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Which CPU to go for?

macfanuk

macfanuk

macfanuk

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Joined
24 Apr 2010
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Lancashire
I am looking to build a new pc and could do with some advice regarding CPU's. I currently have an Intel E5200 2.5Ghz so I guess either of these would be considered an upgrade but I want the best bang for buck really.

The processors I'm looking at are:

- Intel Core i5 661 3.33GHz Dual Core @ £169
- Intel Core i5 750 2.66GHz Quad Core @ £167
- AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4GHz Quad Core @ £143
- AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8GHz 6 Core @ £159

I use my PC for web design and general use (mainly web design though), so Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc.

What would you guys go for? (or should I go for something cheaper?)
 
I needed a flexible multitasker for Dreamweaver and tmpenc, so opted for the 1055T x6 exellent value for money from O/c uk ... and its the muts nuts.. I have it rock solid at 3.7mhz with some temp capacity to push it harder.. However it is doing the job nicely so I think I'll sit tight and enjoy the moment as it were...:cool:
 
macfanuk said:
Thanks for your reply. Can I ask why you suggest a cheaper AMD? Would I benefit from the 'true' quad core cpu's rather than the dual core i5's?
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I suggested a cheaper AMD as for me it is not worth it to pay the premium for a few extra MHz. I think the 955 is the sweet spot but i could be mistaken.

Are you overclocking? The dual core i5s are decent but mostly because of their thermal/acoustic/overclocking features. I would avoid them for any built that was made to last a few years to be honest. Extra cores are only getting more important.
 
Trunks9486 said:
I suggested a cheaper AMD as for me it is not worth it to pay the premium for a few extra MHz. I think the 955 is the sweet spot but i could be mistaken.

Are you overclocking? The dual core i5s are decent but mostly because of their thermal/acoustic/overclocking features. I would avoid them for any built that was made to last a few years to be honest. Extra cores are only getting more important.
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Not sure whether I'll overclock to be honest. I have dabbled with overclocking in the past. I got my Q6600 to 3.4GHz and my E5200 to something similar but the important thing is to get a PC that's fast and stable.

Would there be much difference between say a Quad Core AMD at 3.4GHz and the Intel Core i7 930 at 2.8GHz (If I saved the extra cash)?

Basically, I just want the fasted computer I can afford so that hopefully it'll last me a few years.
 
If you are looking at getting 3-5 years out of the PC i suggest saving up either for the i7 930. They overclock quite a bit as long as the cooling is good too. Thats what i would do.
 
macfanuk said:
Would there be much difference between say a Quad Core AMD at 3.4GHz and the Intel Core i7 930 at 2.8GHz (If I saved the extra cash)?
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If anything the Phenom II X4 is closer to the Core2Quad (i.e. Q6600, Q9550 etc) than i5 or i7, but of course this is with overclock in mind.

At stock speed a Phenom II X4 965BE is only slightly slower than the i5 750, however with overclock considered, 965BE overclock from stock speed 3.4GHz to 4.0GHz is only around 17.6% overclock, whereas the i5 750 overclock from stock speed from 2.66GHz to 4.0GHz is actually around 50% overclock.

With that said, I agree with others that the best bang for bucks for you (assume you have a decent overclocking motherboard) is grab either a Q6600 or a Q9550, and overclock it. Q6600 at stock speed 2.4GHz is SLOW, but it would be hugely different if you can overclock it to may be 3.6GHz.
 
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Marine-RX179 said:
If anything the Phenom II X4 is closer to the Core2Quad (i.e. Q6600, Q9550 etc) than i5 or i7, but of course this is with overclock in mind.
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Ok, thanks. I'll rule AMD chips out then and stick with Intel. So advice on the best i5/i7's to go for would be appreciated.
 
macfanuk said:
Ok, thanks. I'll rule AMD chips out then and stick with Intel. So advice on the best i5/i7's to go for would be appreciated.
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Bare in mind what I said was with overclock in mind. If you are going to run the CPU at stock speed and not overclock, then the Q9550 or Phenom II X4 955/965BE will offer the best performance for the price.

If your motherboard support 45nm Quad, then a 2nd hand Q9550 would cost around £150~£180, whereas the Phenom II x4 CPU+rams+motherboard would cost around £280~£300.
 
Marine-RX179 said:
Bare in mind what I said was with overclock in mind. If you are going to run the CPU at stock speed and not overclock, then the Q9550 or Phenom II X4 955/965BE will offer the best performance for the price.

If your motherboard support 45nm Quad, then a 2nd hand Q9550 would cost around £150~£180, whereas the Phenom II x4 CPU+rams+motherboard would cost around £280~£300.
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Ideally, I want to keep my current system as it is (I have a spare PSU, Case, etc) so would like to keep my current system as a media centre or something so don't have the option of upgrading what I already have.
 
macfanuk said:
Ideally, I want to keep my current system as it is (I have a spare PSU, Case, etc) so would like to keep my current system as a media centre or something so don't have the option of upgrading what I already have.
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Then I guess we are back the the same question again...are you going to overclock?

If not overclocking and running CPU at stock speed, then a Phenom II 965BE build would offer similiar performance to a stock speed i5 750 build for may be £50~80 cheaper (depending on the components chosen).

If you are overclocking and don't mind spending a bit more, then go i5 750.
 
pastymuncher said:
Is it overclocked or at stock? If overclocked it will wipe the floor with a E5200.
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I only used it overclocked when I had OSX on my PC and then I had it overclocked to 3.4GHz. I can't really comment on the difference because it was OSX, not Windows, however the Q6600 doesn't seem any faster at stock than the E5200 at stock.
 
Marine-RX179 said:
Then I guess we are back the the same question again...are you going to overclock?

If not overclocking and running CPU at stock speed, then a Phenom II 965BE build would offer similiar performance to a stock speed i5 750 build for may be £50~80 cheaper (depending on the components chosen).

If you are overclocking and don't mind spending a bit more, then go i5 750.
Click to expand...

I'm really not sure. As I say, I overclocked my Q6600 when I used OSX but not with Windows (started having motherboard problems (with a top spec motherboard too)) so really unsure about overclocking.
 
macfanuk said:
I'm really not sure. As I say, I overclocked my Q6600 when I used OSX but not with Windows (started having motherboard problems (with a top spec motherboard too)) so really unsure about overclocking.
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Well, may be have a look at the overclocked bundle and see anything that you might want?
pcbundles.jpg

overclocked bundles do cost anything from £20~£50 more than buying the parts separately, however if you are not comfortable doing the overclocking yourself or your time is worth more than £20~£50 (could take you a whole day overclocking and testing stability), then the overclocked bundles are worth considering. Also, the overclocked bundles are actually covered by warranty.

The overclocked bundles page is here:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=43&catid=339&sortby=priceAsc
 
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