Worth waiting for Core i5?

[OrphanBoy]

What's your opinion on these chips?

I'm considering getting a new machine soon although I'm in no real hurry. I don't want to go with 775 since it's at the end of the line, and i7 seems a tad too expensive for me. So I'm considering the 3.2GHz AM3 Phenom II and the AM3 socket for the next few years.

Would it be worth hanging around for i5 even if they're predicted to be no real improvement on high-end 775 processors?

Also, does AMD have any new high-end chips coming our way?

Cheers guys

 

[Typhoon]

There talk of an 'easy' 5Ghz on air. I'd take that with a pinch of salt but I am expecting them to clock faster than a i7. So will probably be better for games as such.

 

[Plec]

The thing that may help you decide is that the AM3 route will always be the cheaper option due to the pricing of their motherboards and CPUs and AMD have finally made a very capable chip.

Plus, if the i5's are really predicted not be any real improvement on the high end 775's (i haven't read enough to doubt what you've stated) - but if this were to prove to be the case then this too would point towards the AM3 route.

If it’s to replace your home spec in your sig you need only spend £200-£300 for a MB, CPU and memory. Add another £100 for a 4870 and you’ll notice a very significant and enjoyable improvements.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[mkfk1]

Anyone have a predicted roadmap for the AM3?

Would "bulldoozer" be on AM3??? If so, then AM3 maybe worth getting, and then upgrade later.

If you are going to the intel route, I recommend waiting, and probably getting 1156 or 1336.

 

[rjk]

im waiting for gulftown

i dont think i5 will clock any different to i7
maybe a bit more?

you have to remember that a high end p55 board isnt going to be anywhere near as good as a good x58

plus the chips will be in the region of 200 notes [my estimation]

i think i7 is certainly the way to go if you are upgrading now

that of a PII 955 on AM3

 

[Mal X]

Anyone have a predicted roadmap for the AM3?

Would "bulldoozer" be on AM3??? If so, then AM3 maybe worth getting, and then upgrade later.

If you are going to the intel route, I recommend waiting, and probably getting 1156 or 1336.

no it isn't, the Bulldozer isn't due out till 2011, but it might appear inside the Fusion CPU, which is due out next year... i think it's 6 to 8 cores....but the Bulldozer hasn't even been tested yet...i think it's for servers with a pc version later on...in 32nm

the MOBO/socket for Bulldozer is a new design...32nm..it hasn't even been built yet.... from what i've read.... but it's all very ``pie in the sky`` and quite confusing... i could therefore be wrong.

this is the trouble i'm having.... i'm not sure if i should buy now or wait...

the Fusion due out next year.....or whatever the hell they call it, might not have Bulldozer, this Fusion (without Bulldozer) is an upgraded Phenom 2, and will be 45nm .... it's a stop gap between now and the 6 to 18 core 32nm Bullldozer

the AM 3 is 45nm ....but the Bulldozer is definitely 32nm....or will end up as that, so no it's definitely not for the Bulldozer, but it might be the socket for Fusion.... ( there is also a rumour that FUSION/BULLDOZER will be 45nm)...... but the full blown Bulldozer to be released a year later will be 32nm.... the reason i say this is that the Bulldozer about to be tested is 45nm... if this works ok, Athlon might shove it inside Fusion...and get it out the door quickly, to challenge Intel.....then, they'll carry on developing Bulldozer up to 16 cores and to 32nm.

the way i see it is.... if Bulldozer tests ok, they might shove it inside Fusion and release it in 45nm.

i hope i havent confused you.... because i've confused myself

 

[Caracus2k]

There talk of an 'easy' 5Ghz on air. I'd take that with a pinch of salt but I am expecting them to clock faster than a i7. So will probably be better for games as such.

I would be highly surprised if Intel allowed 'I5' to clock higher than comparable I7's. Given that the two products will be selling side by side and that I7 is going to be the 'premium product'. Even if the silicon is capable of higher speeds Intel would be mad to cannablise its own sales in such a fashion...... £800 975 when an I5 at sub £200 clocks to 5ghz on air? cant see it myself but will be interesting to see the first benchmarks

 

[AMG]

I think the I5 is just the drown graded version of I7 looking at the P55 mobos okay some still have triple channal mem some don't

so me thinks i m going to go to AMD next I m not paying £400 for a damm chip

 

[bulldog147]

I cannot see that the new i5 cpu processor can clocked up to 5Ghz with air cooler as the temperature probably go crazy too high over 100C !

 

[nightmare99]

plus the chips will be in the region of 200 notes [my estimation]

At the top end but there will also be lower price point chips that replace current low end quads.

looking at the P55 mobos okay some still have triple channal mem some don't

They will all be dual channel as per the memory controller in the CPU, triple channel is not possible on this platform.

 

[OrphanBoy]

I'm also concerned by the longevity of the platform. AMD seem to be concentrating on their AM3 socket for the mainstream and high-end CPUs, but with Intel I'm not a fan of the split between the two sockets. i5/i7 looks like 754/939 but in reverse-I can see i7 just dying off due to lack of demand and high prices. A bit like Socket F...

Also Intel seem to have a history of requiring a new chipset whenever a new CPU comes along, despite the socket physically fitting the CPU...

 

[Typhoon]

I would be highly surprised if Intel allowed 'I5' to clock higher than comparable I7's. Given that the two products will be selling side by side and that I7 is going to be the 'premium product'. Even if the silicon is capable of higher speeds Intel would be mad to cannablise its own sales in such a fashion...... £800 975 when an I5 at sub £200 clocks to 5ghz on air? cant see it myself but will be interesting to see the first benchmarks

Well the standard frequencies will be lower I guess than I7. Intel tend to price according to standard frenquencies and not bother too much about the overclocking potential. Witness earlier G0 Q6600 clocking faster than Q6700, and 920 i& that clock almost as much as Extreme i7's. I7 will be premium not for its clock speed put for its Triple channel controller and other inprovements. The I7 will targeted toward high end users, but for gamers clock speed may be more important.

 

[Natima]

I7 is really getting quite cheap these days. £140 for mobo, £60 for RAM, £210 CPU. Second hand I got my UD5, OCZ Platinum, and C0 i7 for £340. Thats about the same as a high-ish end 775 setup.

 

[malachi]

I7 is really getting quite cheap these days. £140 for mobo, £60 for RAM, £210 CPU. Second hand I got my UD5, OCZ Platinum, and C0 i7 for £340. Thats about the same as a high-ish end 775 setup.

Excatly,so all those people saying the i7 is too expensive can stop their moaning now.

 

[elpedro]

Excatly,so all those people saying the i7 is too expensive can stop their moaning now.

He did say second hand... But I agree, the whole i7 package has come down a great deal - shame there's no real improvement for the gamers going from Core 2 Quad to Core i7 though.

 

['Wes]

Do you think it's worth waiting for the core i5? I mean, the i7 is a good processor. The problem now is that because Intel are confusing people, people become obssessed with 'future proofing', when their is indeed no such thing.

The i7 will last you a good 2 years, possibly more and if you can't afford a core i7, then you can get a 955 and that will last you a good 2 years or more, even the Quads on the 775 socket will last you another possible 2 years. Basically, by the time any of those processors starts to show noticeable signs of struggle, their will probably be a new socket out with a better processor.

 

[malachi]

Do you think it's worth waiting for the core i5? I mean, the i7 is a good processor. The problem now is that because Intel are confusing people, people become obssessed with 'future proofing', when their is indeed no such thing.

The i7 will last you a good 2 years, possibly more and if you can't afford a core i7, then you can get a 955 and that will last you a good 2 years or more, even the Quads on the 775 socket will last you another possible 2 years. Basically, by the time any of those processors starts to show noticeable signs of struggle, their will probably be a new socket out with a better processor.

To be honest, my opinion no one can really say for sure. The i5 hasnt hit the market yet and there is still very little information on what it can really do.
At least with the i7 its out there and every knows what it can do even though at the moment its very little compared to the Core 2 Quads.
I decided to upgrade from my Q6600 to a i7 920 now as I know come next year I wont get a chance when buying my house, so got it over and done wth now and wont have to worry for a few years about another major upgrade.

 

[MikeHunt79]

775 may seem EOL, but I doubt i5 will be much faster. I'd go for 775.

 

[rikky]

So these second hand i7 chips, complete with motherboard and memory that you speak of ... just what are the people who are selling these upgrading to??

My point being that we will not see too many second hand job lots as unless somebody wants to splash a grand on upgrading there really isn't anything to upgrade to...

 

[AMG]

yah I m aware its only dual DDR3 but why do some have triple? still like the X58?

and I can't link it cencers it o.O

Edit this might work, or not