The Truth: i5 750 vs Phenom II 965 -Updated

[AMW1011]

Hello
There has been a lot of heated debate and arguing on these forums about which is better, a Phenom II 965 or an i5 750. On both sides, everyone has failed to back up their point and have posted one or two links at best which is inadequate to answer such a question. I am here to answer that question. The scientific method tells us to do everything in, at least, threes. Three sources, three experiments, three variables, ect. Well I have compiled 8 different sources. None were picked and chosen except for the Lost Circuits article since it keeps getting thrown around.

I must remind everyone that this is a thread to inform those who are trying to choose between the two, I'm not here to settle any vendettas or disputes, I don't give a rats ass about that.

Alright let us discuss Turbo mode. Turbo Mode is where, with 1-2 cores under load, the CPU clocks those cores to 3.2 GHz and with 3-4 core under load the CPU clocks to 2.8 GHz. With Turbo mode enabled, which it is in all the below benchmarks, the i5 750 clocks at 2.8 GHz for most of the app benchmarks, which is 600 MHz (2.8GHz vs 3.4 GHz) lower than the Phenom II 965. In most games the i5 750 is clocked at 3.2 GHz or 2.8 GHz which is 200 MHz or 600 MHz (3.2GHz/2.8GHz vs 3.4 GHz) lower than the Phenom II 965. A reader must take this into account with the below results.

Links:
http://www.techspot.com/review/193-intel-core-i5-750/
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3634
http://www.guru3d.com/article/core-i5-750-core-i7-860-870-processor-review-test/
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/intel_corei5750_corei7870/
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/lynnfield/
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2009/09/08/intel-core-i5-and-i7-lynnfield-cpu-review/1
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-core-i5,2410.html
http://www.lostcircuits.com/mambo//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=42

Note: No synthetics were listed here, though I think that they have some merit, the majority opinion is that they do not and therefor they are not included.

Here we go: (continued on next post)

2/24/2010 I have updated the pricing section and some facts. If I'm asked I will add some more articles that are more recent.

 

[Misko195]

You do know that your responding to some post that are 4 months old?

And?

Now this test is not true, right? Maybe is incorect ))

 

[warmon6]

And?

Now this test is not true, right? Maybe is incorect ))

Well lets just put it this way,

Would it make sense for me to respond to your comment on something many months later when you moved on to other things? 😉



As for zip post, there a lot of sarcasm in there, so he's not making serious points, looking for facts, ect. Just having some fun.

 

[Raidur]

Probably it's a same guy jenny with another nick. This tell us how is desperate this guy with AMD.

Don't be silly jenny, i5 have a better benchmark tests. But probably just a kid, who don't know much about CPU.

*hides

 

[EXT64]

Yep, the i5 was $150 (I got one). No idea how they made a profit on that, so I was nice and bought a bunch of other stuff there too.

 

[AMW1011]

Yep, the i5 was $150 (I got one). No idea how they made a profit on that, so I was nice and bought a bunch of other stuff there too.

I think I figured out how....

 

[yannifb]

I think I figured out how....

Lol :lol:

 

[EXT64]

Well, its not my fault the store is so awesome. I really liked how they had a bunch of popular cases out opened for display. Would make measurements/deciding on a case a lot easier.

 

[randomizer]

But probably just a kid, who don't know much about CPU.

Trying to discredit somebody by bringing up their age is not a very good form of argument. It's also not a very smart thing to do in particular if you don't actually know their age.

 

[EXT64]

Especially for computers. I know quite a few "young" people who know a ton on these forums alone.

 

[warmon6]

Especially for computers. I know quite a few "young" people who know a ton on these forums alone.

So true.

 

[Tom-K-]

I have to say I'm tearing my hair out deciding which chip to go for. These results aside here is how I was weighing them up. The i5 has much better power efficiency and consistently ran much lower power consumption on almost all reviews I read. I was plumping for the Phenom and had I ordered my parts 1 week ago I would own one by now. The reason being the Phenom was a better saving. Now however I'm leaning towards the i5 as it is a mere £5 more than the phenom at this time. But Im still undecided. I was initially getting the phenom with a asus m4a79xtd board and 4gb 1600 mhz ram. I found the equivalent intel boards considerably more expensive. I also am unsure about triple channel ram and if it has advantages, am unsure whether the 79xtd would make use of 1600 ram or would it get knocked down to 1333. I am also hopelessly lost on the 16x pci issue. I am buying one 5770 card but may get another in the future. And finally my primary use will be 3D apps like LW, Maya etc and some photoshop and occasional gaming. With regards to the Amd system I am pretty sure of what to get the 1600 mhz ram and board issue aside. With the Intel I really havent got a clue and this article just helps to confuse me more. What board would people recommend for an i5 750 with a 5770 card looking to another 5770 in the future.

 

[feeddagoat]

Just 2 points. Youshould of included AM2+ in your price comparison between the two platforms. With DDR3 prices as they are some people may be tempted to get an AM2+ board and reuse DDR2 ram from a previous build.

second point, Intel wont be using LGA1156 so it seems that its also a dead end. Bulldozer for AMD will require a new socket too in the future.

 

[yannifb]

Just 2 points. Youshould of included AM2+ in your price comparison between the two platforms. With DDR3 prices as they are some people may be tempted to get an AM2+ board and reuse DDR2 ram from a previous build.

second point, Intel wont be using LGA1156 so it seems that its also a dead end. Bulldozer for AMD will require a new socket too in the future.

According to AMD's FAD roadmap, Bulldozer uses AM3. Fusion however is supposed to use a new socket.

 

[EXT64]

Tom-K-, the i5 (1156) is Dual channel Only i7 1366 is triple channel.

 

[feeddagoat]

According to AMD's FAD roadmap, Bulldozer uses AM3. Fusion however is supposed to use a new socket.

Thanks for correcting me =D

 

[Phog]

This thread hurts my head. You put the average user in front of an i5-750 machine and then a 965 machine for half an hour each, and he'll be happy with either one. Both will do what he needs them to do and do it pretty quickly. So much nitpicking around here . . .

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey