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why is i5 better than i7 for gaming

What the hell? I didn't know anything about this, I always assumed the lower numbered CPUs were vastly inferior. I feel like I've been living a lie my whole life.

Why do we always see gaming machines mainly using the i7 series? I could build a PC and play Crysis at exactly the same frame rates using an i5 as I do with with my i7 920?

http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt38/PumpkinPie_01/c0d0339b.jpg
 
Yup - and may the truth set you free :) Computer companies do indeed offer top-end CPUs in their "Gaming Rigs" to pimp out their spec sheet. Often because their machines command a hefty price premium and they want to include a top-end CPU (that often isn't neccesary considering the GPU it is paired with) to help justify their cost.

Though to be fair the i5 and i7 are a bit of a special case - since in reality they are very similar chips (both quad cores, same architecture), but the main difference is that the i7 has hyperthreading. Since basically no games make use of this feature at the moment then there isn't any gaming performance benefit going with an i7 other than the generally superior X58 chipset the i7 900 series uses.
 
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Pcie only makes a very slight difference, i7's have at least dual x 16 pcie, i5's are limited to two x 8 pcie slots. Ive seen in benches, a few people with higher clocked i5's, and higher sli 470 gtx's than mine, my score in heaven bench was higher, probably down to the slightly better bandwidthh of dual x 16 pcie. Cant comment on game usage, but id say it would be miniscule.
 
i5's have very slightly slower, however I'd be willing to bet my sli scores vs setter at stock clocks would only be very slightly in his favour. (Purely picked you as I know you have sli 470's on an i7 setup :) )

That and stock 470 sli is WAY more performance than I need :p
 
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Heh, I should do! I tend to run them at 700mhz at stock volts, my msi card hates higher than that that! the EVGA on still pushes me higher, shame they're so different!

PS. the megahalem's was purely a 'just 'cause' moment of thought with regards cpu cooling :p Glad I did, however!
 
Theyll do 750 on stock volts, memory is a bit harder, but it gives little in return when you clock it. My cards are standard gigabyte factory oc cards, (630mhz), 750 was a breeze tbh, stock volts, ive had them at 800/1600/1700 for benchmarks, very pleased with them tbh.

As for the super mega, actually on a par with my old lapped TRUE black.
 
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