What's better? (Comparing CPU Parts)

[Moridam]

What's the performance difference between an i5 and an i7 that otherwise seem to be similarly speced?

i7-920: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115202

i5-750: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115215

Obviously, the i5 is considerably cheaper for both initial cost and (I assume) operating cost due to the lower power consumption. They're both quad core and both 2.66ghz, for the most part they seem identical. What's the actual difference between the two? The only major difference I can see between the two is the differing sockets. Is the i7 overclockable versus the i5 being locked down or something?

[Crowort]

Basically the i7 has hyperthreading and the i5 doesn't.

So for supported software the i7 will be faster, game wise there isn't a lot of difference.

Edit: Forgot to say the the i5 also doesn't have the memory controller for tri-channel ram.

[levish]

What's the performance difference between an i5 and an i7 that otherwise seem to be similarly speced?

i7-920: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115202

i5-750: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115215

Obviously, the i5 is considerably cheaper for both initial cost and (I assume) operating cost due to the lower power consumption. They're both quad core and both 2.66ghz, for the most part they seem identical. What's the actual difference between the two? The only major difference I can see between the two is the differing sockets. Is the i7 overclockable versus the i5 being locked down or something?

for all practical purposes about the only relevant things for most people:

i7 has triple channel memory

i7 (x58 specifically) has 2x PCI-e 2.0 x16 slots and 1x x8 slot where the i5 has 1x x16 and when you put a card in the other slot they both go x8. This is a factor if you want that last 5% which if you are planning on going multi card, I'd say this is what should determine you would choose the i7 route

With four cores hyperthreading won't mean much if anything to you

In practice its mostly a wash, get whichever suits your needs better

[Deadgye]

The settings are clearly shown

No, they're not.

and the websites are listed. If you want to put the numbers under scrutiny, feel free to visit them and get back to me.

Since you felt the need to only look at the very first page of the review I linked, I'll put in the same amount of effort you did and compare that list to 1 game from one of the sites on the list.

HardwareCanuks:
AvP:
1650x1050 : Very High : Tesselation + Adv Shadows : 1xAA : 16xAF
5850: 87.34 / 41
470: 74.64 / 42

1650x1050 : Very High : Tesselation + Adv Shadows : 4xAA : 16xAF
5850: 47.18 / 24
470: 52.38 / 30

1920x1200 : Very High : Tesselation + Adv Shadows : 0xAA : 16xAF
5850: 70.47 / 34
470: 67.31 / 38

1920x1200 : Very high : Tesselation + Adv Shadows : 4xAA : 16xAF
5850: 38.27 / 19
470: 45.25 / 24

As you can see, the chart does not list the settings the game was run at. Furthermore, you'll notice the chart does not list most of the situations when the 5850 has a higher average frame rate. Cherry picked chart much? I bet you didn't even go to more than 1 of the sites yourself.

The 470 will give you slightly better minimum frame rates in most situations, and it starts to pass the 5850 slightly when you stack on the AA. But the 5850 also is ahead of the 470 in enough different situations that wouldn't allow you to just declare the 470 as faster.

I also liked how you underpriced the 470 and overpriced the 5850 in your one line percentage comparison.

[Celeras]

You're seriously fucking blind if you can't see the settings on the chart. As for me 'overpricing' the 5850.. I think I was fairly generous by saying 300-325: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0Video%20Cards

I have nothing else to add, I think everybody has figured out what you're all about by now.

[SaviorSelf]

Why can't we all just get along :[

[Don Katsu]

I would wait a little, maybe a week. Right now ATI cards aren't selling at MSRP due to their high demand but they can be found as low as $389.99 for a 5870
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...odlist=froogle

But if you prefer nVidia, I would recommend the 470 over the 480 it's the less of the two evils (evils being heat, power consumption and price)

[Deadgye]

You're seriously fucking blind if you can't see the settings on the chart.

Are you retarded? Here, let me quote your own chart for you.

"AA/AF settings vary between reviews AND games due to limited settings... typically highest AA/AF settings given are used."

Here's another little tidbit for you if you haven't figured it out yet. High AA is where the 470 beats the 5850, therefore this chart is cherry picked for situations where the 470 beats the 5850. You can say the 470 is on average 10% faster all you want, it doesn't matter when you're taking the average of only situations where the 470 wins.

As for me 'overpricing' the 5850.. I think I was fairly generous by saying 300-325

You've been able to get a 5850 for 270-290 for the past ~3+ months.

[SaviorSelf]

Following up for the confirmation build. How's this look?

Case: HAF 932.

Mobo:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0312963

CPU:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0331303

Thermal Compound:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0247005

CPU Fan:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371026

RAM:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0301254

OS Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167025

Storage Drive:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0334235

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150476

Optical Drives:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106276
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118030

Noise Dampening:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16800999369

Windows 7 64 bit being downloaded through the schools affiliation website. Digital download for $65 bucks which I believe is the same as the retail version.

Other concerns:
Where do I get cable sleeves? Hard to explain if this isn't the term used to label them as. Don't see much aside from cable ties on NewEgg.

Is the PSU good? Will it power everything just fine? Are there enough pin connections?

This will all work together, correct? Trying to make sure I didn't skip over a detail that would make some pices not compatible with one another. Looks okay to me but would like others to check and confirm.

[Deadgye]

With microcenter, bring webpage printouts of the items from other prices and see if they'll price match it. This got my cogage true spirit cpu cooler knocked down to 43 dollars from 60 dollars. Assuming you mean the Corsair 750W PSU you posted before.. I'm fairly sure it should be enough.

[Crowort]

Not sure what you mean by 'cable sleeves' (like some kind of pre-made one?) but normally to sleeve cables you use braiding and shrink warp.

It isn't to hard to use / do. But for things like 24 pin power cables it is a bit complex as you need to depin the cables.

Found a link showing some of the type of stuff you can use Here

[SaviorSelf]

Whoops, didn't see that, edited in now.

Cable Sleeves; the red/blackish thing over the wires in this picture. Contains the wires.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageG...Power%20Supply

[Crowort]

I can't find any sold on newegg. But that link has kits and the normal buy by the meter braid and shrink wrap.

[Celeras]

Are you retarded? Here, let me quote your own chart for you.

"AA/AF settings vary between reviews AND games due to limited settings... typically highest AA/AF settings given are used."

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4343/46336285.jpg

Theres nothing random about anything. All the resolutions are the same, and the AA/AF tests were set to max unless otherwise specified next to the name. Fucking brain surgery.

Following up for the confirmation build. How's this look?

Looks good, nice motherboard choice Just make sure newegg doesn't have any 'deals' for hardware combos for the things you're gonna get from there. They're listed on the bottom left, and not added automatically unless you add them to cart from there. Worth looking over, can sometimes save a few bucks.

[SaviorSelf]

The PSU will power everything?

[Celeras]

Yup, you're covered. 750W 80PLUS certified, more than enough for your single 5870 and will also be fine for crossfire if you decide to get a second card down the road as an upgrade.

[Deadgye]

Whoops, didn't see that, edited in now.

That's the PSU I have right now, I'm pretty sure it'll be good enough. I only have a 5850, but I bought the PSU to be more than enough if I decided to buy another 5850 down the road or something.

Theres nothing random about anything. All the resolutions are the same, and the AA/AF tests were set to max unless otherwise specified next to the name. Fucking brain surgery.

No shit the resolutions are there. I'm not retarded, although it seems you are. "AA/AF tests were set to max" doesn't mean jack shit when it fucking changes from game to game.

[Darus Grey]

Glad I'm not the only one calling Celeras out on the statements he makes about benchmarks and prices.

[killerc4]

Yup, you're covered. 750W 80PLUS certified, more than enough for your single 5870 and will also be fine for crossfire if you decide to get a second card down the road as an upgrade.

With an overclocked i7, 6ramm dimms, and 2 5870s I pull around 740 watts under load. Just a warning if you plan to crossfire you will probably want a bigger psu.

There's no reason to crossfire for anything 1920x1200 and under though so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Celeras]

No shit the resolutions are there. I'm not retarded, although it seems you are. "AA/AF tests were set to max" doesn't mean jack shit when it fucking changes from game to game.

It would seem that you are retarded, though, as that's the entire purpose of the AA/AF numbers. Playing the respective games at their max settings. How is that not relevant, exactly? If that for some reason bothers you (because the gap between the two cards gets wider, perhaps?), then feel free to look at the left side only.. as the settings there are EXACTLY the same from game to game.

And if you'll notice, the results are the same regardless. Not sure why you're still bitching.