I7 or Phenom, which way to go!

warden30 · 09-08-2009, 01:10 PM

If i'm thinking of long-term gain in spending some big coin for a gaming computer, I want to know if I should be going with a cheaper Phenom based system or the new Intel I7. There's a $1000 difference between these rigs that i've listed below. Please give me you're advice.

Intel® Core i7 Quad Core CPU
Mainboard: ASUS® P6T Deluxe X58 Chipset
Memory: 12GB DDR3 1600MHz Tri-Ch. Memory
Hard Disk: 1TB 32M 7200rpm SATA 3G Drive
Optical Drive 1: 22X DVDRW SATA
Video Graphics: nVidia GeForce GTX 280 (1G PCI-E Graphics)
Core i7 920 $2100
Core i7 950 $2200
Core i7 970 $2400

Processor: AMD Phenom II Quad Core CPU
Mainboard: ASUS® M4A78 PRO
Memory: 4 GB DDR2 800MHz Dual-Ch. Memory
Hard Disk: 640GB 7200rpm SATA 3G Drive
Optical Drive 1: 22X DVDRW SATA
Video Graphics: ATI Radeon HD4890 1GB DDR5
X3 720 $1050
X4 740 $1100
X4 755 $1150

This is going to be a tax write-off so i'm considering all the pro's and con's.

Is the $1k price difference really worth it in the long run?

**tosh9i** · 09-08-2009, 01:22 PM

Where did you get those prices from, they're outrageous.

By the way, what kind of case and PSU are you going to get?

ebackhus · 09-08-2009, 02:07 PM

Those prices are insane! Also, how is a gaming PC a tax write-off?

I'd go with the AMD any day.

Phædrus2401 · 09-08-2009, 08:44 PM

Core 2 Duo E8600 or AMD Phenom II x4.

roast · 09-09-2009, 03:20 AM

Will you be just using this computer for Gaming? If so, I'd go for the Phenom II x4 740.
If you plan on using it for other uses, eg. Video Editing, multitasking etc, I would go for the Core i7 920 - or consider a P55 based unit too.

-Mick.

warden30 · 09-09-2009, 11:53 AM

SSo the Phenom is the way to go, but what about the memory. Should I go with DDR3 or the lower cost DDR2?

Mcninjaguy · 09-09-2009, 01:28 PM

Go with DD2 1066mhz ram. You'll be fast enough. The ram won't be slowing you down.

If I were you I'd go with the Phenom X4 945 or 955.

**tosh9i** · 09-09-2009, 01:32 PM

If I were you, I'd look somewhere else for better prices.

warden30 · 09-09-2009, 01:47 PM

The prices are Canadian, from one of the more reputable vendors that have been around locally for many years. This a big deal where the warranty is concerned, and the prices are comparable to the few others i've ocated in Toronto that I trust.

D you have another Toronto vendor in mind?

**tosh9i** · 09-09-2009, 01:59 PM

First of all, can you give us a link to the webpage of the vendor?

warden30 · 09-09-2009, 03:16 PM

BESTBYTE COMPUTERS

http://www.bestbytecomputer.com/

**wrench97** · 09-09-2009, 03:38 PM

For gaming I would want the Phenom II x4 955 over the 7xx CPUs or the E8500 Intel.

warden30 · 09-09-2009, 06:01 PM

I could put an Asus M4A79XTD EVO AMD790X AM3 DDR3 MB board with 4 GIG DDR3 for an extra $70 (thats the quote). Would'nt it make practical sense to upgrade the memory. In understand it would'nt make much difference for games on the market now but the technology moves so quickly, it may make all the difference in games released a uear from now. Yes or no?

ebackhus · 09-09-2009, 09:52 PM

DDR3 still has some maturing so an AM2+/AM3 board supporting DDR2 might be a better way to go. I recently bought the Gigabyte MA790FX-UD5P which does support AM3 chips and it's running solid and fast.

warden30 · 09-10-2009, 05:20 AM

That makes alot of sense. I beleive the Sapphire Pure Crosfire 790GX AM3 DDR2 MB board has the same capabilities and is going for $145. Thats only a $30 difference from the listed boatd and supports both DDR2 and DDR3

09-08-2009, 01:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
warden30 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 12 OS: vista	I7 or Phenom, which way to go! If i'm thinking of long-term gain in spending some big coin for a gaming computer, I want to know if I should be going with a cheaper Phenom based system or the new Intel I7. There's a $1000 difference between these rigs that i've listed below. Please give me you're advice. Intel® Core i7 Quad Core CPU Mainboard: ASUS® P6T Deluxe X58 Chipset Memory: 12GB DDR3 1600MHz Tri-Ch. Memory Hard Disk: 1TB 32M 7200rpm SATA 3G Drive Optical Drive 1: 22X DVDRW SATA Video Graphics: nVidia GeForce GTX 280 (1G PCI-E Graphics) Core i7 920 $2100 Core i7 950 $2200 Core i7 970 $2400 Processor: AMD Phenom II Quad Core CPU Mainboard: ASUS® M4A78 PRO Memory: 4 GB DDR2 800MHz Dual-Ch. Memory Hard Disk: 640GB 7200rpm SATA 3G Drive Optical Drive 1: 22X DVDRW SATA Video Graphics: ATI Radeon HD4890 1GB DDR5 X3 720 $1050 X4 740 $1100 X4 755 $1150 This is going to be a tax write-off so i'm considering all the pro's and con's. Is the $1k price difference really worth it in the long run? Last edited by warden30; 09-08-2009 at 01:15 PM.

09-08-2009, 01:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,836 OS: Windows XP	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! Where did you get those prices from, they're outrageous. By the way, what kind of case and PSU are you going to get? __________________ Tosh

09-08-2009, 02:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,294 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! Those prices are insane! Also, how is a gaming PC a tax write-off? I'd go with the AMD any day. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

09-08-2009, 08:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,834 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! Core 2 Duo E8600 or AMD Phenom II x4. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

09-09-2009, 03:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
roast Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 154 OS: Windows 7 x64 7600, and Windows (notsotiny) 7 7600 x86 and x64 - Across 3 machines. My System	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! Will you be just using this computer for Gaming? If so, I'd go for the Phenom II x4 740. If you plan on using it for other uses, eg. Video Editing, multitasking etc, I would go for the Core i7 920 - or consider a P55 based unit too. -Mick. __________________ I'm a Sony VAIO technical support agent - any questions relating to Sony VAIO Notebook or Desktop computers, feel free to ask.

09-09-2009, 11:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
warden30 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 12 OS: vista	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! SSo the Phenom is the way to go, but what about the memory. Should I go with DDR3 or the lower cost DDR2?

09-09-2009, 01:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! Go with DD2 1066mhz ram. You'll be fast enough. The ram won't be slowing you down. If I were you I'd go with the Phenom X4 945 or 955.

09-09-2009, 01:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,836 OS: Windows XP	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! If I were you, I'd look somewhere else for better prices. __________________ Tosh

09-09-2009, 01:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
warden30 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 12 OS: vista	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! The prices are Canadian, from one of the more reputable vendors that have been around locally for many years. This a big deal where the warranty is concerned, and the prices are comparable to the few others i've ocated in Toronto that I trust. D you have another Toronto vendor in mind?

09-09-2009, 01:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,836 OS: Windows XP	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! First of all, can you give us a link to the webpage of the vendor? __________________ Tosh

09-09-2009, 03:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
warden30 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 12 OS: vista	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! BESTBYTE COMPUTERS http://www.bestbytecomputer.com/

09-09-2009, 03:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,661 OS: Win7	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! For gaming I would want the Phenom II x4 955 over the 7xx CPUs or the E8500 Intel. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

09-09-2009, 06:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
warden30 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 12 OS: vista	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! I could put an Asus M4A79XTD EVO AMD790X AM3 DDR3 MB board with 4 GIG DDR3 for an extra $70 (thats the quote). Would'nt it make practical sense to upgrade the memory. In understand it would'nt make much difference for games on the market now but the technology moves so quickly, it may make all the difference in games released a uear from now. Yes or no?

09-09-2009, 09:52 PM	#14 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,294 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! DDR3 still has some maturing so an AM2+/AM3 board supporting DDR2 might be a better way to go. I recently bought the Gigabyte MA790FX-UD5P which does support AM3 chips and it's running solid and fast. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

09-10-2009, 05:20 AM	#15 (permalink)
warden30 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 12 OS: vista	Re: I7 or Phenom, which way to go! That makes alot of sense. I beleive the Sapphire Pure Crosfire 790GX AM3 DDR2 MB board has the same capabilities and is going for $145. Thats only a $30 difference from the listed boatd and supports both DDR2 and DDR3