CPU's i7 860 vs i7 920

[IPT]

I am going to be building a new computer (new here, first build. I have learned a lot, but still have much to learn). Still sorting issues so have not drawn up a complete build list as stickied...that will be coming though . The primary use mostly be Adobe LR3 with some PSCS5 for whatever LR can't handle (which at this point seems less and less). I do shoot with the Canon 7D so although video is not really my thing, I may dabble with it some time soon. Anything I do will mostly likely end up being Web quality though. To a small extent I also use Dreamweaver, and may start using Adobe Flash Catalyst to work on some small Website projects.

I understand that in 2011 some of the Sockets will be changing and backwards compatability is questionable (thus likely any upgrade in the future will be CPU and mobo both required). I was led to a benchmark where generally the i7- 860 slightly outperformed or equaled the 920 (except some of the 3D rendering) http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/47?vs=108. It seemed to be particularly better in the single threaded catagory and that is apparently where LR does a lot of it's work http://www.foto-biz.com/Lightroom/Cpu-for-lightroom3. The two units are essentially the same price, but with the 860 the mobo would be a little cheaper.

So, am I getting slightly better performance and saving a little cash or am I just missing something?


Mods - this should probably be in the Intel CPU area. Can it be moved to the proper forum?

 

[tiraides]

The Core i7 860 uses the Socket 1156 (P55/H55) platform, whereas the Core i7 920 (and its successor, the Core i7 930) uses the Socket 1366 (X58) platform. The two main advantages of using the X58 platform are tri-channel DDR3 memory support (most boards allow you to use up to 24GB of RAM) and multi-card SLI and CrossFireX support (on some boards, you could go quad-SLI/CF). The Socket 1156 platform all but eliminates the large northbridge as the PCI-E controller and the memory control hub (or MCH) are embedded onto the processor (whereas only the MCH is embedded onto the Socket 1366 processors).

I haven't look at any recently published roadmaps from Intel, but the Socket 1366/X58 is Intel's high-end "enthusiast" line and it's expected to receive (non-Extreme Edition) six-core processors within the near future. I haven't heard of any new technology coming on the Socket 1156 side, which is Intel's "mainstream" line.

Of course, this is all general information. If you want the thread moved, PM a mod and ask him (nicely) to move it.