Very good read.....(note the performance of the E8600 Gaming)

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2009/09/08/intel-core-i5...u-review/1

Plug & Play said:

Well not for gaming really, no.

But we've been at the stage over the last couple of years where the CPU really doesn;t effect gaming performance all that much, as we're playing at higher and higher resolutions, bringing gaming back to being GPU bound - as it should be in this day and age.

A s775 with an OC'd E8600 / E8400 or one of the range of s775 quads will do almost as well as a high end CPU.

It really depends on what you do with your PC - if its mostly gaming, spend your cash on a decent GPU & screen.

I'm just confused as to why the new Lynnfield Core i7 branded CPUs are socket 1156. It seems confusing to have to different ranges of "Core i7" CPUs on two different socket types. I originally figured Core i7 would be on Socket 1366, and Core i5 would be on Socket 1156. It seems like the Socket 1156 Lynnfield chips are a much better deal compared to the Core i7 900 series on the Socket 1366 platform. You loose a memory channel, but performance is about the same for less memory on a cheaper motherboard and you only need two sticks of RAM instead of three to take advantage of the board. I just wonder how they will fair in overclocking. I read the Tech Report review, and there was no mention of overclocking these chips, though apparently Intel has some Turbo mode for them that boosts the clockspeed for when your running applications that aren't multithreaded.

Intel is insane..lol

Seriously, AMD really needs to launch a new platform/CPU architecture that actually can rival what Intel has on the market at least in the midrange. AMD is now pushed down to the $150 and under CPU market and is only competitive in that budget range. The lack of competition in the CPU market for so long cannot be good for us consumers. The last time AMD was competitive in the CPU market was the day before Intel launched the Core 2 Duo (July 27, 2006 according to Wikipedia). Sure they have managed to undercut Intel by cutting prices over and over again, but it seems like AMD is always playing catchup and getting further and further behind as Intel continues to push faster and faster chips.

Adam that is so true

I agree...the last time AMD were good was when THEY were running their massively popular San Diego and Venice cores. Intel were playing catch up then. After that they just could not compete and still cant, hell their really high end stuff is JUST ABOUT beating the older quads and that NOW.

Yeah it's sad when AMD's best chip barely beats a Q6600...

I don't think the i7 or i5 core CPUs are all that much better that what we have, they don't appear to be worth an upgrade. I can see if you're building a new system to build it with an i5 CPU as the price/performance is quite nice though.

I wonder when the next large gap between CPUs will occur? It's obviously not happening with the i7 and i5 CPUs!

Why's it at a standstill for CPU's to be from 2.40GHz to 3.00GHz?
In 2000, 1.0GHz was released. This's now 2009, almost 2010, and the amount
of GHz has basically halted. What's the problem? I've not researched this, hence why
I posted this. You'd think at least every 2 years, we'd gain another 1GHz. By 2010,
I'd expect to be seeing like at least 4 or 5GHz procs.

Tam,

Intel are not gonna release 4Ghz chips purely because there is no need....this is ideal for them. They have no competition to release anything faster....its up to us the consumer to make wise choices and not bow down to this kind of hype and propaganda and to be honest us gamers are the worst, here I am with a good GPU and I am already being conned into buying a DX11 UBER CARD....with features I just cannot live without.....Meh!

I swear I am gonna be much more savvy with my money from now on, not that I was stupid, I only got my GTX295 coz I made good money on my 8800GTX...from now on if it is not worth the money I aint gonna pay for it....hence i7 and maybe even i5. But I would like the GPU's to flourish under DX11 coz DX10 was the best party trick nvida n co pulled off in a while it was BOLLOCKS!!!!

I'll agree with the Nividia Party Trick lol! I'd also like to add Microsoft to that statement
too lol. As for the 4Ghz - I'm not saying that as a gamer. I'm just wondering why we've
just hit the 3.0GHz point for 2010. I just don't get it. I say there's never enough power.

looking at a price performance value, the i5 750 actually still fairs much better then an 8600.
even without the microcenter deal. the only reason why one might consider not upgrading to the new platform is because they either want to hang on to the old platform a little longer or don't want to shell out extra money for a board and memory.

so for a cpu only upgrade the 8600 might be feasible but for a complete system the new 1156 is the way to go

Tam,

in regards to Ghz thingie.......

I believe it still has to do with that the cpu are still made out of silicon... even though they have improved it (tweaks upon tweaks).... the material limits the speed. There is a point where you get to a certain speed that the return in performance is over shadowed by the bad stuff (i.e. lack of effeciency, heat, volt requirements, etc....) ... The process will allow speeds of beyond 4ghz but then you end up needing special requirements to maintain it.

That is why they have and are redoing how they go about building the cpu using the same manufactoring process... new arch, more cores, single die, etc.....

I think in order for them to go beyond 4ghz and for the cpu to be efficient.... they will have to come up with totally new materials away from the strain silicon.

Just look at all the cpus that has been taken to 5+, 6+, 7 ghz...... look at how and what they needed to do to the cpu and mb to get those cpu to get there..... Not very practical for the normal consumer...

so i say it will take a totally new cpu material that will take the cpu ghz beyond 4ghz that wont require a nuclear based psu, nitrogen based cooling system or some special handling process by the user......

But then again, 4Ghz is very much do able at the moment even on air. You get an E8600 and 4Ghz is a cert....so we not that far away. The point Intel are looking at is even if they release a CPU that does 4Ghz now....we will look at it and say FOOK that it will not overclock to 4.5Ghz or whatever....

So by churning out 3GHZ chips and us thinking we are SO KOOOOL clocking them...Its a win win situation for Intel....especially with AMD sucking ASS.

Plug & Play said:

I'm on about 4.0GHz stock bought from supplier.

Plug & Play said:
But you know AMD still makes killer gaming systems.I dont know what it is but every AMD system i ever used/tried lately just seem more responsive than my i7 or my old Q9650 system

QUICK! Call 911!!! Mothow has suffered a head trauma!!

Mothow said:
I agree, thats why I like AMD a little more than Intel. I've always noticed my AMD systems to be quicker than my/my family's Intel systems. The numbers dont show it but you can definately feel it.

You know that's really funny my friend with his spanking new Q9550 says that his system isn't nearly as responsive as my aging Opteron 180, funny eh?

Liquid Shadow said:


you all are delusional.... its called AMD withdrawal.... ehehehehehe next thing you guys are going to say that a Yugo is faster than a BMW M1. lol


Liquid... offer to your friend for a swap... give him yours and his to you... even-stevens... then you properly reinstall the system both hard and soft...

Well G.G. my friend is a n00b, he's still on XP and probably doesn't have his system optimized.