i5 or i7 for ATI 5970 gfx?

[markilleruk]

Hi all,

Seeking advise on a new build. I am experiencing some wierd problems on my PC which I believe a replacement motherboard/cpu/ram will rectify. I currently possess a Radeon 5970 2GB graphics card and I am trying to make the decision between an i7 and an i5 build.

I typically game at 1680x1050 or 3x at 5040x1050 (eyefinity)

I have gotten down to two possibilities:

i5

CPU: Intel Core i5-760 Lynnfield 2.8GHz $175
RAM: G.SKILL PI+ Turbulence 4GB (2 x 2GB) 2133 7 cas $135
MOBO: MSI P55-GD65 LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard $160

$470 total.

i7

CPU: Intel Core i7-950 3.06GHz LGA 1366 $280
RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 $130
MOBO: ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gbs USB 3.0 $165

Total $575

As you can see there is only $105 bucks difference as as I understand it that 105 bucks delivers around 5-10% boost depending on the game when playing at high resolutions.

I also have caught word of a local store selling the i7 950 at just $199.99 so I might try and pick that up sweetening the i7 deal.

Does anyone out there have any advise on changes to the above builds and which would be better for my needs? (Gaming, Eyefinity)

Any advise would be thoroughly appreciated

[Paradigm Shifter]

If you just want gaming, go the i5 route. If you can see yourself ever wanting to do any encoding or heavy duty photoshop etc, the i7 system. :)

[DaFox]

I also have caught word of a local store selling the i7 950 at just $199.99 so I might try and pick that up sweetening the i7 deal.

Microcenter? :)

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0341729
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0346210

[Skid]

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-cpu-overclock,review-32031.html

Best Gaming CPU for $190:
Core i5-750

Best Gaming CPU for $200: None
Honorable Mention:
Core i5-760

Past the Point of Reason:
Best Gaming CPU for $295:
Core i7-950

November one hasn't been released yet, for more details view the link at the top.

[markilleruk]

yeah micros center :)

I think I will probably go i7 if micro center has good deals otherwise the i5. Feel free to advise me on alternative.better/cheaper components all I'm always on the lookout for a great deal :)

The advise I am seeing everywhere is to go i5, but at high resolutions the extra 5% can make a big difference. Also I hear that the i9 will be ojn the same platform as the i7 950, so I would have a better future upgrade path.

[DaFox]

Also I hear that the i9 will be ojn the same platform as the i7 950, so I would have a better future upgrade path.

I wouldn't count on it. Actually if you can wait at all Sandy Bridge might interest you. It comes out January 5th, going to be somewhere between the i5's and 1366 i7's in both price and performance.

[Slinky]

id get the i7

[ViciousXUSMC]

i7 is my pick, it should be able to do anything the i5 can but it cant so much be done in the reverse order.

[Jejking]

I wouldn't invest at Socket 1156 at all, it's a dead platform. Intel is dropping its sockets faster than I with an ovenheated plate.

If you want to game, I'd go for AM3. It's not as fast as Intel but it's a more durable socket and cheaper as well. Then when next platforms come out, go to that upgrade path. Fixed :)

[Gilly]

Wait till Sandy Bridge IMO