i7 - 990x or 980?

YiuKorochko

YiuKorochko

YiuKorochko

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Joined
19 Jul 2011
Posts
126
Location
Scotland
I've been doing some self evaluation recently, and I need to make the decision shortly so can someone recommend me...

Differences between 990x and 980

990x.................980
6.4GT/s.............4.8GT/s - - - QPI Speed
unlocked............locked - - - CPU Multiplier
3.46GHz.............3.33GHz - - - Stock Speed
3yr....................unstated - - - Warranty

Anything else I should know? FYI, I'm using this for extreme gaming and x264 video encoding (100% CPU load for days at a time).

I'm looking to OC somewhere around 4.5GHz. If the 980 can't push past 4GHz very well, I may as well stick with the 990x.
 
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bulldog147 said:
get a i7 2600K :) beat i7 990x quite easy on 5.2GHz!
Click to expand...

Not another one...I don't want a 1155 socket. 1366 is future prooofed for a while. I learned my lesson when I bought an i5 750 1156.

Plus, with HT enabled, there is no logical way to prove 4 cores 8 threads can beat 6 cores 12 threads.

Admittedly, the 2600k supports 32GB RAM over 24GB for either the 990x or 980. But I think 24GB will be enough lol.
 
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Okay I'm going to explain in more detail so that you guys understand the mavity of my situation:

The x264 video encoder can use any amount of cores (there is a limit but it's beyond reach at the moment). I have a friend in Canada running a 42 core AMD server and x264 will max out each and every single core the whole time it has work to do.

Sure, his server can crack 24FPS lossless 720p x264 data @ 48FPS, but I need as much as I can get with a single CPU system. Yes, I will game too, but that's not this beast's raison d'etre. So if you can prove that the max stable OC (with HT) of a 2600k can beat the max stable OC (with HT) of a 990x or even the 980 then I'll go with it.

@SlugForAButt
Liking your Sig!

EDIT: I can't seem to find any motherboards on overclockers.co.uk which support 32GB RAM. A lot only go up to 16GB. That's a bit NO. After Effects' manual recommends 8GB minimum, 16GB for decent performance, and 32GB or more for maximum stability.

So back to the main point:

980 or 990x?
 
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You know what? The price difference between 990x and 980 simply isn't considerable in my situation. The 2600k won't give me the same performance as the 980 and the 1155s are about to go to Ivy Bridge so pretty much as soon as I get it my hardware will be outdated and newer stuff for the same price will be in it's place.

Plus, by getting the 980 I can now afford a whole slew of extras, including sound cards, speakers, pro headphones and all that jazz.
 
I would go for 980tbh, cheaper, great performance, you can get the extra's you mentioned, it will stable overclock to about 4.6 or something iirc :o and especially for gaming the 980 will rip thru everything :D
 
1366/x58 is being replaced by Sandybridge-e (LGA2011/X79) in a few months, could you wait for that or do you need it now?

Then it's a choice between the i7 3960x or the 3930k :)
 
bulldog147 said:
get a i7 2600K :) beat i7 990x quite easy on 5.2GHz!
Click to expand...

I can run my 990x @ 4.96Ghz 24/7 if i want to, No way a 2600k would beat it in video encoding, Only in games does it dominate the 990x, The 2600k is about 15% faster clock for clock, That really doesn't make up for the lack of 2 other cores, I know because i have a core i7 2600K at the office at work, And it's got a 5Ghz overclock, Compiling takes a fair bit longer. :D

Nat
 
trisp said:
why not wait for ivy bridge? it is coming soonish!!
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Ivy Bridge, like all new technologies, will be expensive. If they bring out a 6 core 12 thread chip then I can wait.

belial8321 said:
I would go for 980tbh, cheaper, great performance, you can get the extra's you mentioned, it will stable overclock to about 4.6 or something iirc and especially for gaming the 980 will rip thru everything
Click to expand...
Cool, I'll refer to another point below and finalize all this.

snaggster said:
why not look for a 970? Cheeper and bar the multi, the same chip.
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The 980 is £30 more and has a higher clock/QPI. Worth it. Plus the 970's been discontinued.

TallPaul_S said:
1366/x58 is being replaced by Sandybridge-e (LGA2011/X79) in a few months, could you wait for that or do you need it now?

Then it's a choice between the i7 3960x or the 3930k
Click to expand...
THIS is the kind of info that save people's live sir. Can you point out more information? Release dates and stuff? I'm sure I can survive without a PC (selling old one) until December or January. Else, I need to buy soon as possible.

jorzeh said:
I can run my 990x @ 4.96Ghz 24/7 if i want to, No way a 2600k would beat it in video encoding, Only in games does it dominate the 990x, The 2600k is about 15% faster clock for clock, That really doesn't make up for the lack of 2 other cores, I know because i have a core i7 2600K at the office at work, And it's got a 5Ghz overclock, Compiling takes a fair bit longer.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm aiming to do, and I'm glad to get some actual feedback for this particular field as it's pretty much the ONLY reason why I need anything more than my current i5 750. Otherwise the 750 + 2xGTX590SLI would be better.
 
YiuKorochko said:
I've been doing some self evaluation recently, and I need to make the decision shortly so can someone recommend me...

Differences between 990x and 980

990x.................980
6.4GT/s.............4.8GT/s - - - QPI Speed
unlocked............locked - - - CPU Multiplier
3.46GHz.............3.33GHz - - - Stock Speed
3yr....................unstated - - - Warranty

Anything else I should know? FYI, I'm using this for extreme gaming and x264 video encoding (100% CPU load for days at a time).

I'm looking to OC somewhere around 4.5GHz. If the 980 can't push past 4GHz very well, I may as well stick with the 990x.
Click to expand...

If you are planning to clock to 4.5ghz, the 980 will be more than up to the task. But only with very good cooling. Both the 980 and 990x will clock about the same given that they are cooled the same. It has to be said though, unless the 980 has a very good IMC getting a 4.5ghz clock may well be problematic. On the other hand, if the 990x dosn't have a good IMC, you can always just use a higher multi to get the clock you want.

SlugForAButt said:
And how would the 990x do at the same clock speed?
Click to expand...

A look at the link in my sig will tell you that it beats it hands down.
 
For me the 980 gets it, £300 cheaper so u can get extra goodies if needed, or just save not having to spend the extra.

Should comfortably do 4-4.5ghz every day of the week, just make sure u have a decent air cooler.
 
If you had to buy now I'd get the 990x, for it's multi unlock.

Otherwise wait until later this year for the X79 chip set.
 
kitfit1 said:
If you are planning to clock to 4.5ghz, the 980 will be more than up to the task. But only with very good cooling. Both the 980 and 990x will clock about the same given that they are cooled the same. It has to be said though, unless the 980 has a very good IMC getting a 4.5ghz clock may well be problematic. On the other hand, if the 990x dosn't have a good IMC, you can always just use a higher multi to get the clock you want.
Click to expand...
...liquid nitrogen much? LoL

I've got a Corsair H50 though I may upgrade to on H80 or even an H100 if I can fit it in my case...
 
bifday2k said:
For me the 980 gets it, £300 cheaper so u can get extra goodies if needed, or just save not having to spend the extra.
Should comfortably do 4-4.5ghz every day of the week, just make sure u have a decent air cooler.
Click to expand...
robin66 said:
If you had to buy now I'd get the 990x, for it's multi unlock.
Otherwise wait until later this year for the X79 chip set.
Click to expand...

Well that's kinda why I started the debate too. The unlocked multiplier would be more useful if I had something more extreme than water cooling but I don't so I can spend the £300 on a Xonar sound card, M-Audio AV40s and a pair of Sennheiser headphones and still have enough for MW3.
 
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