Core i7 950 - a current CPU or has it been superceded ?

[Tuvoc]

As above - is this CPU still current ? Hard to keep track of CPU releases these days

 

[JonJ678]

Yep. The current, second generation X58 range is 920 (D0), 950, 975. The previous generation is 920 (C0), 940, 965.

Second generation have worse current leak at given voltage but need lower voltage for a given clock speed.

 

[Tuvoc]

Thanks, OCUK are out of stock so it was either a case of it being popular, or discontinued

 

[Simon42]

As above - is this CPU still current ? Hard to keep track of CPU releases these days

Tell me about it! I was all set on a 950 and then some searching showed us that it is being replaced by the 960 which is already on some US store sites. The details are on the Intel site, it's just a bump on the CPU multiplier to make it 3.2GHz but apparently the price should be similar to the 950.

For me though, given the limited memory multipliers on the 950 and presumably 960 I am still thinking the 950 may be better so I can get a little more memory speed on a modest overclock. Also it's not listed as having "Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O" but I think that's probably a mistake on the details as it would be odd to have less features than the 950!

 

[madindehead]

Mate. Don't waste your money on a 950.

Buy a 920, you will easily get a 4GHz overclock, and 1600MHz RAM speed on it.

Don't spend double the money, on something that isn't twice as good.

 

[Simon42]

Buy a 920, you will easily get a 4GHz overclock, and 1600MHz RAM speed on it.

Yes I know and I've considered this option. However I need 12GB RAM (virtual machines etc) and hence I'm not expecting to get 1600MHz and due to the extra stress with 6 sticks I thought that the higher CPU multiplier would be the way to go for a safe and low hassle 24/7, 3.4-3.6 GHz overclock.

 

[madindehead]

Yes I know and I've considered this option. However I need 12GB RAM (virtual machines etc) and hence I'm not expecting to get 1600MHz and due to the extra stress with 6 sticks I thought that the higher CPU multiplier would be the way to go for a safe and low hassle 24/7, 3.4-3.6 GHz overclock.

All you need to do with 12GB of RAM, is lower the memory multiplier. Say you want to run your 920 at 3.5GHz.

Just do the following:

BCLK - 175
CPU multi - 20 (TurboBoost off)
QPI multi - x36 (or x18 depends on mobo)
UnCore multi - 16
Memory multi - 8

This gives you CPU speed of 3.5GHz and memory speed of 1400MHz.

There is no justification for spending £200 MORE on a chip that is practically identical.

The only difference, is the CPU multiplier is set a little bit higher. You can easily achieve a stable and safe overclock of 3.8GHz (roughly) with 12GB of RAM. I have seen several people on these forums do it.

No reason why clocking a 920 to 3.5GHz with 12GB of RAM should be any different.

Simply put, buy the 920, up the BLCK, and if you have problems with the RAM speed, lower the RAM multiplier.

 

[Simon42]

.......
Simply put, buy the 920, up the BLCK, and if you have problems with the RAM speed, lower the RAM multiplier.

Thanks for the detail.

My original reasoning was that the lower Uncore frequency with the same overclock on a 950 would be better given the RAM load.

 

[JonJ678]

Fair reasoning Simon, but not empirically supported. 12gb of 1333 with a 920 is what you want.

The 950 can hit slightly higher speeds than the 920. Of the order of 200MHz. This is a poor deal given the difference in cost. Neither is likely to make it over 4ghz with 12gb of ram, though it's not unheard of.

I would like to have a 950 (or the future 960). This would allow me to hit the maximum the chip is capable of under water without using turbo, and I am sick to death of turbo. However I don't rate this as being worth £400. I vote for 920 now, wait for 32nm.

 

[madindehead]

Getting the 950 is never really going to fix those issues with 12GB of RAM. Ask a few other on here what they think.

They will tell you the same as I have. Buy the 920, and save that cash!

 

[Xelene]

All the i7 9xx's clock roughly the same, you just get some more options as you move up the food chain. I've had mine running at 4.0 with 12GB and it wasn't even that difficult. The difference between 3.7 and 4.0 was 0.2 volts and 20C which wasn't worth it to me.