[SOLVED] Need CPU Upgrade for Photo Editing

[mattd860]

Hi All. I built a fairly decent gaming rig back in 2010. I only gamed on it for about three months after the build and ever since it's only been used for photo editing in photoshop, lightroom, and some other third party software. As of about 2-3 months ago I'm noticing some sever bottlenecks from the CPU that I've never experienced before. Since building the PC, I've upgraded the GPU and disk drives (to SSDs) but haven't touched the CPU.

Do think a CPU upgrade is necessary? If yes, what would you all recommend for a CPU upgrade? My motherboard accepts LGA 1156 processors.


Motherboard Specs: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_III_FORMULA/specifications/

• Supports the Intel® Core™ i7 and Intel® Core™ i5 Processors in the LGA1156 Package
• Intel® P55 chipset
• Dual-channel, DDR3 2133(O.C.) Support

System Specs:

Spoiler

OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
Version 10.0.18363 Build 18363
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name
System Manufacturer System manufacturer
System Model System Product Name
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80GHz, 2801 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 2202, 10/19/2012
SMBIOS Version 2.6
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode Legacy
BaseBoard Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
BaseBoard Product Maximus III Formula
BaseBoard Version Rev 1.xx
Platform Role Desktop
Secure Boot State Unsupported
PCR7 Configuration Binding Not Possible
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.18362.752"
User Name a
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB
Total Physical Memory 16.0 GB
Available Physical Memory 11.8 GB
Total Virtual Memory 32.0 GB
Available Virtual Memory 26.1 GB
Page File Space 16.0 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Kernel DMA Protection Off
Virtualization-based security Not enabled
Device Encryption Support Reasons for failed automatic device encryption: TPM is not usable, PCR7 binding is not supported, Hardware Security Test Interface failed and device is not Modern Standby, Un-allowed DMA capable bus/device(s) detected, TPM is not usable
Hyper-V - VM Monitor Mode Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Second Level Address Translation Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Virtualization Enabled in Firmware Yes
Hyper-V - Data Execution Protection Yes


CPU-Z TXT Report
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Binaries
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPU-Z version 1.93.0.x64

Processors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of sockets 1
Number of threads 8

APICs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Socket 0
-- Core 0 (ID 0)
-- Thread 0 0
-- Thread 1 1
-- Core 1 (ID 1)
-- Thread 2 2
-- Thread 3 3
-- Core 2 (ID 2)
-- Thread 4 4
-- Thread 5 5
-- Core 3 (ID 3)
-- Thread 6 6
-- Thread 7 7

Timers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACPI timer 3.580 MHz
Perf timer 10.000 MHz
Sys timer 1.000 KHz


Processors Information
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Socket 1 ID = 0
Number of cores 4 (max 4)
Number of threads 8 (max 8)
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel Core i7 860
Codename Lynnfield
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80GHz
Package (platform ID) Socket 1156 LGA (0x1)
CPUID 6.E.5
Extended CPUID 6.1E
Core Stepping B1
Technology 45 nm
TDP Limit 95.0 Watts
Core Speed 3209.6 MHz
Multiplier x Bus Speed 24.0 x 133.7 MHz
Base frequency (cores) 133.7 MHz
Base frequency (ext.) 133.7 MHz
Rated Bus speed 2407.2 MHz
Stock frequency 2800 MHz
Instructions sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, EM64T, VT-x
Microcode Revision 0xA
L1 Data cache 4 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache 4 x 32 KBytes, 4-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache 4 x 256 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L3 cache 8 MBytes, 16-way set associative, 64-byte line size
Max CPUID level 0000000Bh
Max CPUID ext. level 80000008h
Cache descriptor Level 1, D, 32 KB, 2 thread(s)
Cache descriptor Level 1, I, 32 KB, 2 thread(s)
Cache descriptor Level 2, U, 256 KB, 2 thread(s)
Cache descriptor Level 3, U, 8 MB, 16 thread(s)
FID/VID Control yes


Turbo Mode supported, enabled
Max turbo frequency 3466 MHz
Max non-turbo ratio 21x
Max turbo ratio 26x
Max efficiency ratio 9x
TDC Limit 89 Amps
Max bus number 63
Attached device PCI device at bus 63, device 2, function 1
Attached device PCI device at bus 63, device 3, function 4
Attached device PCI device at bus 63, device 2, function 1

Temperature 0 46 degC (114 degF) (Core #0)
Temperature 1 52 degC (125 degF) (Core #1)
Temperature 2 45 degC (113 degF) (Core #2)
Temperature 3 48 degC (118 degF) (Core #3)
Power 00 108.33 W (Package)
Clock Speed 0 1203.59 MHz (Core #0)
Clock Speed 1 1198.11 MHz (Core #1)
Clock Speed 2 1203.59 MHz (Core #2)
Clock Speed 3 1203.59 MHz (Core #3)
Core 0 max ratio 26.0 (effective 9.0)
Core 1 max ratio 26.0 (effective 9.0)
Core 2 max ratio 26.0 (effective 9.0)
Core 3 max ratio 26.0 (effective 9.0)



BIOS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

UEFI No
BIOS Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
BIOS MSG 65-2202-000001-00101111-101912-P55
BIOS Date 10/19/12
Mainboard Vendor 000001

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge Intel DMI Host Bridge rev. 11
Southbridge Intel P55 rev. 05
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR3
Memory Size 16 GBytes
Channels Dual
Memory Frequency 668.7 MHz (2:10)
CAS# latency (CL) 9.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD) 9
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 9
Cycle Time (tRAS) 24
Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC) 174
Command Rate (CR) 2T
Uncore Frequency 2407.2 MHz
Host Bridge 0xD131
Host Bridge 0x2C51
Host Bridge 0x2C81
Host Bridge 0x2C90
Host Bridge 0x2C91
Host Bridge 0x2C98
Host Bridge 0x2C99
Host Bridge 0x2C9C
Host Bridge 0x2CA0
Host Bridge 0x2CA1
Host Bridge 0x2CA2
Host Bridge 0x2CA3
Host Bridge 0x2CA8
Host Bridge 0x2CA9
Host Bridge 0x2CAA
Host Bridge 0x2CAB


Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR3
Module format UDIMM
Module Manufacturer(ID) Corsair (7F7F9E0000000000000000)
Size 4096 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
Part number CMX8GX3M2A1600C9
Number of banks 8
Nominal Voltage 1.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP yes
XMP revision 1.3
AMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 6.0-6-6-17-22 @ 457 MHz
JEDEC #2 7.0-7-7-20-26 @ 533 MHz
JEDEC #3 9.0-9-9-24-33 @ 666 MHz
XMP profile XMP-1600
Specification PC3-12800
Voltage level 1.650 Volts
Min Cycle time 1.250 ns (800 MHz)
Max CL 9.0
Min tRP 11.25 ns
Min tRCD 11.25 ns
Min tWR 15.00 ns
Min tRAS 30.00 ns
Min tRC 41.25 ns
Min tRFC 260.00 ns
Min tRTP 7.50 ns
Min tRRD 6.25 ns
Command Rate 2T
XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
XMP #1 6.0-6-6-16-22-2T @ 533 MHz (1.650 Volts)
XMP #2 9.0-9-9-24-33-2T @ 800 MHz (1.650 Volts)

DIMM # 2
SMBus address 0x51
Memory type DDR3
Module format UDIMM
Module Manufacturer(ID) Corsair (7F7F9E0000000000000000)
Size 4096 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
Part number CMX8GX3M2A1600C9
Serial number 32232364
Manufacturing date Week 22/Year 12
Number of banks 8
Nominal Voltage 1.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP yes
XMP revision 1.3
AMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 6.0-6-6-17-22 @ 457 MHz
JEDEC #2 7.0-7-7-20-26 @ 533 MHz
JEDEC #3 9.0-9-9-24-33 @ 666 MHz
XMP profile XMP-1600
Specification PC3-12800
Voltage level 1.650 Volts
Min Cycle time 1.250 ns (800 MHz)
Max CL 9.0
Min tRP 11.25 ns
Min tRCD 11.25 ns
Min tWR 15.00 ns
Min tRAS 30.00 ns
Min tRC 41.25 ns
Min tRFC 260.00 ns
Min tRTP 7.50 ns
Min tRRD 6.25 ns
Command Rate 2T
XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
XMP #1 6.0-6-6-16-22-2T @ 533 MHz (1.650 Volts)
XMP #2 9.0-9-9-24-33-2T @ 800 MHz (1.650 Volts)

DIMM # 3
SMBus address 0x52
Memory type DDR3
Module format UDIMM
Module Manufacturer(ID) Corsair (7F7F9E0000000000000000)
Size 4096 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
Part number CMX8GX3M2A1600C9
Serial number 28232364
Manufacturing date Week 22/Year 12
Number of banks 8
Nominal Voltage 1.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP yes
XMP revision 1.3
AMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 6.0-6-6-17-22 @ 457 MHz
JEDEC #2 7.0-7-7-20-26 @ 533 MHz
JEDEC #3 9.0-9-9-24-33 @ 666 MHz
XMP profile XMP-1600
Specification PC3-12800
Voltage level 1.650 Volts
Min Cycle time 1.250 ns (800 MHz)
Max CL 9.0
Min tRP 11.25 ns
Min tRCD 11.25 ns
Min tWR 15.00 ns
Min tRAS 30.00 ns
Min tRC 41.25 ns
Min tRFC 260.00 ns
Min tRTP 7.50 ns
Min tRRD 6.25 ns
Command Rate 2T
XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
XMP #1 6.0-6-6-16-22-2T @ 533 MHz (1.650 Volts)
XMP #2 9.0-9-9-24-33-2T @ 800 MHz (1.650 Volts)

DIMM # 4
SMBus address 0x53
Memory type DDR3
Module format UDIMM
Module Manufacturer(ID) Corsair (7F7F9E0000000000000000)
Size 4096 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
Part number CMX8GX3M2A1600C9
Number of banks 8
Nominal Voltage 1.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP yes
XMP revision 1.3
AMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 6.0-6-6-17-22 @ 457 MHz
JEDEC #2 7.0-7-7-20-26 @ 533 MHz
JEDEC #3 9.0-9-9-24-33 @ 666 MHz
XMP profile XMP-1600
Specification PC3-12800
Voltage level 1.650 Volts
Min Cycle time 1.250 ns (800 MHz)
Max CL 9.0
Min tRP 11.25 ns
Min tRCD 11.25 ns
Min tWR 15.00 ns
Min tRAS 30.00 ns
Min tRC 41.25 ns
Min tRFC 260.00 ns
Min tRTP 7.50 ns
Min tRRD 6.25 ns
Command Rate 2T
XMP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
XMP #1 6.0-6-6-16-22-2T @ 533 MHz (1.650 Volts)
XMP #2 9.0-9-9-24-33-2T @ 800 MHz (1.650 Volts)


DMI
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

SMBIOS Version 2.6

DMI BIOS
vendor American Megatrends Inc.
version 2202
date 10/19/2012
ROM size 2048 KB

DMI System Information
manufacturer System manufacturer
product System Product Name
version System Version
serial System Serial Number
UUID {1E008F80-008C-AA00-3C8F-90E6BA209B48}
SKU To Be Filled By O.E.M.
family To Be Filled By O.E.M.

DMI Baseboard
vendor ASUSTeK Computer INC.
model Maximus III Formula
revision Rev 1.xx
serial 101541800000577



DMI Physical Memory Array
location Motherboard
usage System Memory
correction None
max capacity 4 GB
max# of devices 4

DMI Memory Device
designation DIMM0
format DIMM
type DDR
total width 72 bits
data width 64 bits
size 4 GB

DMI Memory Device
designation DIMM1
format DIMM
type DDR
total width 72 bits
data width 64 bits
size 4 GB

DMI Memory Device
designation DIMM2
format DIMM
type DDR
total width 72 bits
data width 64 bits
size 4 GB

DMI Memory Device
designation DIMM3
format DIMM
type DDR
total width 72 bits
data width 64 bits
size 4 GB


Graphics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of adapters 1

Graphic APIs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

API D3D
API NVIDIA I/O
API NVIDIA NVAPI

Display Adapters
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Display adapter 0
ID 0x1090306
Name NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
Board Manufacturer 0x196E (0x119F)
Revision A1
Codename GP106
Core family 0x136 (GP106)
Technology 16 nm
Memory size 6 GB
Memory type GDDR5
Memory vendor Hynix
PCI device bus 1 (0x1), device 0 (0x0), function 0 (0x0)
Vendor ID 0x10DE (0x196E)
Model ID 0x1C03 (0x119F)
Revision ID 0xA1
Performance Level 0
Core clock 898.5 MHz
Memory clock 4006.8 MHz

Win32_VideoController AdapterRAM = 0xFFF00000 (4293918720)
Win32_VideoController DriverVersion = 27.21.14.5177
Win32_VideoController DriverDate = 07/13/2020

Monitor 0
Model HP 27f ()
ID HPN354A
Serial 3CM9350YWJ
Manufacturing Date Week 35, Year 2019
Size 27.2 inches
Max Resolution 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz
Horizontal Freq. Range 30-86 kHz
Vertical Freq. Range 48-75 Hz
Max Pixel Clock 180 MHz
Gamma Factor 2.2


Software
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Windows Version Microsoft Windows 10 (10.0) Professional 64-bit (Build 18363)
DirectX Version 12.0


Register Spaces
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Register space PCI
Register space PCI #2
Register space PCI Express, base address = 0x0F8000000
Register space SMBus, base address = 0x0400
Register space LPC, base address = 0x0290
Register space LPC, base address = 0x02E

<Moderator note: Do not post huge blocks of text without spoiler tags>

 

[Zerk2012]

Their just not much of a upgrade left I believe the 880 is the best you can use with that board. Everything is just old.

http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Core-i7-880-vs-Intel-Core-i7-860

EDIT you said the performance has doped in the last couple of months this could be the CPU thermal throttling from getting to hot. I would run a stress test like OCCT and monitor the temp. Could be as simple as needing to clean the cooler or replacing the thermal paste.

 

[ttower2020]

The above is true, your system is old, and there is not much better you can put into that board. Modern CPUs will way outperform any upgrade you can do to the CPU you have.

If you do decide to build a new system, I would recommend looking at the Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 CPUs. They are more budget friendly, and are higher performance for editing or other workstation tasks, while also performing well in games if you decide to play some games eventually.

 

[dorsai]

Sadly your motherboard and socket have beeh left behind.

I would suggest moving to a Ryzen 3700x on a mid level B550 motherboard as the ideal setup for photo work...combined with a 500-600w gold PSU, 32g of c16 3600 memory, and a fast NVME 3.0 or 4.0 drive and you'll have a very fast work station for a relatively modest investment. Add in a mid level nVidia GPU like a 2060 super to utilize any app specific performance boosts and you'll have zero performance issues with anything you throw at a photo editor.