Processor

Should I buy the Intel Core i7 now or wait for the Intel Core i5?

Flip a coin

How bad do you need a new PC - and what's your timeframe. Nobody really knows for sure the technology pathway of each socket as technology moves forward. For me, I did the 920 - b/c I wanted a new PC now ( My old P4 was killing me ). I also got in on the Microcenter $199.00 i7 920 deal.

I was a little disappointed when I heard they were getting rid of the lower end i7 cpu's moving forward - but nobody knows if that will last or not. In 3 years - it's possible that one socket will take off - and the other will die out - but this processor is plenty fast for the next few years for me - and now that I own a quality case - and power supply - and HDD - and triple channel RAM - I can get a MOBO - and CPU and upgrade ( If I want to ) for much cheaper than my first build.

If you have a local microcenter ( USA ) you can pick up an i920 for 229.00. I just checked and my local store has 74 in stock - so they just got a new truckload.
 
Flip a coin

How bad do you need a new PC - and what's your timeframe. Nobody really knows for sure the technology pathway of each socket as technology moves forward. For me, I did the 920 - b/c I wanted a new PC now ( My old P4 was killing me ). I also got in on the Microcenter $199.00 i7 920 deal.
This Summer. No later.
 
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I'm also thinking of the Amd Phenom II 950 Black Edition.Is this a better processor?If intel is in complications with the sockets than i will stick out of it and buy the AMD.
 
I'm also thinking of the Amd Phenom II 950 Black Edition.Is this a better processor?If intel is in complications with the sockets than i will stick out of it and buy the AMD.

AMD is about equlivent to a core 2 quad at the moment.
 
Ok then I will wait for the upcoming intel processors

Good idea. I was in the camp - that i5 / i7 flip a coin. But the more I read about the i5 - the more I think if I were to be making the decision today - I'd go with the i5. ( Of course - I'd still build the i7 with a 199.00 CPU - and don't regret building my 920 - but a bit irked that Intel is adding such misdirection in where their sockets will ultimately go ).

In the end - it still doesn't make much of a difference - b/c CPU not likely to be updated. i5 seems like it will offer more of a mainstream - value / performance option moving forward though if the need should arise.
 
I would wait for i5. The prices should be comparable to Phenom II's and performance should be on par with i7, minus the Triple Channel DDR3.
 
If you're a gamer, it really doesn't matter, because either the AMD Phenom II or Intel iX series will be good for gaming - so long as your graphics card is up to it.

If you're gaming I'd go with AMD, since they're cheaper, and you won't notice a difference really. If you're going to convert masses of video, or you compile loads of code, or whatever, save a bit for Intel.

Personally I have the triple core AMD 720, and i can clock it to nearly 4ghz, and at 3.2ghz it does all i need it to and more. I can max out Fallout 3, most Steam downloaded games (Half Life 2 + mods, etc). Also VERY cheap compared to the i7. AM3 will be the socket too, and later they'll probably update to AM3+ - but unlike Intel the AMD processors will be backwards compatible (as all current AM2 and AM2+ processors are, though an AM2+ cpu in an AM2 board my not work, depending on the model etc)
 
If you're a gamer, it really doesn't matter, because either the AMD Phenom II or Intel iX series will be good for gaming - so long as your graphics card is up to it.

If you're gaming I'd go with AMD, since they're cheaper, and you won't notice a difference really. If you're going to convert masses of video, or you compile loads of code, or whatever, save a bit for Intel.

Personally I have the triple core AMD 720, and i can clock it to nearly 4ghz, and at 3.2ghz it does all i need it to and more. I can max out Fallout 3, most Steam downloaded games (Half Life 2 + mods, etc). Also VERY cheap compared to the i7. AM3 will be the socket too, and later they'll probably update to AM3+ - but unlike Intel the AMD processors will be backwards compatible (as all current AM2 and AM2+ processors are, though an AM2+ cpu in an AM2 board my not work, depending on the model etc)

+1

I saw your explanation in one of bodagits23's thread about explanation of superpi score
Well If we see the benchmarks for gaming it is comparable to core i7's
 
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