Processors - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Glory's Sun · 09-09-2009, 06:07 AM

Ok.. so I need a beefer machine for certain applications.. I'm a bit clueless about these things so I need some help.

I have about $1000 to spend on just the processor, mobo and maybe some ram. I have plenty of DDR2 ram, but am considering DDR3.

This is for a windows machine that will be used in video applications. I need to make sure the MOBO can support a Nvidia Quadro FX580 (PCI express). This isn't the main rendering machine, but the FX580 is still a decent card. I prefer the FX5600 I have in the main machine..but that's a different story.

So basically, should I go with an i7, i5, a different quad setup? which processor/mobo combinations would you recommend? If the pricing and performance is right, I can use some of the money to put a SSD in the machine for the OS and use my other SATA's for the data.

Oh one more thing.. no AMD. The software I use doesn't have support for AMD. Any and all suggestions are welcome.. I just need them in a decent timeframe as I have some major things coming up and need to have all the projects and data (8tb's worth) transferred to the new machine by next monday at the latest.

wraithhibn · 09-09-2009, 06:20 AM

If you are going to spend the money get an i7, they are blazing fast. They will set you back a good amount of change though. The LGA 1156 mobos just went up on newegg for the newest i7's. Plus get a good amount of DDR3 to go with it.

Glory's Sun · 09-09-2009, 08:39 AM

that was supposed to be $2000.. sorry.

anyway.. if I wanted to cheap out, is there really major noticeable difference between say the i7 860 and the i7 920?

I'm also looking at the i7 870, but it's about $300 more than the 860..

with the video stuff, ram is where I see the biggest drains.. so that's my main focus really. the cpu will help I'm sure, but renders are massively dependent on the ram.

dippin · 09-09-2009, 08:59 AM

the differences between the 920 and the 860 are that the 920 has triple channel support but lower clock (2.66 vs 860's 2.8).

How do they compare?
Very similar at stock speeds for video encoding:
Core i5 750 - Core i7 860 and 870 processor review

AnandTech: The Lynnfield Preview: Rumblings of Revenge

bit-tech.net | Review - Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Lynnfield review

But if you overclock, the i920 is better:

bit-tech.net | Review - Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Lynnfield review

Glory's Sun · 09-09-2009, 09:09 AM

hmm so there really isn't much difference in the end it looks like.. they're pretty close to the same price..

hmm.. what is the point of overclocking? I've never done it so I'm pretty clueless on that. (no, I'm not a gamer at all)

dippin · 09-09-2009, 09:23 AM

you basically increase the clock of the cpu to increase its speed. Its not necessarily linked to gaming. As you can see in the last benchmark I posted, you can get significant performance gains by overclocking, though that often entails spending a bit on better cooling. If you don't need or want to overclock, that is fine. I just wanted to underline the distinction that, clock for clock, the i920 is faster, but it comes with a lower stock clock so at stock speeds they are very similar.

09-09-2009, 06:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	Processors Ok.. so I need a beefer machine for certain applications.. I'm a bit clueless about these things so I need some help. I have about $1000 to spend on just the processor, mobo and maybe some ram. I have plenty of DDR2 ram, but am considering DDR3. This is for a windows machine that will be used in video applications. I need to make sure the MOBO can support a Nvidia Quadro FX580 (PCI express). This isn't the main rendering machine, but the FX580 is still a decent card. I prefer the FX5600 I have in the main machine..but that's a different story. So basically, should I go with an i7, i5, a different quad setup? which processor/mobo combinations would you recommend? If the pricing and performance is right, I can use some of the money to put a SSD in the machine for the OS and use my other SATA's for the data. Oh one more thing.. no AMD. The software I use doesn't have support for AMD. Any and all suggestions are welcome.. I just need them in a decent timeframe as I have some major things coming up and need to have all the projects and data (8tb's worth) transferred to the new machine by next monday at the latest.

09-09-2009, 06:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
wraithhibn Dopefish Location: the 'Ville	If you are going to spend the money get an i7, they are blazing fast. They will set you back a good amount of change though. The LGA 1156 mobos just went up on newegg for the newest i7's. Plus get a good amount of DDR3 to go with it. __________________ If you won't dress like the Victoria Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

09-09-2009, 08:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	that was supposed to be $2000.. sorry. anyway.. if I wanted to cheap out, is there really major noticeable difference between say the i7 860 and the i7 920? I'm also looking at the i7 870, but it's about $300 more than the 860.. with the video stuff, ram is where I see the biggest drains.. so that's my main focus really. the cpu will help I'm sure, but renders are massively dependent on the ram.

09-09-2009, 08:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
dippin Crazy, indeed Location: the ether	the differences between the 920 and the 860 are that the 920 has triple channel support but lower clock (2.66 vs 860's 2.8). How do they compare? Very similar at stock speeds for video encoding: Core i5 750 - Core i7 860 and 870 processor review AnandTech: The Lynnfield Preview: Rumblings of Revenge bit-tech.net \| Review - Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Lynnfield review But if you overclock, the i920 is better: bit-tech.net \| Review - Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Lynnfield review

09-09-2009, 09:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	hmm so there really isn't much difference in the end it looks like.. they're pretty close to the same price.. hmm.. what is the point of overclocking? I've never done it so I'm pretty clueless on that. (no, I'm not a gamer at all)

09-09-2009, 09:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
dippin Crazy, indeed Location: the ether	you basically increase the clock of the cpu to increase its speed. Its not necessarily linked to gaming. As you can see in the last benchmark I posted, you can get significant performance gains by overclocking, though that often entails spending a bit on better cooling. If you don't need or want to overclock, that is fine. I just wanted to underline the distinction that, clock for clock, the i920 is faster, but it comes with a lower stock clock so at stock speeds they are very similar.