Which chip should I use?

[wyspyr]

Hey,

I fried the second video card slot on my AM3 board so I'm about to get a new one and want to dive into Intel chips for the first time...see what all the fuss is about

Current Usage (in order of importance) = Photo Editing...intense layering and panoramas perhaps, Gaming, Web design + Java (I'm learning , internet, music, Bluray and other HD playback, and streaming internet vids...pretty much all at the same time. Also interested in compiling stop motion videos. With my current usage in mind, I've narrowed my choice to either an i5 or i7 chip. Here they are:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215



How do these look? The price it at the high end of what I'm willing to pay, so please bear in mind. I'm leaning toward the i5 but want to verify that it can handle my work load. My current AMD system is snappy but can lag when I have too many apps open at once. Especially the Photo editing stuff. Also, I don't plan to run crossfire, at least not now, but would like the option to upgrade a second card later *upgrading to a 5850*. The MOBO and RAM I posted elsewhere for critic but here they are again:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188056

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146871


The rest I'll use from my current system listed below. Thanks.

 

[tecmo34]

Here is a comparison of the 620 & 750... http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=109&p2=106 As you see, the Intel out performs the AM3 across the board. Your best option is the i5 750 for your budget. The best CPU for your needs is the i7 920, but it is over your budget.

Your MOBO is a good choice. I'm a fan of EVGA MOBO's myself (have an x58 😀 ), but for the price you could pick up a nice ASUS or Gigabyte MOBO with USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s support.

The RAM is nice but won't work with the Intel chip. The i5 750 requires RAM with 1.65v or less. Those run at 1.85v so won't work. I would pick up the G.SKILL ECO 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600, which runs at 1.35v.

 

[Upendra09]

The i7 860 is more suitable the i5 won't be able to handle all that it will only be slightly better than the Phenom.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148313
get tow of these it will bring doen the price and is just as good as the one you listed

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200280%201070549182&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=N82E16813130238,N82E16813188056

get this it has more on it for the same price

this should be good enough

 

[Raidur]

Like some said it relys on your budget. i7 will of course be better for you but i5 will still be great, and is still a good jump from phenom II, especially when you oc.

So is i7 worth the price premium over i5? Yes.

Is i5 still a good move? Yes.

 

[wyspyr]

Thanks all, I forgot about the voltage limits with p55. And I've been reading that the i7 on the 1366 is far superior but this benchmark link someone gave me makes it seem the additional cost isn't justified between my current choices: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3641&p=2 Like I said my current system is normally snappy but just can't seem to get over the hill as it were. The bump up with the overclocked i5 should be okay but I wasn't sure. Just as long as its a step up from what I have, I'm happy. Although the 1366 platform does screams "buy me!!!". If I were a rich man... Thanks again.

 

[wyspyr]

Second thought, how much will hyper-threading effect me with my stated uses? Would the $80 or so increase to the i7 860 be justified. I can swing it if I need to. So far I'm still going with the i5 savings feature as number one, unless hyperthreading would really matter...Thanks.