Phenom vs. core i5, i7 for budget upgrade path

[curry]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

// Gaming, streaming video, movies, SQL server, VB, etc.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

// $1000-1500 --need everything except an OS (monitor, keyboard, etc.) Prefer 22-24" widescreen

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

// U.S.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

// no brand preference, just want decent quality.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

//no current parts

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

//I have read numerous i5, i7, and AMD threads

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

// new to overclocking, but I do want to learn.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?

// Ordering parts in the middle of February.

9. What resolution do you use?

// need monitor, but probably going to be 1920 x 1080

I have a couple of builds in mind: AMD Phenom II x4 965 BE; Core i5; or Core i7

so here goes:
AMD
CPU: AMD Phenom II x4 965 BE $189
Mobo: ASUS Crosshair III Formula AM3 AMD 790FX ATX $199
RAM: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $116
TOTAL: $504


Core i5
CPU: i5 750 $200
Mobo: MSI P55-GD65 LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX $160
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $115
TOTAL: $475



Core i7
CPU: i7 920 $289
Mobo: Asus P6X58D Premium $310
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Redline 3x2 GB DDR3 1600 mhz CAS Latency 6 $230
TOTAL: $829



FOR EITHER SETUP:
HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $89
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS $160
Optical Drive: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW $26
GPU: SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express
2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity $300
Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP $89
Monitor: ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor

300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) $229
Cooling: Coolermaster Hyper 212 $30
TOTAL: $923




So,
AMD total= $1427
Core i5 total= $1398
Core i7 total= $1752

the Core i7 is beyond my budget, the way I want to set it up.

So between the i5 and 965 BE who to choose?
I understand that other than in gaming the i5 beats the 965 BE. (there should be no real arguement with that)

HOWEVER, I really want to know about upgradeability in the future.
As long as AMD continues to use the AM3 I will be okay with CPU upgrades correct? (in a year or two)

the i5 where could I go from here in a year or two?
...one more reason I'm not considering an i7 is that I can't see spending the BIG money to get an i9.

what could I upgrade to from an i5 that would be comprable in price to an AMD upgrade in a year or two?

With this reasoning does the AMD system make more sense for me now?



Thank you very much for your help and advice!!

[geokilla]

For one, your parts seem to be a bit over-priced and not worth it. Where are you planning to buy from? Newegg?

What monitor size are you looking at? 24-24" widescreen? What?

Here's a computer system that should suit your needs. Rest of the parts that I left out are up to you.

Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard w/ USB 3.0 & SATA 6 Gb/s - Intel Motherboards
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM - Desktop Memory
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-650HX 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 2333HD High Glossy Black 23" 5ms HDMI Widescreen Full HD LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 10,000:1 (1,000:1) Built-in Speakers - LCD Monitors

[Sushi Warrior]

To answer your main question, either way you will always have upgrade options. The only thing you're missing out on 1366 is i7 980X, which you said yourself you will never be able to afford. In reality, I doubt you'll ever need anything more than i5 750 or i7 860 or a Phenom II, anything more is wasted on gaming. I would go i5 because (IMO) it trumps Phenom, especially in your budget range.

[YukonTrooper]

It's really hard to recommend Phenom II with i5 on the scene. My recommendation is obvious. You won't miss the performance with i7, unless you're benching or running a high-end SLI/Crossfire setup, which usually means 3 cards or more.

[Raserei408]

I'd say go with the i5. It won't last forever (as no parts do) but the 750 is a solid chip with great performance, not to mention it's easy-as-hell to OC to 4.0GHz with good cooling (get yourself a Hyper 212 Plus) and check HC's testing methodology for TIM application (most people apply to HDT coolers incorrectly).

As for upgradability, it's hard to say exactly where you'll get to with either AMD or i5, but with i5 you can expect some 32nm chips that will actually be better than the 750 to come out within the next year. They've already released a few, but they're only dual-cores with HT.

Nothing I'd change with the core setup, everything looks pretty top-notch. Again, add in a Hyper 212 Plus (which is actually different than the Hyper 212, don't get the wrong model). You may also want to compare monitors; seems like you might be able to get a better one at that price. Lastly, if you were planning on using speakers built into the monitor (if that one has them) don't bother. Monitor-integrated speakers sound terrible. Get a $20 pair of headphones or speakers and save yourself the pain.

Also, this may be an issue if you were worried about the price of your AMD setup as compared to the faster i5. First, the 965 is basically no better than the 955 (since the 965 only has a slightly higher multiplier and both multipliers are unlocked). Also, your motherboard is totally unnecessarily expensive; dropping down to a M4A79XTD EVO or MA790XT-UD4P would perform pretty much the same but save a good bit of money. Lastly, you could use the Ripjaws in the AMD setup (they say they're for i5 but they work as well in AMD too). Basically what I'm saying is you can get about an equal AMD setup to what you have listed for a lot less (less than the i5). If you still want to go with i5, it'll still have better performance.

[Kovok]

I honestly have to say go with an AM3 build. Maybe get a cheaper mobo, and even get a cheap Athlon X2 or X4 until the 6 core cpus come out. I can tell you now, they may not be as "good" as the intel ones, but they will be cheaper.

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by Kovok

I honestly have to say go with an AM3 build. Maybe get a cheaper mobo, and even get a cheap Athlon X2 or X4 until the 6 core cpus come out. I can tell you now, they may not be as "good" as the intel ones, but they will be cheaper.

This was my way of thinking as well. Only time will tell, and I'm sure folks will chime in here with better information on the state of i5, but at the moment I'm thinking that AM3 might have a more robust upgrade path (especially with recent "rumours" about 6-8 core AMD chips being able to run on current AM3 boards with bios updates). I'm also a little concerned with the way that Intel has been partitioning off their budget/mainstream/enthusiast offerings into completely different platforms.

As far as actual chip selection for an AM3 board goes.... I've been fairly happy with my two 955be chips, although I believe that the 965be has actually been offering a little bit better OC headroom so it might be worthwhile if there isn't too much of a difference in price.

For board recomendations.... as a folder I'm kinda biased for 4 slot boards so my recommendation would be for the MSI GD70 board in my sig. For future upgradability I wouldn't go for less than a 790FX chipset, and might even suggest holding out until the new enthusiast chipset is released.

[Raserei408]

Well, if he does go that route, I'd say it's best to save a bit of money he doesn't need to spend and get a 790X rather than a 790FX. The only real difference is the PCI-E lanes (and it's only well taken advantage of in the MSI board you listed).