Revisiting the Intel i7-930 and Nehalem Microarchitecture

I'm still using my 920 and it's starting to become an issue with some games, several newer games have had massive framerate issues in certain areas that tax the CPU and I put Watchdogs 2 in my backlog until i get a new system because it was unplayable. I've been running at stock clocks since my water cooler went belly up which is a big part of the problem but it had already become the weak link when I still had it at 4 Ghz, I would replace the cooler but I think it's time for a new system I'm just still on the fence about what to get.

The weak IMC on the early Nehalems is also an issue, 12 GB is the biggest triple channel kit you get for it and at least with my CPU the larger the kit is the slower it needs to be run at. I can't get past 1066 Mhz with my 12 GB 1600 Mhz rated kit, couldn't get past about 1500 MHZ with my 6 gb 2000 Mhz rated kit, or past about 1650 Mhz with my 3 GB 1866 Mhz rated kit. I considered throwing one of the x58 xeons in there but my MB doesn't support the better ones or overclocking on any that would be a step up from the 920.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's still a viable gaming setup but it's far from ideal and if I wasn't so indecisive about what to get I would have replaced it already.
Ryzen. That's what I did.
 
I still have an old i7 920 D0 @ 4GHz on a Gigabyte EX58-UD3R w/16GB.
Can't bear to get rid of it - damn thing is like a tank!
Ran OCed since day 1, 24/7/365.
 
I would love to see them use a 4.4ghz Xeon X56**. I know my system is no slouch when it comes to gaming at least. Now of course a lot of the new CPU's are faster, but for a whole $50-60 they should of tried to bench a few so see how much of a difference.

Just my 0.02c
 
So I decided to take the dive and bought a X5670 on eBay. Got it for a steal! The guy accepted a "make an offer" of $20 USD (didn't think he would, he was asking $39.00). So, going up from my i7-920 D0 @ 4ghz to the new Xeon, I'm hoping to OC it to at least 4.0, but would like higher of course. It's on air cooling, but I got a killer HS/Fan in there, so should be doable. I figure I'll have to upgrade my BIOS to ensure full support (Asus Rampage II Gene), and then slap the sucker in. Faster, more cores, cooler, lower power, more cache, MORE GOODLINESS! And if it don't work out, I'm down $20, no biggie ;)
 
I got a W3680 for free about 2 years ago, slapped it on an EVGA X58 FTW3, 12GB DDR3 and threw a GTX 760 on it. It's now my wifes gaming rig and holy crap that thing is nice. Almost wanted to swap her my 2500k @ 4.6ghz for it. Her W3680 is currently at 4.1ghz on air. Still no reason for either of us to upgrade. I went to a 1070 and that's it.
 
I got a W3680 for free about 2 years ago, slapped it on an EVGA X58 FTW3, 12GB DDR3 and threw a GTX 760 on it. It's now my wifes gaming rig and holy crap that thing is nice. Almost wanted to swap her my 2500k @ 4.6ghz for it. Her W3680 is currently at 4.1ghz on air. Still no reason for either of us to upgrade. I went to a 1070 and that's it.

Just curious you ever throw that 1070 in that X58 see how she handled?
 
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