should I upgrade to i7/ddr3/x58 now?

[lanken123]

current specs

E8400
4GB DDR2
P5Q Pro
4870 512MB

It would cost me about 800 bucks to upgrade to a i7 920, 6GB DDR3 1333, and P6T . Is it really worth getting an i7 now or should I pocket about 400 bucks and spend 300 on a second 4870 to crossfire and wait till Black friday/xmas/boxing day to get an i7 package?

how well would two 4870s preform in crossfire? I have VX550W, which should be enough but I don't think it has enough # pin connectors for a second 4870.

performance wise, how much of an improvement would I see after upgrading to i7?

[AkG]

Skymtl will probably post with better info at some point...but...I'd personally wait for the 2nd gen i7s before pulling the trigger.... BUT get a more robust PSU if you plan on dropping a second 4870 into your system! 550 may be "technically" enough (but I doubt it and wouldn't do it even if it is). Drop a 750 into it at a minimum. YMMV...etc etc :)

[gingerbee]

ah the eternal upgrade question i think so but if you can wait i think it's really how long you can wait

[crispex]

At this point, you could wait a few months for the new shinies (multiple shiny objects? ) to come out, or you could just go with what's on the shelves right now.

Entirely up to whether or not you're sick of your current computer, and want better performance.

[Jake_HT]

Wait more DDR3 getting cheap matter of time before other i7 crap does. But then you could argue that the i7s later won't be binned as good an OC bad? Who knows.. but taht is good system still wait it out save money roguh tnight.

[tyreman]

Its a question one can only really answer themselves based on money you allot to disposible products vs your needs and pesonal preferences.

[Linus]

I've got a Gigabyte EX58-EXTREME that I keep forgetting to take pics of and put in the BST. PM me if you're interested.

[chrisk]

I am in the same position. Upgrade path for me now is tentatively i7/ram/mobo this summer, and then SSDs at Xmas. If there is no room to do this (summer vacation busts budget), then I will probably wait for second gen i7.

If I jump on the i7 gen 1 bandwagon, the I might get some new DDR3, new mobo, and then look for a good used i7 920 that has been overclocked well to ensure I get one that will do the job. That is, of course, unless there is a stepping/part number that is new and OCs well (like the i7 version of the Q6600 SLACR).

I have noticed that the price of decent DDR3 has been dropping a lot lately. Also, we are still mostly in the first revisions of the motherboards out there. These would be the main reasons I would wait.

[Liu Kang]

What do you use your computer for? If you're a gamer, then the i7 upgrade is a waste of cash...

[Ging9]

I have almost the exact same system specs as you do (with a 750 w PS) and have been tossing around the idea of the i7 upgrade. A lot of it depends on what you're using your system for, and if gaming is the main point of the upgrade, what resolutions are you playing at? For me, my 22" Sammy maxes at 1680 X 1050, so I'm not really pushing my 4870 that hard. I'm thinking of going the crossfire route, but unlike you, I'll have to swap motherboards first.

I think I'll hold off on the i7s until the first price drop hits. By then, Windows 7 should be out and it'll be time to for a fresh install with the new motherboard.