Advice on an i5/i7 upgrade.

[Chewbenator]

Well my good ole launch e6400 is starting on the path of no return and I was looking into switching to an i5 or i7 upgrade. I already have good hardware but I would obviously need to get a new motherboard CPU and RAM. The other alternative is just to get an e8400 and stick with my ram and motherboard.

I have $500 to spend but would like it spend as little of that as possible, which is why I am considering just the e8400. This computer is mainly used for gaming, but I don't need any advice on video cards as my GTX260 puts up with what I play. Remember I am only doing this because my current CPU is dying so I am looking at my options in the future. The motherboard will have to be matx as that is what my case, which I just bought a few months ago, is. I have a LAN party next saturday so I would like to make a decision tonight.

Obviously I have overclocked in the past, but I am not looking to set any records here, so the motherboard doesn't have to be anything special. Looking at the memory benchmarks I am considering DDR3-1333 cl7, though I am not sure what model to go with. What I want to know is whether triple channel is worth it and thus the i5/i7 debate.

So, what I really want to know is whether i7 is worth it over i5 and whether spending triple the cost of an e8400 is worth upgrading to either platform.

Finally, www.Superbiiz.com (aka ewiz) has a $15 off $100 and has 5% bing cashback so preferably I would get at least something from there.

[The Nemesis]

How far are you from a Microcenter?

[Chewbenator]

Middle of Iowa right now so very, very, far.

[ReverendMaynard]

Get an i7/x58 and you won't wonder if you made the right decision. It's better, no matter how many tech hippies tell you it's not :)
cpu
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920BOX

Board
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-RAM2-GE

ram
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=WA160UX3G9

with the discounts you should be close. The only reason why I picked that ram is because it's cheap, they're a great manufacturer and running the 920 at 20x200 2:8 DRAM = 800mhz which is the sweat spot for that setup on air.

Cheers,
Rev

[The Nemesis]

Hmm i5 would be 4GB G. Skill ripjaws Asus Maximus Gene and i5 750 but that would come out to right at $500 unless u could get the $149 i5 750 from microcenter. U could also go with a cheaper 1156 M-ATX board like one of the Gigabytes. Heck I can grab an i5 for you and send it if u like.

[OC Nub]

If you are happy with the performance of your rig I would go with a q9550. I went from an e8400 to the 9550, the rig was much smoother feeling even though most games do not take advantage of it. But this depends on what kind of deal you can find on the q9550.

[The Nemesis]

Buy the Maximus III Gene and i5 750 from ewiz you get them for $375 shipped + your 5% cash back.
http://i.imagehost.org/0829/Capture.jpg (http://i.imagehost.org/view/0829/Capture)
Then grab the G. Skills from newegg they ship free or you can go cheaper on different ram. Either way your under $500

[Chewbenator]

Typing this from my phone and wont have access to a computer for awhile, but thanks for the advice. Btw, $500 is a set number I cannot go above that, college student here.

[Chewbenator]

What are people's thoughts on the EVGA P55 micro? I thought about it and realized I would have to get a low profile cooler for it too because of my case. But the EVGA has mounting holes for both so I wouldn't have to worry about it.

[The Nemesis]

Well The Price is hard to beat and evga has been making some quality products. I especially like their rma process. I picked up a 750 on a whimm I don't need but now I think I'll give this board a go. Too Bad it doesn't ship free.

[Chewbenator]

Alright, here's what I'm thinkin right now. I get the Gigabyte UD2, i5 750, and g.skill ripjaw 1600 cl7s. It turns out there is a combo deal from newegg for $20 and I get free 3-day shipping (shipping on superbiiz is 20 to get it there on time). That gets me to $385 which is much better than I thought it would be. Plus, I'm getting better ram than I thought I could get. It turns out the combo on newegg + free shipping cancels out both the coupon and cashback on superbiiz.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/chewbenator/corei5.png

What do you think?

I got by with a pre core2 ds3 for three years I think I can put up with the UD2.

[The Nemesis]

I see you decided to look at the gigabyte and g skills. I think you're on track to find a good upgrade and no longer need advice:up:

[dan7777]

Alright, here's what I'm thinkin right now. I get the Gigabyte UD2, i5 750, and g.skill ripjaw 1600 cl7s. It turns out there is a combo deal from newegg for $20 and I get free 3-day shipping (shipping on superbiiz is 20 to get it there on time). That gets me to $385 which is much better than I thought it would be. Plus, I'm getting better ram than I thought I could get. It turns out the combo on newegg + free shipping cancels out both the coupon and cashback on superbiiz.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/chewbenator/corei5.png

What do you think?

I got by with a pre core2 ds3 for three years I think I can put up with the UD2. nice choice man and good luck.:up:

[Chewbenator]

Hopefully I can sell my current MOBO and RAM for around $150 and make up some of the cost. *shameful plug* They are a Asus P5Q-em and G.skill DDR2-1000 cl 5, mobo about 4 months old and RAM I think is about 8 months if anyone is interested.

Gonna be fun trying to chase down the UPS guy on Friday and get a stable OC by the LAN Saturday.

[mikecdm]

It looks like you have made a good choice. With a little bit of shopping around, an upgrade doesn't have to cost a fortune.

At the rate that DDR2 is going, you should be able to sell your memory quickly.

[Chewbenator]

Yeah, we were looking up prizes for the LAN and I was stunned that the same ram I bought months ago was now $25 more.

[xVeinx]

Put some ramsinks on the mosfets, a number of people have lost those boards while trying to OC...