870 or 950

[Labze]

Hey

So im about to push the button to be buying a new gaming / music production computer but i can't decide on the CPU since i am hearing mixed opinions. So i might as well try here

Since the 950 just received a 50% price cut its about the same price as 870, but which will be best? I might end up doing some small overclocking but i dont intend pushing either till the limit all the time.

Help on what to chose is much appreciated

 

[khon]

The i7-950 is better.

It has a faster stock speed (thought the 870 does have a higher turbo), better overclocking potential, and perhaps most importantly as a gamer, it has the X58 chipset rather than the P55. You will however be paying more for the motherboard as a result of the different chipset, so while the CPUs are priced the same, the complete system will not be.

 

[Boyo]

For $300, I would go with the I7 950. Wish the prices fell before I got my 930...

 

[Surutcra]

Hey

Since the 950 just received a 50% price cut its about the same price as 870, but which will be best? I might end up doing some small overclocking but i dont intend pushing either till the limit all the time.

Help on what to chose is much appreciated

Get the i7 870 you won't see any differences other then price, it will kick just as much butt in gaming performance and all at the much lower tdp of 95w. Plus with the higher turbo clocks this thing will be much more satisfying out of the box.

Also if you have a microcenter anywhere near you, you could get it at $230 http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0319779

Just a few words of warning, Sandy Bridge is around the corner so it may not be worth it for the price premium over something like an i5 760 at $100 less. Just make sure you know the real performance difference before you pay 50% more. Hope that helps.

 

[aamsel]

Get the i7 870 you won't see any differences other then price, it will kick just as much butt in gaming performance and all at the much lower tdp of 95w. Plus with the higher turbo clocks this thing will be much more satisfying out of the box.

Also if you have a microcenter anywhere near you, you could get it at $230 http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0319779

Just a few words of warning, Sandy Bridge is around the corner so it may not be worth it for the price premium over something like an i5 760 at $100 less. Just make sure you know the real performance difference before you pay 50% more. Hope that helps.

What about the 875K ???

 

[Rifter]

Its simple, if you game get the 950 would be better, the X58 chipset has more PCIe lanes, giving you 2 full speeds slots or four half speed slots.

 

[Surutcra]

What about the 875K ???

At newegg it costs $40 more over the i7 870 and at microcenter its $70 more.

The real factor is if you plan to run an sli/crossfire setup in the future. If not go lga 1156.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Its simple, if you game get the 950 would be better, the X58 chipset has more PCIe lanes, giving you 2 full speeds slots or four half speed slots.

It matters little. [H] has already shown that there is no difference in performance between 16x/16x vs. 8x/8x

 

[SunnyD]

It matters little. [H] has already shown that there is no difference in performance between 16x/16x vs. 8x/8x

And it means even less for people that use a single video card...