Decision: Core 2 Extreme QX9650(oveclocked) or upgrade to i7 cpu?

[Hooptymobile]

I'm in a catch 22...I currently have this setup:

-XFX Nvidia 790i ultra SLI motherboard LGA775
-Intel Core 2 Quad @ 2.6Ghz Q9400 cpu
-Nvidia GTX 470 1280Mb video card (card not the issue)
-case (compatible with 775 up to 1156 mobo
-power supply 850watts (not the issue)
-corsair 4GB Triple Thread memory @ 1066mhz

I have been watching the Intel Core 2 Extreme @ 3Ghz QX9650 LGA 775 price (as this is the best upgrade concerning cpu/compatiblity for my mobo within reason of my budget that I can upgrade to. The cost for the QX9650 Extreme cpu is currently 238.00 (a drop from 270.00 I believe its a sale price on pricewatch.com but anyways.

I am aware that the i-series cpus are predominately faster cpus than Core 2 Quad cpus (not going to give out all the chipset names etc.) but all in all I realize its new architecture, faster and benchmark rating scores are typically much higher.

Here is my dilemma (and I want your advice or input on what to do or how to debate the decision if any at all) : Should I forego my initial plan to buy the Extreme QX9650 (and potentially over clock it; with water cooling) for a new i-series cpu (perhaps an i7 920 or 930 model cpu) & compatible mobo (1156)?

If I do buy the new architecture that requires buying all new memory. I'm estimating around 550.00+ to do this (then I'm left with ebaying all my older gear etc.

Do you think I will get quality results (to my liking with my current setup (only upgrading to the Core 2 Extreme QX9650? (Obviously you can tell I'm leaning in that direction hehe)

The games I play on my pc are Starcraft 2 ( I am playing on ultra settings with no problems at all, beta testing Final Fantasy XIV ( I notice my video card screams quite a bit when I up my settings on my control panel and/or graphics display in-game.

I will be receiving a gift in next 30 days from my brother (Danger Den 470gtx copper cooling plate and tubing). Its up to me to buy the rest of the equipment to cool my video card but he's giving me that as a gift (keep in mind I am not factoring costs of these other things etc).

So what do u guys think? Should I enjoy my current setup with a 270.00 cpu upgrade? Just wait till next year and upgrade to the i-series (when prices subside a bit? Or make the move to i-series cpu /mobo now (and buy memory for it) ?

Will I get the near-quality out of the QX9650 (over clocked slightly ) as opposed to a mid-grade i7 series cpu /compatible mobo / middle of road memory upgrade?

Please feel free to reply with any and all advice and points of interest from what I've posted as I am seeking advice on decision(s) I should take.

My apologies for making this so insanely long.

 

[God Mode]

Get the i7 setup and sell your old stuff while it still has decent value.

 

[jackace]

Not sure how legit that deal is on the Qx9650. Other legit sites have it listed at or close to $1,000.

That said an i7 is a good cpu, but they are expensive right now. The AMD x6 is looking pretty good from what I have seen and it looks cheaper.

 

[Bartman39]

That said an i7 is a good cpu, but they are expensive right now.

I would`nt go that far...? A good I7 920 D0 can be had on here for $200-$220 and the OC potential is almost a for sure 3.5-4.2Ghz (most around 4.0Ghz) which puts it in the zoom-zoom area... Also good 1366 boards can be found for $100-$150 that have all the OC`ing features you really need and the option of triple channel memory (3X2gig) which can be had for $125-$150, heck go cheap and just run dual channel if you like ($75-90...? So put those figures together and it might not be such a bad option... BTW a 1366 should fit your case they are just ATX or micro ATX for the most part...

So I think God mode had the right idea...

 

[bryanW1995]

sell old slow crap.

buy new fast crap.

 

[Hooptymobile]

Cool, thanks guys I really appreciate your feedback this gives me opportunities to think outside my stubborn mindset at times (in my 30s too, this is not good, lol). And thanks for the price options Bartman39, those numbers are alot better to swallow and see as well

 

[deanx0r]

Is there a reason why you cannot overclock your current CPU? Upgrading to an i7 from a C2Q is almost like a side-step upgrade. Yes it will be faster, but will you be able to tell the difference for the money you invested? Probably not.

The Q9400 should at least be giving you 3.2-3.6GHz, and that should be a free speed bump.

 

[MJinZ]

Sandy Bridge

 

[extra]

C) None of the above. If you're getting that waterblock for your GPU, why not just get one for your CPU as well? A good one will last many CPU generations. Then clock the hell out of what you already have. Core2Quad at 3.6ghz is going to be a beast even now. Then when bulldozer and sandy bridge socket 2011 come around next year sometime, consider upgrading then.

 

[edplayer]

you listed a GTX 790, did you mean the 470?

I would not consider buying a new i series platform right now. Have you tried overclocking your Q9400? That would be the first thing I would do.

 

[Bartman39]

LGA775 is a dead platform or should say one foot in the grave... Even the 1156 platform from what I`ve read is also headed that direction...

I do agree if you dont want to spend the $$$ right now just OC the Q9400 cpu you have and be happy... But the I7 (9`s) stomp the heck out of the earlier quad core processors mainly due to an all around design improvement...


Just a note the figures I quoted earlier are taken from our own buy sell trade forum which is where I bought my cpu & board... I bought my cpu cooler and memory from the egg as well as the XFX 5770HD XXX version that I have so spent a bit more but still those prices on here make it mighty tempting to upgrade... Which I did from a C2D e7400 w/4 gigs and the 5770HD and it was a world of difference...

Main thing is how much can you afford or do you even want to upgrade...? I get the bug every so often and love a new build and tweaking it but cant afford the best but enough to keep me pretty current...

 

[Gillbot]

I would`nt go that far...? A good I7 920 D0 can be had on here for $200-$220 and the OC potential is almost a for sure 3.5-4.2Ghz (most around 4.0Ghz) which puts it in the zoom-zoom area... Also good 1366 boards can be found for $100-$150 that have all the OC`ing features you really need and the option of triple channel memory (3X2gig) which can be had for $125-$150, heck go cheap and just run dual channel if you like ($75-90...? So put those figures together and it might not be such a bad option... BTW a 1366 should fit your case they are just ATX or micro ATX for the most part...

So I think God mode had the right idea...

I wouldn't go so far as to say most 920's hit 4.0 because that depends on just too many factors such as component quality and etc. You can find 920's for around $150 if you are patient enough, especially if you don't mind one of the older C0's which can still OC well but perhaps not as high as a D0.

 

[LoneNinja]

My opinion is since you already have a quad core, go with the I7 now if you NEED the upgrade, or wait 5-6 months to purchase Sandy Bridge.

 

[happy medium]

Overclock you current cpu and wait for the next generation Sandy bridge.
You won't see a real world difference between the current i7's and a overclocked q9400.

 

[Hooptymobile]

Sorry guys I've been away for a day or two. Thank you to all who have gave suggestion and different viewpoints. Yes I have the itch but upgrading my video card was a semi-pc upgrade (and an expensive one albeit). I don't necessarily need to upgrade. I think I will OC my cpu (and yes I have a water cooling kit for my gpu. Hand me down from my brother (he invested in a Danger Den Water Cooling setup for his 932HAF case. He has a nice i7 setup with a 480gtx card etc. Anyways I think I will take the advice to wait for SandyBridge and just work my cpu over for what its worth.
I suppose I was eyeing the Core 2 Extreme QX9650 (at the reduced price of 238.00 [from 270.00] as an alternative to buying and i7 cpu, mobo, memory. I had planned to water cool the QX9650 but from what deanx0r, extra, edplayer, Bartman39 have all said...OC the Q9400. It seems like the logical thing to do for a new game instead trying to get the best current hardware on the market to make it run smooth (rather wait for new technology to be released then power buy/upgrade to make game run more smoothly. I guess I thought the QX9650 would be a nice small step upgrade and I liked that it utilized my 1600mhz fsb too whereas I am only utilizing My brother has been wanting me to the Corsair water cooling kit he gave me on my pc for a week or so. Now I have a reason to and he will be mostly in charge of showing me over clocking since this will be my 1st time doing so.

Here is the link to the cpus I can use for my mobo: (click link within webpage to view the pdf format list):
http://xfxforce.com/en-us/products/motherboards/7series/790.aspx

 

[Hooptymobile]

Just an update:

1/15/2011

Well the days of worrying over my 775 core 2 quad cpu have finally come to an end as I've been blessed with a Core i7 2600k Sandy Bridge at an astonishingly competitive price of 280.00 that I purchased from Microcenter on release date (only 2 left in store when I arrived).

Now after reading countless forums reviews and researching info of my own I am in limbo as to which 1155 P67 motherboard to purchase.

I've looked at every single motherboard either to be sold or already being sold here in the US and after thorough consideration I find this mobo to be my top pick of the litter:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128465

It's a pricey board but you definately get what you pay for. My main reasoning for holding this board so high in regards to its quality is due to the 24 power phase connectors. I don't see many people deliberating this topic much in regards to deciding on a mobo and Im uncertain if this feature is crucial to juicing the most OC from your cpu.

Someone prove me wrong if this is the case. Is having anything less than a 24 power phase going to limit the Sandy Bridge in terms of over-clocking? I have eyed the UD5 series (being a 20 power phase but I really don't want to miss out on cpu oc perfomance just because I chose to buy a lower priced mobo.

Alot of people focus on features such as SLI , USB 3.0 but to me I am focused on what I can get out of my cpu and which setup would be best recommended from the audience.

Thank you for any of your comments and advice regarding mobos.

I realize this topic I've begun may go heavily unnoticed since its an update from an older topic and this is a reply from my own thread but perhaps some of you are intersted in this topic.

 

[-Slacker-]

Overclock you current cpu and wait for the next generation Sandy bridge.
.

This.