anything..lol
Are there any new benching programs out there other than Prime95 and 3DMark Vantage and 06?
Temps seem to be in check with my new cooling system..:)
Replaced stock cooling on my 4850 Vcard with Artic Cooling Accelero Pro L2 dropped temps in half only have onecard now sold one to upgrade system to i7 920..specs

[jamie]

A few more pics for Compygeek..request
Some crossfire action..
default settings no oc in 3DMark06 score of 14706
Not sure if that's good or not been a while since I benched anything..lol

[compygeek]

Oh my gawd. The cpu cooler looks so cool!!!!! I love that it is smaller than my Freezone Elite cooler. *Drools* Awesome Pics!!!!

[DazedNConfuzed]

just curious, what did you do with your old cpu/ram/motherboard?

that setup is pretty killer. looking at building an i7 system soon.

[jamie]

Thanks..

I sold it to allow for this upgrade..and added some dollars of my own..:)


just curious, what did you do with your old cpu/ram/motherboard?

that setup is pretty killer. looking at building an i7 system soon.