i5 760, i7 920 or X3430 Not your average gamer

[frosty125]

Hi

I need to build a new rig since mine is pretty much dead I've done quite a lot of research probably close to 100 hours over the last few days (joys of being a student on holiday). Even so i need some help I'm not the average gamer and require something a bit different from my new rig I find it hard to translate the reviews from different sites to my requirements as they are often talk about single monitor single client gaming.

I will need to run all of the following at the same time.

• Windows 7
  
• 4 EVE online clients over 2 monitors
  
• 1 Virtual machine (VMware Workstation) running windows 7 and an aditional EVE Online client
  
• World Of Tanks Client
  

The dual monitors are pretty low res for these days only 1440*900.

What I have come up with so far is

2x GTX460 768MB (awesome review Tom

)

64GB C300 SSD

320GB HDD

Now for the 1156 socket I was thinking

ASUS P55D-E Pro mobo

8GB 1600mhz RAM

i5 760 or Xeon X3430

Or

1366 Socket

ASUS 6PX56D-E

6GB 1600mhz RAM

i7 920

I will be overclocking the rig as well so if anyone has any suggestions please could you take that into account as well.

[EDIT] Forgot to to actually mention precisely what I need advice on will the P55 8x8 SLI PCI-E slow down the two GTX 460 will tripple channel memory perform better and what would be the best CPU[EDIT]

thanks in advance to any advice anyone sends my way

Frosty

 

[Diablo]

The 8x8 will produce a little slowdown, but not that much (maybe 10-15%). The 1366 socket is a very good socket, and will probably have the best OCing gains, and with full hyper threading, but obviously is a lot more expensive than the 1156, so it kind of depends what your budget is.

With VMs the problem is having enough RAM, and then getting a decent OC (as full memory channels don't clock as well). In terms of running four instances of eve online, you may have difficulty running them all at the same time. Certainly while full screen gaming only one instance would be visible. I'm afraid I don't know much about the system requirements of Eve, or how it runs for you at the minute.

 

[Puunakki]

Absolutely go with the 1366 platform. Because you're running such a significant amount of demanding programs you will definately benefit from Hyperthreading technology, also there is multiple pci-e lanes for your use

If I were you I would get at least 12 gig's of ram.

 

[SiN]

Absolutely go with the 1366 platform. Because you're running such a significant amount of demanding programs you will definately benefit from Hyperthreading technology, also there is multiple pci-e lanes for your use

If I were you I would get at least 12 gig's of ram.

He could also run a Xeon X3440 (Socket 1156 and HT), i7 860/870/875k. It's not like he will be bottlenecked (noticeabley) with an x8/x8 configuration with any card on the market right now.

I am definitely all for the P55 set up because it does everything I need it to, for less. The money that you save could be put towards an SSD with a bit larger capacity, which I think holds greater value.

Lastly, since you are going to be running four EVE clients at once, I would definitely recommend getting a good 2X4 GB kit (to not limit your overclocks too much). But, if you feel that EVE eats more RAM than I think it does, then you should go X58. I would think 12 GB on X58 would be less stressful on overclocks versus 16 GB on P55.

 

[Puunakki]

There is no point in 1156, it will soon be replaced by the 1155 platform. With 1366 you can upgrade to 6-core in the future (Intel will be releasing "cheap'o" hexa cores).

 

[SnW]

There is no point in 1156, it will soon be replaced by the 1155 platform. With 1366 you can upgrade to 6-core in the future (Intel will be releasing "cheap'o" hexa cores).

Bit of a meh reply IMHO ! (as he would be fine with a skt1156 setup)

the things he wants to do he can do very easily with a skt1156 upgrade !

and he won't have to pay a shit load of cash for it...

and i don't really believe in the cheapO six core part here

BTW what does skt1155 offer over the skt1156 one ?

 

[hmmblah]

1155 is Sandybridge, right? IMO no setup is a safe bet. Thankfully the computer industry keeps progressing and making our bleeding edge obsolete. Faster, Bigger, Harder....hmm think I'm thinking of something else

 

[Puunakki]

Yes 1155 is Sandybridge. @SnW I'm saying that you shouldn't be buying 1156 platform because it has 0 upgradeability. With 1366 you can upgrade to hexacore in future. And yes, there will be cheaper 6-core cpu's for 1366 socket.

 

[AMDFTW]

isent 1366 being replaced aswell,both cpu makers are having a socket change sooon its a bad time to do upgrades or new builds unless you keep your mobo and cpu for under 2 years

 

[tinytomlogan]

isent 1366 being replaced aswell,both cpu makers are having a socket change sooon its a bad time to do upgrades or new builds unless you keep your mobo and cpu for under 2 years

Its not even on the cards for 2011 yet mate so its ages off.

 

[SiN]

There is no point in 1156, it will soon be replaced by the 1155 platform. With 1366 you can upgrade to 6-core in the future (Intel will be releasing "cheap'o" hexa cores).

not everybody needs that, TBH, most people with i7s would be just as well off with i5s.

 

[tinytomlogan]

not everybody needs that, TBH, most people with i7s would be just as well off with i5s.

Not so HT makes a massive difference, why do you think the i3's have it dude.

 

[SiN]

Not so HT makes a massive difference, why do you think the i3's have it dude.

A lot of people that have i7s think it is going to make a difference in gaming over i5s, but it won't (at least not yet). That's all I'm saying.

 

[stevenwright6379]

tough one really the i5 700 series are great OC'ers but the same goes for the i7s

one thing i will say is not sure on your location but you might struggle to get a 920 as they have been EOL for quite some time but then if your research has found a retailer selling it then you should be fine