Request some help with spec info from 5 boxers

[fuzzman]

Hello guys,

I'm new to the community and I am about to get myself a new rig for the purpose of 5 boxing. I am looking for some feedback from our veteran 5 boxers. I am hesitant of which system I should choose between the i5-750, i7-920 or a Phenom X 4 965?

Both Intel setup are configure with Radeon 5750 and the AMD setup has Radeon 5850. Since, all system have a similar price range, I wonder if a better video card would have better results as opposed to an Intel based computer with the 5750?

Is the Hyper threading, triple ram channel from an i7 outshine the i5 and AMD setup in my wow gaming experience?

Also note that the i5 and AMD setup have 8 gig of ram and the i7 only has 6 gig of ram, which setup would be better?

Factoring all the above questions, which one would you guys prefer over another and why? I don't plan on adding more ram or doing a video card upgrade if those spec should be good enough for the time being.

Thank you in advance

Here are the setups I had in mind:

Intel Core i5 750

Intel Core i5 750 Quad Core Processor Lynnfield LGA1156 2.66GHZ 8MB Cache Retail Box 219.99
ASUS P7P55D-E LGA1156 P55 DDR3 2PCI-E16 3PCI-E1 2PCI CrossFireX USB3.0 SATA 6GB Motherboard 169.99
OCZ OCZ3G1333LV8GK Gold 8GB DDR3 2X4GB DDR3-1333 PC3-10666 CL 9-9-9-20 1.65V Dual Channel Memory Kit 254.99
ASUS Formula Radeon HD 5750 700MHZ 1GB 4.6GHZ GDDR5 VGA DVI HDMI DIRECTX11 PCI-E Video Card 159.99
Kingston SSDNow V Series Gen II 64GB 2.5IN SATA2 Solid State Disk Flash Drive 164.99
LG 16X DVD-ROM Optical Drive SATA Black OEM 22.99
Corsair TX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan 119.99

Total 1112.93

Intel Core i7 920

Intel Core i7 920 Quad Core Processor LGA1366 2.66GHZ Bloomfield 8MB 4.8GT/S 264.99
ASUS P6X58D-E X58 ATX LGA1366 3PCI-E16 PCI-E1 2PCI CrossFire SLI USB3.0 SATA 6GB/S Motherboard 262.99
Corsair XMS3 Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D 6GB DDR3 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 8-8-8-24 Core i7 Memory Kit 239.99
ASUS Formula Radeon HD 5750 700MHZ 1GB 4.6GHZ GDDR5 VGA DVI HDMI DIRECTX11 PCI-E Video Card 159.99
Kingston SSDNow V Series Gen II 64GB 2.5IN SATA2 Solid State Disk Flash Drive 164.99
LG 16X DVD-ROM Optical Drive SATA Black OEM 22.99
Corsair TX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan 119.99

Total 1235.93

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Quad Core Processor AM3 3.4GHZ 8MB Cache 125W 45NM Retail Box 197.99
ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 DDR3 AMD 890GX ATX 2PCI-E16 PCI-E1 PCI-E4 2PCI VGA DVI Motherboard 164.99
OCZ OCZ3G1333LV8GK Gold 8GB DDR3 2X4GB DDR3-1333 PC3-10666 CL 9-9-9-20 1.65V Dual Channel Memory Kit 254.99
ASUS DirectCU Radeon HD 5850 725MHZ 1GB GDDR5 4.0GHZ DVI HDMI Display Port DX11 PCI-E Video Card 354.99
Kingston SSDNow V Series Gen II 64GB 2.5IN SATA2 Solid State Disk Flash Drive 164.99
LG 16X DVD-ROM Optical Drive SATA Black OEM 22.99
Corsair TX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan 119.99

Total 1280.93

[alcattle]

all 3 would be more than enough to run 5 toons. It is hard to say which rig is best as you changed too much compare the 3. 6 gig RAM is enough, they are using the RAM differently. Triple channel should be better than dual channel. The 5850 will be better than a 5750. Both will blast through WoW and most other games.

[kernel.k]

I would go for the i7 but thats because i already have one. honestly i7 has been a blast for my 5 box. i use a 5870 too and have 12 gig of ram. i still have to dial down the settings for smooth play albeit it 60fps mostly.


i7 hands down is simply the best processor of the three , as much ram as poss and the best card possible. if you skimp on the gpu you'll regret it.

also i take it you are doing sums in dollars? am i right? cos 354 pounds where i come from would leave change from a 5870


am i also right in thinking 6 gig ram is gonna be a bit of a bottleneck at times?

my ram is 50 % used whilst 5 boxing and i have 12 gig(triple channel) , although i dont have a pagefile, which speeds up the systemat the cost of using more ram.

[alcattle]

also i take it you are doing sums in dollars? am i right? cos 354 pounds where i come from would leave change from a 5870
Look like Newegg prices (US) off the top of my head.
I agree that the i7 is the best processor. The question was which rig to run 5 toons. Are you going to run higher end games that take a killer GPU? All the systems will run WoW so if you used the cheaper GPU you would be fine. As K.K says, get the best you can afford, you won't regret it a year from now.

[kernel.k]

man it sucks to be inengland.. every thing is 30% more than in America

[fuzzman]

Thanks a lot for the replies guys, very appreciated!

The prices are in Canadian dollars and I only plan on 5 boxing wow and playing SC2 when it is going to be released.

My only concerns about the i7 setup was that 6 gig of ram wouldn't be enough to 5box. 12 gig of ram in a i7 setup is too pricey for my taste and the i7 setup doesn't offer room for future ram upgrade, since all 3 memory slots are used.

Thanks again guys! :)

[MiRai]

My only concerns about the i7 setup was that 6 gig of ram wouldn't be enough to 5box. 12 gig of ram in a i7 setup is too pricey for my taste and the i7 setup doesn't offer room for future ram upgrade, since all 3 memory slots are used.

I see 6 DIMM slots for RAM.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641&Tpk=ASUS%20P6X58D-E

[fuzzman]

I see 6 DIMM slots for RAM.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641&Tpk=ASUS%20P6X58D-E

Silly me, I assumed there was only 3 slots, after checking the image you posted, there is clearly 6 slots.

Thanks! :)

[alcattle]

I see 6 DIMM slots for RAM.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641&Tpk=ASUS%20P6X58D-E
yes, there are a few i7 boards with less than 6 slots, they should all be marked" Avoid at all cost"

[Shodokan]

My rig consists of
i7 (forget the model and speed)
radeon 5870
12 gigs of tripple channel ram
two hdds setup in raid
among other basic things

My computer has never gone over 23 degrees celcius inside.... and i've had no AC on in 90 degree weather recently. I run all 5 windows at highest settings and the only place i do not get 60 fps is in dalaran... i play one of the highest population servers in the world though so it may be less on other servers.

I've also played crysis on full settings while having 5 wows up and it ran perfectly.... so anything close to my system will be great. I overdid it though,. It handles everything great though and i wouldn't trade it for anything right now.

[Sajuuk]

My rig consists of
i7 (forget the model and speed)
radeon 5870
12 gigs of tripple channel ram
two hdds setup in raid
among other basic things

My computer has never gone over 23 degrees celcius inside.... and i've had no AC on in 90 degree weather recently. I run all 5 windows at highest settings and the only place i do not get 60 fps is in dalaran... i play one of the highest population servers in the world though so it may be less on other servers.

I've also played crysis on full settings while having 5 wows up and it ran perfectly.... so anything close to my system will be great. I overdid it though,. It handles everything great though and i wouldn't trade it for anything right now.

congratulations on never truly taxing your system.

[Dawnstrider]

man it sucks to be inengland.. every thing is 30% more than in America

Maybe you can use this to leverage a Visa citing 'Philosophical oppression' for you reason seeking asylum. :)