Gone from OcUK Titan Sabre, to Apple iMac i7... I want to go back!

i7 = Best CPU for gaming.

Define best.

Bang for buck? Nope - i5 wins
Performance (clock for clock) single GPU? Nope - i5 wins
Performance (clock for clock) multi GPU? tiny 1-2% lead for i7
Potential future performance (clock for clock) if games can ever make use of hyperthreadng? Maybe 20% lead for i7 if you're lucky (for ~60% increase in CPU cost).

Great - I'll have two!


Not
 
The only thing holding me back from having an Intel system is the cost - not so much the processor, but the motherboard. I'm having trouble finding one that was a reasonable price with SATA 6GB/s & USB3...

What do you consider to be reasonable?...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-418-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1124

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-140-MS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1495

Or any mobo plus a USB3/SATA3 card when you need one.
 
Last edited:
I actually would have liked having the i7 950 3.06GHz, as I have been impressed with the hyperthreading on iMac... Is the processor I'm referring to able to be safely OC'd as much as the AMD X6 1090T??
The only thing holding me back from having an Intel system is the cost - not so much the processor, but the motherboard. I'm having trouble finding one that was a reasonable price with SATA 6GB/s & USB3...

SATA 3 is a waste IMO, all it allows for is a few e-peen benchmark results and no real-world benefit for 99% of people.

USB3 can be done via a USB3 card if it is that important.

Another thing i've noticed with the OC community is the absolute need to have the very latest, even if it makes sod all difference to the day to day running of the computer itself.
 
SATA 3 is a waste IMO, all it allows for is a few e-peen benchmark results and no real-world benefit for 99% of people.

USB3 can be done via a USB3 card if it is that important.

Another thing i've noticed with the OC community is the absolute need to have the very latest, even if it makes sod all difference to the day to day running of the computer itself.

I see where you are coming from, but my wanting SATA III/USB3 connectivity is purely for convenience in the future...
How is this basket looking as an Intel option? Haven't been able to find many user reviews on the motherboard but looks good...
s2e23s.jpg
 
OP I should advise you, you won't be able to overclock your CPU with that amount of RAM in.

Stick with 6GB unless you really need so much RAM for something specific.

(unless you don't want to overclock which in that case ignore what i said :D)
 
OP I should advise you, you won't be able to overclock your CPU with that amount of RAM in.

Stick with 6GB unless you really need so much RAM for something specific.

(unless you don't want to overclock which in that case ignore what i said :D)

Okay, thanks for the tip. Could you explain that a little more? I definitely want to overclock the cpu to 4.00GHz, so why does the amount of memory affect it, if I'm not planning on overclocking the ram?
Thanks.
 
More memory sticks = more load on the memory controller (which is on the CPU). Very often you can't achieve the same overclock with all the slots full as you could with only half full, or if you can it is with more volts and more heat.

But as far as I'm aware it's the number of sticks, not the amount of RAM, so you could have your 12GB with a 3x4GB kit as you have above and be OK - somebody correct me if I'm wrong. But you really don't need 12GB RAM unless you're doing some serious memory intensive number crunching - rendering or CFD for example.
 
I hate when people use the slogan "it just works.

This is an overclockers forum, we make it work how the hell we want it to work.

Thanks for that. I've done the overclocking thing. I guarantee you it does not simply 'work'. Drivers? AV? Tweaking? I do *none* of that now.


I see where you are coming from, but my wanting SATA III/USB3 connectivity is purely for convenience in the future...
How is this basket looking as an Intel option? Haven't been able to find many user reviews on the motherboard but looks good...

SATA 3 things will support SATA2 connections like SATA2 supports SATA 1.

Unless you plan keeping that spec to 2015 I doubt you will find problems with legacy :p

USB 3 is easy to get using a PCI-E card, so thats no worry at all.

Futureproofing doesn't work. My Mac Pro doesn't have USB 3 or SATA3 and I couldn't care less.
 
This is true. Future-proofing is an ongoing never-ending task. Quite ironic really, and ultimately the reason I'm getting rid of the iMac - I don't want to have to renew the entire system every year just to gain access to the then-current technologies. Big fat massive FAIL on my part.
SATA III / USB 3.0 = I'm not desperate for it... I'm simply buying a new system so why not spec it out as much as possible?!
Greed is a beautiful thing so it is.
 
This is true. Future-proofing is an ongoing never-ending task. Quite ironic really, and ultimately the reason I'm getting rid of the iMac - I don't want to have to renew the entire system every year just to gain access to the then-current technologies. Big fat massive FAIL on my part.
SATA III / USB 3.0 = I'm not desperate for it... I'm simply buying a new system so why not spec it out as much as possible?!
Greed is a beautiful thing so it is.

Unfortunately 2010-2011 is a tipping point with a few new technologies on the way.

Lightpeak is next year, and USB/SATA3 appeared this year.

If, for example, you had bought a iMac 3 years ago... nothing really would have changed in terms of connectivity :p

For example my old MBP vs my new one:

2007 MBP 2.4Ghz C2D, SATA1, USB2, FW400 & 800, DVI
2010 MBP 2.4Ghz i5, SATA2, USB2, FW800, mini-DP

Three years and all that changed in terms of connectivity was loosing a FW400 port!

[Yes yes PC laptops have eSATA, USB3 but that only really came up *this* year and personally having used eSATA it has the worst connector on the planet.]
 
A few seem to be going around the £1500-1600 area.

I'd put it on at £1499 with a £1699 BIN.

Just PLEASE put a proper advert up, lots of pictures, nice description etc.

I know the description makes a difference because I used to be able to buy things with **** descriptions and sell them a few months later for more than I bought it for :D

Sorry to revive a dead thread but I'm sticking it on eBay today and wanted some opinions - these are the photographs of it I took -





Blatant abuse of the Apple logo, true, but "sex sells" as they say.
Description to go like this :
"I have for sale here the latest, top-end 2010 Apple iMac 27" - upgraded with the i7 2.93GHz, 8GB RAM, and 2TB HDD. It is just over 2 months old, and is protected under AppleCare until 03rd September 2013.

More detailed information on the 2010 iMac range can be found here - http://www.apple.com/uk/imac/

I'll be genuinely sad to see this go, as I love it. I've had two months with it and I have my reasons for selling - but ultimately it boils down to the fact that I miss my PC!

It is in absolutely mint condition, with all the original packaging and accessories – wireless keyboard/mouse, power adaptor, OS X Snow Leopard & Applications install DVDs, instruction manuals... Even the famous Apple stickers haven't been touched! I will of course format the HDD - it will arrive in the exact same way it came to me.

Check out the photographs to see exactly what you're getting... I've also included a screenshot of the AppleCare service page for peace of mind.

I will send this via DHL Express to the winner the same day I receive payment.

GOOD LUCK!"​
What do you guys think? Ready to go? Last dilemma is pricing, which I'm **** at.
 
Back
Top Bottom