CPU, Mobo and RAM upgrade. i5 750 vs Phenom2 965

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nakedpeanut

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Ok so I encountered this problem 2day: Thread
As far as I can sus out it's the mobo and/or CPU..

So i'm faced with the problem/opportunity of getting new CPU, mobo and ram then giving my old stuff to my sister.
Her old components are AMD64 4000+ Athlone, gigabyte mobo, and 2GB DDR400 ram. 4years old
My current is a AMD Phenom 9850 @2.5ghz, MSI K9A2 platinum mobo, and DDR2 2GB corsair dominator. 2years old.

So basically I've been looking at CPU's to start off. Not looked at mobo's or RAM yet. First want to decide on CPU.

So as the title states, i've narrowed my choices down to the i5 750 or the Phenom2 965. They seem to offer similar performance with the i5 slightly out performing the Phenom2 according to TomsHardware and this blog.
  • I do game quite a bit but if it's not full settings I don't mind to much.
  • I'd like to keep the pricing around the R2000 mark
  • As you will have noticed I have a preference to AMD :) dunno why, haha.
  • Like the idea of less power usage of the i5 though, 95w vs 120/140w of the Phenom
  • I like my upgrades to last for about 2 years

Now looking at Mobo's:
The AMD are allot cheaper in terms of performance and features when compared to their Intel equivalents. And bare in mind most AMD mobos that support USB 3 have PCI-X 2.0 which ensures USB and sata dont share the same bus as the GPU. usb-3.0-sata-6gb

So now :) what would you you recommend :)
Thanx in advance!
 
The 965. It's the path that'll give you the most longevity. Next month AMD are releasing 6core processors which will be compatible with the motherboard you bought with nothing but a bios update.

Intel have even more sockets in the pipeline.
 
Thing is I need a new mobo.. Whether it be for me or my sister. So with the mobo being 2years old, thought it would make sense to get a AM3 compatible board for myself then update the bios for my sis when i hand her down the 965.

So if I keep mine, then i have to find a 939 compatible mobo for her.. Which I know of none..
Or i get MSI 790FX-GD70 @ R1800 or MSI 790GX-GD65 @1200
 
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Only get the fx if you wanna x-fire. If not get the gx.
 
OK so I've basically decided on the following setups:
Intel
Processor: Intel lga1156 i5-750 - Quad core , 2.66ghz box cpu , 3.2ghz turbo *
Mobo: ASUS P7P55D-LE - Intel P55 Chipset*
RAM: TEAM PC3-15000 DDR3 4GB Xtreem Low-Voltage 2x2GB Kit - CL 8-8-8-24-2T*
Price: R4,619.59
or
AMD
Processor: Phenom2 x4 , Quad-core 965 ( 3.4Ghz ) Black edition*
Mobo: MSI 790GX-GD65^
RAM: TEAM PC3-15000 DDR3 4GB Xtreem Low-Voltage 2x2GB Kit - CL 8-8-8-24-2T*
Price: R4366.37

Products from
*Rebel Tech. Are they reliable? Good after sales support etc.. ?
^Prophecy. Used them before, happy with them, but the same intel build would cost R4858.28 there.
I'll collect from both so shipping cost is of no concern

Any suggestions?
 
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I've thought about the PII x6, but at those prices i could only afford the 1055T which when compared to the 965BE, is on pare, but the 965BE out performs it in games 1055T vs 965BE
When comparing the 1090t vs i5 750, the i5 even beats this higher end x6 in games at a cheaper price.
Plus both manufacturers are moving over to the smaller 32nm architecture, so either way, wont both builds be un-upgradeable after 2011
So thats why I basically feel the i5 is a better build.
 
Perhaps for now - but if you are thinking of upgrades in the future i3/i5/i7 are sitting ducks.
 
Rouxenator said:
Perhaps for now - but if you are thinking of upgrades in the future i3/i5/i7 are sitting ducks.
Click to expand...

But the same goes for AM3. AMD have the new bulldozer architecture for 2011, so all AM3's are sitting ducks..
Either upgrade is.. Which is annoying. But have a look at the benchmarks by tomshardware. It's fail in games except call of duty..
 
Fail is a relative term. It fails to be the top yes - but if you look at the performance it gives you over what you pay to have it... well then things do look different. I guess its different strokes for different folks. I you absolutely need bragging rights no matter the cost them intel is the way to go. If you care for getting the most for you money and support ethical businesses then its everything but intel.
 
Rouxenator said:
Fail is a relative term. It fails to be the top yes - but if you look at the performance it gives you over what you pay to have it... well then things do look different. I guess its different strokes for different folks. I you absolutely need bragging rights no matter the cost them intel is the way to go. If you care for getting the most for you money and support ethical businesses then its everything but intel.
Click to expand...

Ok agreed on fail. I should have said when compared to the i5 750 (which is what I'm looking to buy) the x6 fails to get my attention.
Based on performance for price the i5 750 @ R1,994.53 beats the 1090T @R3,115.26 hands down, no matter which way I see it. Only in a few, very few applications does the x6 beat the i5, which is a quad core.

As for the ethical business standpoint, must say I really don't know. Only read something about the intel complier being bias to AMD chips.
I have been AMD since my 1st pc (with exception of laptop). But intel seems more bang for buck now.
 
Qwikslver said:
I'd take the AMD.
Click to expand...

:eek: i am shocked, i thought you might go towards intel :D.

I don't think i5 is bang for buck dude, amd mobo's are far better for the price than i5 mobo's. Flip a coin and make a selection because both i5 and 965 will serve you well.
 
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