Printable View
Like stated ive been looking around and seen all the different i7 computers out there whats the difference between them all. Like the i7 940, i7 920, i7 870. Since im not to technical with them just trying to figure out which one is the best to purchase. Ive narrowed down my computer just wondering what processor i should get now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by suicidesspyder
Each has a small diference in architecture and performance. In your list the I7 940 has the best performance overall. The I7 940 also allow on to use it in a multi gpu configuration if that is needed. In general, since you are using it for WoW, the i7 870 will do well enough. But if you want that extra power (for some reason) then get the i7 940. There are too many differences to list. But the best performing gaming I7 is the extreme version.
Visit here to learn the differences of each chip ->
http://www.intel.com/support/process.../cs-023143.htm
Drommon
Thanks alot now i can actually get the computer i want. Thank god we have some smart peoples out here.
From my understanding, the way processors are manufactured and "rated" is thus: They're all made the same way, and then each individually tested, and then binned (Chips that perform at higher speeds at stock voltage get binned as a higher numbered CPU, and sold for more). I do not believe that there is anything PHYSICALLY different in the design, the chip just ended up performing better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Drommon
Now where the heck did you pull that from? What says I can't run multiple GPUs on my 920 (And I do, by the way!)?People have been running Multi-GPU systems for a LONG time now!Quote:
The I7 940 also allow on to use it in a multi gpu configuration if that is needed.
Yeah, if you want the extra performance without trying, and feel obliged to pay the premium.Quote:
But if you want that extra power (for some reason) then get the i7 940.
Not really. Currently a majority of game-related applications are optimized for dual core systems (to my knowledge). However, for our little niche, yes, the i7 series of CPU (be it 1156/1336 socket type) does provide a lot of performance (Mind you, this is only because we're running multiple copies of one program, which in itself is CPU-intensive) Even in this, you don't need an i7. People have been doing this with normal quad cores sans hyperthreading for a while.Quote:
But the best performing gaming I7 is the extreme version.
Oh really? Why's that?Quote:
There are too many differences to list.
CPU Socket Speed TDP
i7 920 1336 2.66GHZ 130W
i7 940 1336 2.93GHZ (HUGE premium (almost twice as much), if you can't OC your 920 to that speed I pity you) TDP = 130W
i7 870 1156 2.93GHZ TDP = 95W
Let me be clear: i7 processors are extremely easy to overclock. Get a 920 and overclock that baby!
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2333776,00.asp
Think REALLY hard before you spend premium money for minor gains.
Two more things whats the difference between 8m cache and 16m cache on hard drives. Also, if i get the i7 920 how do you oc the processor. This way i can get good output but cheaper then the i7 940.
Overclocking is very simple, just google it on a different PC and find step by step instructions or your processer. And then you can look at it on one PC as you do it on another. Be weary though, most times you base how much you OC your PC by the TEMP. of the core, so if you have no way to measure your core temp, you must have a program to do so, and it could take a while because you can go from 2.44 to 2.8 and only go up 2 degrees C, but you could go from 2.8-2.9 and go up 7. So just dont go to high every time, most step by step sights will tell you what cooling system allows you to go to what peramiters
hope this helps.
my 920 is airclocked to 3.6ghz and hasnt had an issue, even in heat waves that we got last summer.
ok kool just need to know difference between 8m cache and 16m cache on the hard drives.
So theres not much of a difference from what i have been reading so still not sure what i should get the 8m or 16m obv. price difference is pretty big.
Edit to last lol. Nvm thought it would be more for total of 2 320gb with 8m cache is 1228 thats everything computer and all. Now with 2 320 16m cache is 1234 i know what im getting lol go 6 extra dollers.
I might be mistaken :eek: but is the i7 8xx series the new chip form (1156?) and need same MB as the i5.
Correct, the i7 870 is a socket 1156 chip and requires a P55 series motherboard.Quote:
Originally Posted by alcattle
I would never over clock, in fact I underclock my memory by setting it to 2T. Of course tons of people overclock but I am not in favor of it.
Ya 920 is best for buck no doubt. Others are waste of money.
Just go for more and more ram instead of overclocking.
In addition to being a newer platform it has the new turbo modes. This is where it can "self-overclock" one core to a very high level if nothing is running on the other cores. This keeps the total heat level down to what it can deal with and gives a good boost to single-threaded apps.Quote:
Originally Posted by alcattle
That being said, it makes it a bad choice for a multi-boxing machine if you want to run at higher than stock speed because it is much harder to stably overclock this chip compared to ones that always run at the same level. You can disable the turbo on the i870 and get more stable overclocks, but then it's really just a wrong-socket i9x0 chip.
From:
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...634&p=18&cp=33
Quote:
For best performance with all four cores active, disabling turbo mode is the way to go. Otherwise you have to reduce the BCLK in order to make sure your system is still stable when the one-active-core turbo mode kicks in. For example, with our Core i7 870 with turbo disabled we hit 4.2GHz using a 200MHz BCLK. If we used the same BCLK but left turbo enabled, when only one core was active we'd hit 5.4GHz - clearly not realistic with only air cooling.
And it is also a dual channel architecture which limits you to 16GB RAM and most boards only have 4x DIMM slots which means you are almost capped at 8GB at the moment as 4GB DIMMs are not readily available.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sajuuk