Is overclocking a cheaper CPU better than a stock i5

[Oldylocks]

Hi, some advice needed on a CPU please, and I appeciate this is probably a real newbie question.

I'm building a new machine for windows 7 and its main use will be photoshop CS4. I had thought of getting an Intel i5, but then I was wondering, would I get a similar performance (as well saving lots of dosh) by getting a CPU with fewer cores like, say, the AMD Phenom II X3 Tri Core 720 Black Edition 2.80GHz and then overclocking? (Not too extreme though, as I've not ventured into overclocking territory before)
I ask this because I usually don't have many programs running at once and, as I understand it, aps like photoshop won't make use of multi cores. Thanks

 

[Greebo]

I thought CS4 supprted multi core? In whcihc ase get the i5, it won't disappoint.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

From the all-knowing Wikipedia >

Adobe CS4 is also developed to perform better under 64-bit and multi-core processors. On Windows, Adobe Photoshop CS4 runs natively as a 64-bit application, and although they are not natively 64-bit applications, Adobe After Effects CS4 and Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 have been optimized for 64-bit computers.[4] However, Adobe has stated that no 64-bit version of CS4 will be available for Mac OS X.[5] In early testing of 64-bit support in Adobe Photoshop CS4, overall performance gains ranged from 8% to 12%. Those who work with extremely large files may realize noticeably greater gains in performance, in some cases as dramatic as ten times the previous speed. This is because 64-bit applications can address larger amounts of memory and thus result in less file swapping — one of the biggest factors that can affect data processing speed.[6]

 

[Oldylocks]

Ah thanks, I'll cough up the pennies then.
So the big question, which would be better, i5 750 2.66Ghz i5 or Phenom II X4 Quad Core 965 as they're both the same price?

 

[cmndr_andi]

According to this the i5 is a good chunk better.

Also, the i5 can be overclocked much more than the X4 965BE can, so an even larger performance gap when overclocked.

Edit: Apologies, I just realised that in that test the lower scores are better (I should have seen this sooner). As such, the X4 965 is the faster chip for photoshop @ stock settings.

 

[Oldylocks]

Very interesting tests, thanks

 

[Th3D0n]

Ah thanks, I'll cough up the pennies then.
So the big question, which would be better, i5 750 2.66Ghz i5 or Phenom II X4 Quad Core 965 as they're both the same price?

The Phenom II X4 Quad Core 965 because you will be able to upgrade to a 6 core chip later later on

 

[Nocky24]

The Phenom II X4 Quad Core 965 because you will be able to upgrade to a 6 core chip later later on

Theres a newer more power efficient 965 coming out soon, maybe just wait a bit longer for that if you want to overclock?