Ice's Upgrade plans / Budget / Best Buy's

[Skouperd]

Mega, that could be an option too, but I found that it is very rare that one will go about upgrading just a CPU, unless there is another demand for a CPU. I recon the i7-950 is actually not a bad buy right now, and it should be capable to last at least 3 to 4 years without a problem. 2 years without an overclock, and then overclock it there after with better cooling and the works. One could run the latest games today with a 4 year old quad core CPU. I don't think the CPU's is dating as quickly as they used to a couple of years ago.

[Skouperd]

Ice, the concept of going with AMD will be the same as the upgrade plan I've proposed. The only difference will be that you will then be looking at the best AMD CPU and the best AMD motherboard that you can afford.

However, theoretically, the Intel CPU's have 8 threads (4 physical cores and 4 hyper threaded) whereas the AMD CPU's can only handle 6 threads (the hexa cores). As such if you are buying a cpu that should last you 3 to 4 years, I would go with Intel.

Saying all that, the AMD Hexa cores range between R1600 and R2400 excluding VAT, whereas the AMD motherboards range anything between R500 and R3000. The cheapest Replublic of Gamers AMD motherboard is R2200.

For Intel, i7, the prices range between R2055 for the i7-930 up to R2165 for the i7-950. Anything higher and the prices goes ridiculous. The motherboards range between R2000 and R4000 with the cheapest ROG board coming in at R2300.

So, if I had to choose between a top of the range AMD CPU versus a high end intel CPU (the i7-950) I would go with the i7. The cost is virtually the same (for the same kind of performance), so it just makes more sense that way.

[pmurgs]

However, theoretically, the Intel CPU's have 8 threads (4 physical cores and 4 hyper threaded) whereas the AMD CPU's can only handle 6 threads (the hexa cores).

Hyperthreading is pretty much useless when it comes to games. Those are not real extra 4 threads. There are many conditions when they do not work at all. You only benefit from them with specific apps that can make use of hyperthreading due to their limited usage of certain cpu parts.

A true six core intel cpu without hyperhthreading will kill a four core intel with hyperthreading in 85% of the cases with a properly multithreaded application.

[Stu]

WOW Denis! Thank's I am very happy with that upgrade path, the only reason I suggested converting my current box to a Media PC is because I have XMBC installed on a P4 with 1GB RAM and a simple Gforce card. This enables me to play 720p content on my HDTV currently and if I carried my GPU over I could run full 1080p/i on my TV.

This is more of a want than a need. I think the main purpose for this upgrade is to meet the min hardware requirements for currently released PC games.

I'll post my exact spec's once I get home this arvi.

[Skouperd]

Murgs, the question is not if a true six core Intel cpu will kill a quad core Intel CPU, first off, the Intel Hexa core CPU's are R8000+, i.e. out of the budget so completely out of the question. However, the real question is will an AMD Hexa core with six true cores out perform an equaly priced quad core intel cpu running hyperthreading. I would say the answer is that the Intel Quad Core (with hyperthreading) will beat the six core AMD cpu. Now if you start overclocking BOTH CPU's which one will beat which one?

I would say that future games, and future programs will be benefiting more and more from multithreaded applications which sticking with a dual core now is the reason why so many of the current games are suffering on his pc.

[Megageth]

will an AMD Hexa core with six true cores out perform an equaly priced quad core intel cpu running hyperthreading

This is where it gets interesting. Now, on games, Intel has a slight lead. Later, when games really start multi-threading? My guess is the AMD. By quite a bit too. This to me is question that can only be answered by pure conjecture. Its also why I raised a question in your other upgrade thread Skoups about considering the AMD hex cores. Yes an Intel quad may give you 5-10 frames now, but when multi-threading becomes commonplace?

[Skouperd]

Yes an Intel quad may give you 5-10 frames now, but when multi-threading becomes commonplace?

Which is the time when you overclock the Intel i7 CPU to a 4GHz to regain the benefit over the 6 core AMD. Remember that you will not be able to overclock the AMD as far as you will be able to overclock the Intel.

Either way, they are both good CPU's.