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Thread: Help me decide on upgrade / new build

  1. #1
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    • Daneel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Z87-Plus
      • CPU:
      • i7 4770k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB PC3-12800
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 850 EVO SSD, 21TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4GB
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define R4
      • Operating System:
      • WIndows 10 64-bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2415 24" 1920x1200
      • Internet:
      • 24/1.3Mb ADSL

    Help me decide on upgrade / new build

    Current box:

    Antec P180B
    Corsair 620W
    Asus P5B Deluxe (Intel P965)
    Intel E6600 @ 3.2GHz - 9 x 356Mhz (C2D, default clock 2.4GHz)
    4 x 1GB PC2-6400 RAM
    Nvidia 8800 GTS 640MB
    X-fi extreme music
    3 x Samsung 103UJ 1TB (media storage)
    1 x Samsung 320GB - boot HD
    Dell 2405 (24" 1920x1200)

    Common purchases:

    ATI HD 5850 (might wait for a vapor-x / similar quiet model and use my 8800 GTS in the meantime)
    1TB Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3 (500GB platter model) - more storage and new boot HD
    Intel X25-M G2 80GB optional as boot HD (included in prices below)


    Option 1 - £971

    Asus P6T Deluxe v2 / Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P
    i7 920 retail
    6GB (3x2GB) Corsair XMS3 DDR3, PC3-12800 CAS 9-9-9-24
    CPU cooler


    Option 2 - £963

    i7 860 retail (OC to 3.0Ghz, leaving turbo engaged so max of 3.72GHz, hopefully RAM will be ok with 7.3% OC)
    Asus P7P55D Deluxe
    2 x 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair XMS3, DDR3 PC3-10666 (1333) CAS 9-9-9-24
    CPU cooler


    Option 3 - £592

    Q9550 (OC to 3.4GHz, 8.5 x 400)


    I expect performance to be slightly better for the 920 vs. 860, but with 2GB less RAM and at a higher temp and power use. Both i7 builds will obviously beat the Q9550 to varying degrees depending on the application.

    The box is mostly used for web browsing, watching movies and some gaming at 1920x1200. When I game though I like things to be smooth and pretty I'll be running Windows 7 Home 64-bit (95%) + Ubuntu (5%).

    If I build an i7 solution I expect it to last 2.5-3 years as my current box has done. With the Q9550, I'd probably do a rebuild around a 32nm CPU in about 18 months, but keeping the SSD and gfx card.

    Any thoughts?
    Last edited by Daneel; 27-09-2009 at 10:55 AM.

  2. #2
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
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    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
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      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
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    Re: Help me decide on upgrade / new build

    Do the graphics card and HDD, leave the rest until you have tried that. Won't hurt to do it that way and it will most likely save you a shed load of money. Your uses don't sound like they will hurt to be run on the good old E6600.

    If you do want a quad core upgrade don't rule out AMD since the mobo and RAM have to be changed for core i7 anyway.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    London
    Posts
    135
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    • Daneel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Z87-Plus
      • CPU:
      • i7 4770k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB PC3-12800
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 850 EVO SSD, 21TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4GB
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define R4
      • Operating System:
      • WIndows 10 64-bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2415 24" 1920x1200
      • Internet:
      • 24/1.3Mb ADSL

    Re: Help me decide on upgrade / new build

    Thanks for your response.

    You are totally right about my uses, but I'm a geek when it comes to my computer and HUGE overkill in spec. is the norm for me

    Given the cost of a full rebuild, what from AMD is compelling against an i7 solution?

    My problem with the current Intel options, is I like the power and heat efficiency of the LGA 1156 platform + 45nm, but its life looks limited. Things are the opposite for the LGA 1366 platform + 65nm. I don't like compromise so I'd like to do a full rebuild in 12-18 months when their's a clear winner. The problem is my current box isn't fast enough now and I'll be doing a reinstall for windows 7 anyway so thought it best to combine the two changes, less hassle I hope
    Last edited by Daneel; 27-09-2009 at 11:26 AM.

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