AMD VS i7 Game Builds

[shyheim]

Hey all. Want to start a discussion thread on an AMD build vs an Intel i7 build for a gaming rig.

Pros for AMD: Cost

Pros for i7: Performance and possible future proofing?

Say budget was open ended, what would the best way to go for the games out now and games in the future (MMO's, fps, etc.)
What would you forum'ers pick, and why?

--------------
AMD Build:

HDD: $69.99
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

Cooler: None, wont be OC'ing

GPU: $379.99
SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/267257-31-gaming-build-phenom-intel-core

CPU: $189.99
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471

Case: $49.99
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

DVD: $25.99
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

MOBO: $109.99
GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

RAM: $57.99
Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory Model CT2KIT25664BC1067 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148191

Paste: $8.95
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

PSU: $119.99
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006

Total Cost: 1012.84

-----------
i7 BUILD

HDD: $69.99
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

Cooler: $39.98 Had some trouble finding one to fit the i7 board
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

GPU: $94.99 Will be getting a second quickly if not at the same time
SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102810

CPU: $279.99 How high could this be easily O.C.'d?
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202

Case: $49.99
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

DVD: $25.99
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

MOBO: $291.99
EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813188039

RAM: $99.99
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227365

Paste: $8.95
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

PSU: $119.99 Anything cheaper?
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006

Total Cost: 1081.87

 

[xaira]

the amd build would oblitherate the i7 in any game if u put the 4870 in the i7 ull be able to run all but crysis at highest settings

 

[Helloworld_98]

1) on the amd build drop the 4870 X2, at the moment it is the worst buy ever for two reasons, two 4890's cost the same amount as one 4870 X2, and the DX11 cards coming out around October where one GPU is as powerful as a 4870 X2 while being cheaper and using less energy.

2) you will see no performance difference in single threaded apps between the i7 @ 2.66ghz and the P2 955 @ 3.2Ghz so why spend $40 on a cooler which you could spend on a better graphics card.

3) on the PSU, I think the PCP&C 750w is cheaper and will still hold up the same cards that the corsair can.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

I recommend AMD over i7. One could argue that the AMD might be more future proof than intel, looking at their recent history with AM2, AM2+ and AM3.

 

[shyheim]

You mean intel would be more future proof? It was AMD that had the AM2 etc fiasco.

 

[hunter315]

No, AM2 processors worked with AM2+ sockets which supported AM2, AM2+, and AM3 processors, LGA 1366 will only support i7's and only about 5 different processors so there isnt much in the way of a processor upgrade path.

 

[shyheim]

Oh right thats true. Will direct x 11 graphics cards be compatible with any of the AM series sockets?

 

[hunter315]

DX11 graphics cards are just going to use PCI-E 2.0 just like any other graphics card, there is no better slot for them to use.

 

[shyheim]

So DX11 graphics cards will work on the i7 board too then?

 

[shyheim]

For that matter, would the newer (not yet released) westmere chips work on the i7 board?

 

[xaira]

i think ur getting confused shyheim
normal gcards use pcie x16

the intel upcomming graphics and cpu will share the same pcb on the 1155/6 socket

but ull still b able to put a pcie x16 gcard if the board has a pcie x16 slot

but the ati and nvidia upcomming parts will use the usual graphics interface agp pcie etc they wont be able to actually fit into a 1155/6 socket

the westmere desktop chips will work on 1155/1156 not 1366 which is reserved for i7/i9 ultra high end, in other words people who want to play crysis at 2560x1600 with 8x aa