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...

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!

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!

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!