i7 Build VS i5 Build

StarSolitude · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:51

Core i5 Build - £951

Core i7 Build - £1045

£94 difference between an i5 Build and an i7 Build. The Core i7 build has a better motherboard, I think, and i7 is more powerful. So, really, for an extra £94(!) it must be worth going for i7 instead? You also get 6GB of RAM compared to 4GB with the i7 build.

Unless I've done something wrong...

Shakeel · 1 Oct 2009 at 21:00

if it was me id go for the i7

StarSolitude · 1 Oct 2009 at 21:03

Shakeel said:
if it was me id go for the i7

Basically the differences between those builds are 3 components: the CPU, MOBO and RAM...

Going for the i7 gives: a better MOBO, more powerful CPU, an extra 2GB of RAM- all for an extra £94. To think I was even considering i5... it makes no sense to go for it!

95thrifles · 1 Oct 2009 at 21:30

better CPU? very debatable, the 750 has improved turbo mode so gives you better performance in apps that dont utilise all threads (games) as well as on board PCI-E controller where as the X58 still has to use NB meaning slightly lower gaming performance (for the X58). The sacrifice is when using multiple gfx cards the P55 chipset is x8/x8 vs X58s x16/16 however theres stil not many cards that are using all this available bandwidth even at peak load
better mobo? very debatable too, youve picked a budget 1366 and mid range 1156 so Id doubt that its better at all
RAM you have a fair point, but depending on your uses you may well not benefit from 6 vs 4

weird_dave · 1 Oct 2009 at 21:39

Having a 1366 mobo might give some future proofing before having to upgrade the big 3 again. Certainly more future proofing than an 1156 setup.

StarSolitude · 1 Oct 2009 at 21:42

95thrifles said:
better CPU? very debatable, the 750 has improved turbo mode so gives you better performance in apps that dont utilise all threads (games) as well as on board PCI-E controller where as the X58 still has to use NB meaning slightly lower gaming performance (for the X58). The sacrifice is when using multiple gfx cards the P55 chipset is x8/x8 vs X58s x16/16 however theres stil not many cards that are using all this available bandwidth even at peak load
better mobo? very debatable too, youve picked a budget 1366 and mid range 1156 so Id doubt that its better at all
RAM you have a fair point, but depending on your uses you may well not benefit from 6 vs 4

Argh, you just complicated it for me! Heres the facts:
- I'm getting a 5850 graphics card, I won't crossfire it.
- I will use this PC for high end gaming more than anything else.
- I'll be using Windows 7, so 4GB of RAM may suffice.

Hmm... So assuming I go for the i5, I'd need to find more information about a good motherboard. I suppose I could increase my spending to around £150 on a Skt 1156 motherboard if it means better performance.

Weird_Dave: as for futureproofing, good point, but I will most likely buy an entirely new PC in 4 years or so... at the rate technology is advancing all this stuff will be obsolete in 4 years!

95thrifles · 1 Oct 2009 at 21:46

have a read of this article by anandtech, linked you to conclusion for ease

hyperst · 1 Oct 2009 at 23:03

the msi gd80 p55 motherboards have received some good reviews, i think it even holds the current i5 overclocking title(but i would say that as i got one coming

), im with you with not crossfiring so it seems i5 is all that would be needed for now, and if your currently not using more than 4gb then i suppose you gotta ask yourself if 6gb will benefit you at all, im also thinkin lga1366 will stay the expensive socket for a while where as im hoping more lga1156 will be a socket where affordable upgrades are possible for a year or so

LoadsaMoney · 1 Oct 2009 at 23:39

If your just going to use it for gaming, then go for the i5, as they are the same as the i7's in those, id only go for the i7 if you do encoding etc..., as thats where they are faster.

Jack Bauer · 1 Oct 2009 at 23:53

Ive just got an i5, and tbh, it more than fast enough. I dont think I will even overclock it yet as there doesnt seem much point. Im only gaming on it btw.

StarSolitude · 2 Oct 2009 at 00:14

Decided on an i5. Just need to figure out which Motherboard to get now, then I'm basically done with this selecting-components-biz... stress!

Hotwired · 2 Oct 2009 at 00:16

They're both more than good enough for gaming, toss a coin if you want.

My i5 is OTT for any game I play. Runs the OS and interweb no better than my P4 3.0.

I went i5 because I liked a particular motherboard for it (asus maximus III GENE). I don't care if an i7 is a couple of fps better, my rig kicks buttock and looks nice doing it.

Lack of a northbridge also means the mobo looks less cluttered ^_^

fizzle-187 · 2 Oct 2009 at 00:39

My setup:

i7 860
Asus Maximus Formula III
GTX 285
4GB Geil RAM

And it's a kick ass system. Blows every game away with everything on full.

My CPU is still on stock. And I can't wait to overclock it up to 4GHZ. I was you I would go for the i5.