I5 or core 2 duo.

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yogman

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Apr 7, 2010
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Hello, I'm trying to figure out if i should put a

(Sckt775)Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E8500 CPU @ 3.16GHz 1333FSB 6MB L2 Cache 64-bit

or a

Intel® Core™ i5-661 3.33 GHz 4M L3 Cache LGA1156

in my computer.

I use my computer mostly for gaming.

some of my concerns are; the i5 has less cache than the core 2 duo, and the the i5 has slower bus speed.

if you want to look the the specs here they are:

core 2 duo
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=33911&processor=E8500&spec-codes=SLAPK,SLB9K

i5
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=43553&processor=i5-661&spec-codes=SLBNE

please reply, to help me decide!
 
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Other then the 750, all of the other i5's are dual cores with shitty integrated graphics which is not viable for proper gaming.

Also as shortstuff said, socket 775 is effectively dead now, you'd be wasting your money buying a new system based on it.

What is the complete spec of the setup you're planning?
 
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if you go to

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_H55_Configurator/

then type 2556698 in the load box it will show you the computer im planning.
 
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well, i don't think so... i will probably get the i5, but my dad said the most games only take advantage of dual cores not quad, so for gaming a faster dual would be better than i slower (by slower i mean each core) quad..
 
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i'm intending to get a custom computer.

if you want to see it go to http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_H55_Configurator/

then type 2556698 in the load box.
 
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well technically i could build it my self, but i don't think i could get it for that mush better of a price by building it myself.
 
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yogman,

ignore the cache, bus speed, and clock speed.

The Core 2 architecture and i5 are two different architectures so you can not cross compare them.

The i5 is a newer architecture so clock for clock its a fair bit faster despite its lack luster featers on paper. Also Bear in mind that socket 775 is dead so a core 2 isnt recommended if you plan on future upgrades.

Oh yeah, with games like GTA IV and Battlefield Bad Company the dual cores people are crying on the forum that their games are not running as well. Take our advice and get a quad core.
 
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yogman,

ignore the cache, bus speed, and clock speed.

The Core 2 architecture and i5 are two different architectures so you can not cross compare them.

The i5 is a newer architecture so clock for clock its a fair bit faster despite its lack luster featers on paper. Also Bear in mind that socket 775 is dead so a core 2 isnt recommended if you plan on future upgrades.

Oh yeah, with games like GTA IV and Battlefield Bad Company the dual cores people are crying on the forum that their games are not running as well. Take our advice and get a quad core.
Click to expand...

So you think i should go with the quad?

also, have you look at the computer that i want?

well if you haven't go to
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_H55_Configurator/

then type 2557774 in the load box!

 
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yogman,

ignore the cache, bus speed, and clock speed.

The Core 2 architecture and i5 are two different architectures so you can not cross compare them.

The i5 is a newer architecture so clock for clock its a fair bit faster despite its lack luster featers on paper. Also Bear in mind that socket 775 is dead so a core 2 isnt recommended if you plan on future upgrades.

Oh yeah, with games like GTA IV and Battlefield Bad Company the dual cores people are crying on the forum that their games are not running as well. Take our advice and get a quad core.
Click to expand...

also the quad has l2 cache and the dual has l3 cache, so is L2 cache ok?
 
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It's not hard to build a much better gaming system for less than that Cyberpowerpc system. Here's an example:

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-066-_-Product $69.99

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808&cm_re=phenom_ii_x4_955-_-19-103-808-_-Product

GIGABYTE GA-790XTA-UD4 AM3 AMD 790X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128416

AMD Gift - Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Coupon - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800995090

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345250 $299.98 - $15.00 MIR (CPU + motherboard + free game combo)

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&cm_re=g.skill_ddr3_1600_cas_7_4gb-_-20-231-303-_-Product $119.99

HIS H577FM1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161317&cm_re=5770-_-14-161-317-_-Product $149.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&Tpk=samsung%20f3%20500 $54.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=windows_7_home_oem_64\-_-32-116-754-_-Product $99.99

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188 $24.99

Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371025&cm_re=antec_750w-_-17-371-025-_-Product $99.95 (w/$10 promo code add10, ends 4/13) - $20.00 MIR

Total - $919.87 - $35.00 MIR's

You're going to be disappointed with the SLI GT 240's in that Cyberpower build. If you can go a little higher on the budget you could get a 5850 and play just about any game out there on high settings at up a 1080p resolution. What resolution does your monitor run at?

POWERCOLOR PCS+ AX5850 1GBD5-PPDHG2 Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail $299.99
 
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Were you not listening to a thing I said. Ignore the bus speed, clock speed and cache in this situation. The core 2 isnt even an option for the many reasons I said before (slower and has no upgrade path)

Read this review...

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2010/01/04/intel-core-i5-661-core-i3-530-cpu-review/9

Pay extra attention to the i5-750(2.66GHz) and the E8400(3GHz) ...which card is higher on the rank? This is just to show you that the i5 is faster than the core 2 series when clock SLOWER than it, so the i5 is clock for clock faster.

understand?
 
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ok well, thank you for doing to research, but i like Intel and nvidia
and i will consider building one ill have to see when i get the money for it.
 
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Were you not listening to a thing I said. Ignore the bus speed, clock speed and cache in this situation. The core 2 isnt even an option for the many reasons I said before (slower and has no upgrade path)

Read this review...

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2010/01/04/intel-core-i5-661-core-i3-530-cpu-review/9

Pay extra attention to the i5-750(2.66GHz) and the E8400(3GHz) ...which card is higher on the rank? This is just to show you that the i5 is faster than the core 2 series when clock SLOWER than it, so the i5 is clock for clock faster.

understand?
Click to expand...

yes i understand. so bottom line you think i should get the i5 quad?
 
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I guess if you can't get over your Intel and Nvidia bias then you can enjoy your sub-par system. Being a fanboi just limits your possibilities for no good reason. Nvidia is currently getting their arses handed to them by ATI. ATI cards offer higher speeds, use less power, run cooler, and have support for DX11. At your budget, AMD is a much better idea since a gaming system needs the best GPU possible. The CPU makes very little difference on a gaming system.
 
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I'm not saying to get the i5, but the Core 2 isnt an option.

Your options right now are i5, i7 or AMD Phenom II.

And I agree with the above posters, you'd not get the best gaming PC from that website, you'd be better off buying all the components yourself, it will be cheaper whilst benefiting from a better overall specification (performance).
 
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You can swap the CPU and motherboard in my build above for these and the cost is exactly the same as the CyberpowerPC build. All the other components could stay the same. I won't even suggest an Nvidia GPU because they don't make any sense at all right now.

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard w/ USB 3.0 & SATA 6 Gb/s - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128409

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.360549 $359.98 - $15.00 MIR
 
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well could you do a Intel CPU with ADI graphics?
 
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yogman,

shortstuff_mt is on point. Also bear in mind if you go the Phenom II route you could shave alteast $200-300 off the entire build for similar gaming performance. Also The Phenom II builld would allow for a better video card 58xx series and hence getting better performance for the same price or cheaper than the i5 with 5770 build.
 
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But other than price is there really anything that wrong with cyberpower?
i mean you can customize everything.
 
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If i5 is keeping you from getting a good GPU then maybe you could look into i3? If you're an overclocker the i3 is a superb CPU (4ghz on stock cooler/voltage is possible) for the price. If you don't play any CPU dependant games (FSX, GTA IV) then a dual core will be fine, especially if you OC it.

Your dad is right, most games will see zero benefit from a quad core, but more and more new games are seeing benefit, so quad is becoming the norm for gamers.

Fyi cyberpower is greAt, its Dell and HP and others you need to watch out for. Make sure you can pick a PSU brand on cyberpower however.
 
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