Core i5 vs i7

[StarSolitude]

Seeing as Core i5 came out later than Core i7, I assume i5 is faster/better?

I am just wondering whether to go for an i7 build or an i5 build- bit confused. I was thinking of:

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping @ 4GHz
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R Intel X58 (Socket 1366)

But then along came Core i5 and messed everything up... Does Core i5 even work on 1366 motherboards? And can you use a Corsair Hydro H50 to cool an i5?

 

[linktoinsanity]

Core i7 is quicker than i5. You are under the wrong apprehension if you think i5 is better as it came out after. Intel often release budget/mainstream versions of chips after they have released the top-of-the-notch ones.

I too will be watching this thread with interested as I'm currently trying to decide between i5/i7 on socket 1156 or i7 on socket 1366...

 

[_SBradley_]

Core i5 uses socket 1156, so no, you can't use one on a socket 1366 mobo.

The i7-920 on an X58-based mobo should give you the ultimate performance. However, the P55 chipset requires less power, so your electricity bills will be lower with socket 1156 than with 1366.

Note that there isn't a clear line between i5/i7 and 1156/1366, as i7 also exists for socket 1156, in the form of the i7-860. This could be the best of both worlds: low(er) power requirements with (for the average user) the same performance as (or better performance than!) i7-920.

 

[craig3000]

Core i5 is better value and should be perfectly fine for most gamers

 

[QwaF]

The i7 remains the higher end model. The i5 is the supposed to be the more affordable, mainstream model. The i5 is probably just as good as the i7 when it comes to gaming, but the i7 shows its lead in other areas.

I went with the i7 purely because the i9 is supposed to use the x58 chipset, so upgrading shouldn't be that expensive.

 

[rexehuk]

I went with i7 for upgrading. When they release the new chip down the line it will be x58 with 6 cores/12 threads. I wont be changing to that chip for a long while though! 3/4 years atleast.

 

[SMAndy]

If you're gaming, I'd say go with an i5 build. Cheaper than an i7, and should give better performance in game.

I have seen it a few times in reviews, the i7 seems to suffer when playing demanding games, as the HyperThreading causes the CPU cache to get flooded with data for 8 entirely different threads. This causes it to slow down as the cache can't keep up.

i5 doesn't have this problem, as there is no HyperThreading. That coupled with the fact that barely any games at the moment are even multi-core aware, let alone able to utilise more than 2 cores... the i5 is essentially designed for gaming, while the i7 is better for more professional things, like large video and photo editing, as the ability to process more threads helps.

This is one of the reasons that AMD had a reputation as a gaming processor for a very long time. when intel went to hyperthreading, it strained the cache and slowed it down...

 

[breeza]

i5 for value, power/heat at stock speeds with a single gfx card.

x58 for dual gfx cards and encoding.

 

[mdjmcnally]

I went with i7 for upgrading. When they release the new chip down the line it will be x58 with 6 cores/12 threads. I wont be changing to that chip for a long while though! 3/4 years atleast.

At which time you will likely be wanting USB 3.0, Sata 6G and I believe PCI-E 3.0 will be out by then so may well want a new board anyway.

My personal opinion, unless you need the extra oomph that 1336 brings over the 1156 right now then stick with the 1156, is cheaper, lower electricity bills, you will need a new board anyway for newer SATA, USB, PCI-E launching over the next couple of years so unless you really need, (or just must have) that extra oomph now then seems a waste of money spending out.

The x16, x16 of the x58 compared to the x8, x8 of the P55 doesn't seem to making a huge difference, maybe it will if running a pair of 5870x2's in crossfire, however if you can afford two of them then the price difference between a P55 and x58 system is negligible.

 

[Mercutio]

Ok, would folks consider an i5 a decent step up from a Q9450 C2Q?

 

[D1ngd0ng]

Also if you don't fancy OC'ing your chip the i5 uses speedstep rev2 which clocks cores up to 500mhz(?) quicker than stock whereas I7 just goes up by 1 multiplier(?)