Been out of loop...

[Cannibal Corpse]

Hello All,
Been out of loop, what is the new toys out there? CPU, RAM, MoBo and Video.

Thanks!

 

[sn0man]

In terms of value for the dollar with regard to both performance and overclocking ability, many would recommend the Intel i7 920 processor. Most of these quad-core processors (8 cores with Hyperthreading) can be overclocked from 3.6 to 4.0 GHz easily with upgraded air cooling.

With an overclocked i7 you'll be looking for DDR3 memory in tri-channel kits, 1600 speed or better (1600 is probably your best bet for value/performance).

Any of ASUS' P6T models or EVGA's X58 motherboards are popular on these and other forums.

Video-specific you might best be served making a separate post in the Video Cards forum. Depending on ATI/Nvidia preferences, power supply, and monitor, the answer will vary.

 

[Cannibal Corpse]

Thanks! what about AMD CPUs?

 

[sn0man]

The last AMD I had was an older model 64 x2, so that's one area where I'm out of the loop.

Hopefully someone with that info can hop in here. Otherwise poke around the AMD section of the forums and have a look.

 

[FM 3370]

Wow, at a little over $200 the ASUS P6T is an expensive motherboard. Damn...

 

[knothead34]

looks like you have been out of the loop to lol

 

[Zero82z]

Thanks! what about AMD CPUs?

AMD CPUs are currently a generation behind Intel's performance-wise. The fastest AMD CPUs right now are the Phenom II chips, which are similar to the 45nm Core 2 Quad CPUs in terms of both performance per clock and overclockability (Core 2 Quads are slightly faster per clock, Phenom IIs are slightly less expensive). Intel's i7 CPUs are considerably faster than both Core 2 Quad and Phenom II CPUs.

 

[Dan_D]

Hello All,
Been out of loop, what is the new toys out there? CPU, RAM, MoBo and Video.

Thanks!

Well in regard to CPUs the Core i7 series is the latest from Intel. Several models are available. The Core i7 920, 940, 950, 965 Extreme Edition and the 975 Extreme Edition. They feature an integrated memory controller, quick path interface (similar to AMD's Hypertransport) and each core supports Hyperthreading like the Pentium 4 had, but better. These CPUs have no equal right now. The Core i7's are also very overclockable. 4.2GHz and even 4.5GHz isn't unheard of with high end air cooling. The 32nm refresh of the Core i7 and a 6-core Core i7 processor are in the works. So far the information going around suggests that these may even be available in late 2009.

The Intel Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad CPUs are also an incredible value but they are quite literally Intel's last generation parts. They are still competitive with AMD's offerings from a performance and a price standpoint. Your upgrade path for LGA775 motherboards will be limited at this point because the Core i5 (Lynnfield) and Core i7 (Nehalem) use different sockets. These processors use sockets 1156 and 1366 respectively. There are no high end LGA775 processors in the works. I don't even know if any new models of LGA775 CPUs will be released at this point. I know of none on the way and with Core i5 and Core i7 it seems unlikely that this will change. So while these CPUs are a great value today and will be able to offer performance beyond what most people need today, their upgrade path is pretty much non-existant going forward.

The original AMD Phenom was lackluster in many respects. Both B2 and B3 steppings were largely unimpressive. These were only a good value in specific price points and were often used to upgrade older socket AM2 systems to quad core performance. They overclocked poorly and Intel's Core 2 Quad almost universally killed them performance wise. They could be had just as cheaply or close to it, and offered more performance with a much better overclocking ceiling than the Phenom offered.

The Phenom II is a much better offering than the original. These CPUs are competitive with the Core 2 Quad offerings, especially when equipped with DDR3 RAM.

In terms of value for the dollar with regard to both performance and overclocking ability, many would recommend the Intel i7 920 processor. Most of these quad-core processors (8 cores with Hyperthreading) can be overclocked from 3.6 to 4.0 GHz easily with upgraded air cooling.

With an overclocked i7 you'll be looking for DDR3 memory in tri-channel kits, 1600 speed or better (1600 is probably your best bet for value/performance).

Any of ASUS' P6T models or EVGA's X58 motherboards are popular on these and other forums.

Video-specific you might best be served making a separate post in the Video Cards forum. Depending on ATI/Nvidia preferences, power supply, and monitor, the answer will vary.

I agree all around. The Core i7 can't be beat in terms of performance, especially when overclocked and the CPU itself is relatively cheap. (They can be had for $225.00 last time I checked even from brick and motar stores.) The boards are somewhat expensive, but at this point great boards can be had for the same price or in many cases for less than high end LGA775 boards from last generation did.

Thanks! what about AMD CPUs?

See above:

While I prefer Intel CPUs currently, I do so mainly because the Intel CPUs rule in regard to absolute performance. I also prefer the Intel motherboard chipsets and ICH10R to the 700 series AMD chipsets and SB750 south bridge. The AM2/AM3 boards tend to have less attention to detail in regard to their layout and design. Though they are far cheaper which is important to some.

Wow, at a little over $200 the ASUS P6T is an expensive motherboard. Damn...

You have been out of touch for quite some time then. High end motherboards have eclipsed $200 for some time. The ASUS P4C800 Deluxe cost about $230 when it was launched. That was a socket 478 board designed for the Pentium 4 "C" processors based on the Northwood core. That was several years ago. High end boards like the EVGA X58 3X SLI Classified and the ASUS P6T7 Supercomputer are over $400 at this time. $200 is really a mid-range price point for motherboards at present. Bear in mind that you do get quite a bit with these boards now. Decent RAID controllers, two network interfaces in many cases, IEEE1394a, USB2.0 (12 ports on most of them), 6 SATA ports, sometimes more. eSATA and upwards of three RAID controllers. These boards are also capable of running a $200 processor at speeds FAR exceeding their stock clock frequencies.

High end CPUs are cheaper than ever. Sure there are still very expensive CPUs costing over $1,000 each but there are few reasons to buy them at present. RAM prices aren't too bad now compared to the time frame I mentioned above where the Intel 875P chipset reigned supreme. So while the motherboard may be hugely expensive, many other things in the system won't be.

 

[FM 3370]

<snip>


You have been out of touch for quite some time then. High end motherboards have eclipsed $200 for some time. The ASUS P4C800 Deluxe cost about $230 when it was launched. That was a socket 478 board designed for the Pentium 4 "C" processors based on the Northwood core. That was several years ago. High end boards like the EVGA X58 3X SLI Classified and the ASUS P6T7 Supercomputer are over $400 at this time. $200 is really a mid-range price point for motherboards at present. Bear in mind that you do get quite a bit with these boards now. Decent RAID controllers, two network interfaces in many cases, IEEE1394a, USB2.0 (12 ports on most of them), 6 SATA ports, sometimes more. eSATA and upwards of three RAID controllers. These boards are also capable of running a $200 processor at speeds FAR exceeding their stock clock frequencies.

High end CPUs are cheaper than ever. Sure there are still very expensive CPUs costing over $1,000 each but there are few reasons to buy them at present. RAM prices aren't too bad now compared to the time frame I mentioned above where the Intel 875P chipset reigned supreme. So while the motherboard may be hugely expensive, many other things in the system won't be.

Yeah, I've really been out of the loop especially when it comes to the i7. I've been looking at the motherboards for the Core2 processors and seeing prices around $140 so maybe it's time for me to do some i7 research.