i5 vs i7 Sandy? 2500 vs 2600

[Mfusick]

Is the 100mhz and the 8MB cache on the i7 worth $80 ?

 

[dma0991]

Gaming? No.
Heavily threaded applications? Yes.

 

[gmaster456]

The fact that you have to ask probably means you don't need the i7.

 

[SomeGuyInAR]

Don't forget hyperthreading too. If all you are doing is single or double-threaded gaming, you'll never notice it. If you do rendering, transcoding, or any other well-threaded work, the extra money is worth it.

 

[fastamdman]

It really depends on what you do with the system, but judging by your question you probably wouldn't use either to there full potential.

Let us know what the comp will be used for and we can better help you decide.

 

[badnewcastle]

Either way you go, get the K!

 

[Markbnj]

I don't know... I went with the 2500k and I do a lot of development and database stuff that might actually benefit from HT, but it's $100 and the 2500k rocks. I guess I figured four cores was enough, especially upgrading from a dualy.

 

[paperwastage]

I don't know... I went with the 2500k and I do a lot of development and database stuff that might actually benefit from HT, but it's $100 and the 2500k rocks. I guess I figured four cores was enough, especially upgrading from a dualy.

if you do DB/development, and don't OC your 2500k (in case you get errors in your code/DB b/c of the OC), you might want to look at the Xeon E3-1230 or 1235...

its similar to the 2600k (4C/8T), but lower clocks(3.2ghz vs 2600k's 3.4ghz), no OC

but most likely you can drop in into your 1155 mobo w/o any problems. the 1235 has IGP, 1230 doesn't. no ECC support on desktop chipsets

E3-1230 - no IGP, but TDP 80W, $240 on newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115083

E3-1235 - IGP, TDP 95W, $265 on newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...87&Tpk=E3-1235

 

[Fun Guy]

but most likely you can drop in into your 1155 mobo w/o any problems.

That's a BIG if - helluva way to find out by buying one and having it not work.

 

[paperwastage]

That's a BIG if - helluva way to find out by buying one and having it not work.

its part of the fun of building a desktop from scratch

 

[fastamdman]

Apparently you haven't built many systems paperwastage. Having things not be compatible is not fun, nor part of it normally.

 

[paperwastage]

Apparently you haven't built many systems paperwastage. Having things not be compatible is not fun, nor part of it normally.

well, things happen...

HSF you bought, blocks some of the RAM
GPU you bought, just a little too long for your case

etc.
you want a problem free experience, buy a complete desktop:

anyways, there shouldn't be a reason why xeon E3-1xxx arent compatible with 1155 mobos. the CPU list is just a list of cpus they've tested

 

[fastamdman]

You should know whether or not a HSF works on your motherboard with the ram etc, and you should know if a GPU fits in a case or not haha. I dunno I have built a lot of systems and have never ran into issues like that. Although I check compatibilities first.

Either way, if you do your homework first, you shouldn't ever run into issues.