Upgrade Time! Advice Please

johnwillyums · 25 Sep 2009

Hello Folks,

Well I'm thinking of going further into debt and doing a major upgrade.
Initially this thought was prompted by the release of Lynnfield i5.
However the more I look at it it seems that I might as well go for an i7.
The upgrade path from i5 isn't clear and I would still have to get a new mobo and RAM.
This works out quite expensive and for not much more I can get an OCd bundle of i7 920 (at 3.8 or 4Ghz) plus Gigabyte EX58 UD5 plus a new cooler.
This seems a better deal to me and I believe that the Westmere chip will use LGA 1366.
Anyone know if this is true?

So this is what I'm considering:
*OVERCLOCKED* Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66Ghz @ 4.00GHz Max / Gigabyte EX58-UD5 Intel X58 Motherboard / Corsair XMS3 6GB PC3-12800C9 DDR3 / Corsair H50 Bundle

or:
*OVERCLOCKED* Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66Ghz @ 4.00GHz Max / Gigabyte EX58-UD5 Intel X58 Motherboard / Patriot Viper 6GB DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz DDR3 Bundle

This second bundle comes with a Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 HSF and both bundles can be seen here:

Systems (PCs) & Bundles » Overclocked Bundles - Overclockers UK

The first, with the mini water cooler H50, is £20 cheaper. Other than that and the RAM there's not much difference. I don't know much about Patriot RAM but it has a good rep.
So assuming I go for one or other it seems to be down to the cooler.
I've combed various forums and got completely different viewpoints on the H50 cooler.
It draws cool air across the radiator into the case but I'm using a Cosmos S with three 120mm exhausts at the top so hopefully this would draw the heat out.
The Noctua, of course, is quite well rated but some reviews put the H50 as better than any standard air cooler (though not as good as proper water cooling).

So I'd welcome comments on my decision to give i5 a miss and any advice regarding which of these bundles to choose would be most helpful particularly regarding the two different cooling systems.

Thanks for your time, John

thefabe · 26 Sep 2009

IMO If your going to upgrade why not upgrade to the i7 and eliminate the feeling hey maybe I should have got the i7 instead of the i5 besides when upgrading I always try and go as far as my money can take me, since the evolution of faster better hardare is so quick. Meaning you won't feel the need to upgrade sooner. IMO. fabe

slk2k · 26 Sep 2009

I'd also go i7 at this point. Since you are getting a very new MB, might as well get a CPU to match!

Also, I like corsair memory a lot. I have see Patriot in the past, but the real difference is the support. Corsair forums are loaded with company reps and they are *very* helpful! They helped me out a couple of years ago.

TheSchaft · 26 Sep 2009

I'd recommend i7 also. I think the i5 is a bit of a deadend - different socket, etc. The lower end i7 is about the same price as an i5, from what I can recall reading.

skunksmash · 26 Sep 2009

100% ''i7''.....

, you'll be able to upgrade to ''i9'' eventually.

the Corsair H50 is getting some excellent reviews, its certainly better than ''Megahalem'', but b/c its an ''AIO'' cooler you will have the added worry of the pump dying & the coolant will need replacing eventually, & you'll need a pretty meaty fan on the rad IMO....its pretty small.

in regards to the RAM, i cant see the difference from CL8 to CL9 being that noticeable, though i do know i7 bandwidth capabilities have changed so i cant be sure.....

don't pay them to OC it, that's like burning money...... we'll help you clock that monster, the board wouldn't of been my first choice, i'd certainly prefer the Asus Rampage.

but i think i'd go with option 1. :)

johnwillyums · 26 Sep 2009

Thanks for the replies guys.

The more I look at the Lynnfield costs I see I can do a i920 (proper i7) for only about £50 more.
That seems a bit of a mistake on Intel's part to me. Maybe they will realise and drop the price on the Lynnfield stuff or just discontinue the i7 920.
Certainly the Lynnfield i7s are way too expensive to compete at the moment.

I take your point Skunk and I feel confident enough to have a go at OCing it myself (with you guys to rely on for help) but I've done the math and this is what I get-
Buying all the parts separately from Overclockers for option 1 (H50 cooler)
would cost £542.96.
They are charging me just £25.03 for putting the chip and the RAM in and OCing it! That seems pretty reasonable.
I also priced the parts elsewhere- Scan and Novatech- and the price for the parts is £566.06.
You're right I'm burning £25 quid but I'm getting it all from one retailer and presumably have some kind of customer support or could RMA it etc.
Also I'm not as confident as I make out and really f***ing lazy.

Anyway, I'm leaning toward the Noctua option with the Patriot RAM. I've been combing reviews and forums about the H50 and opinion seems very varied with some saying it is rubbish and other that it is better than any similarly priced air solution. The way to run it best appears to be in a push pull fan arrangement with better fans than the one Corsair provides and exhaust it out of the case rather than in. Once again, a bit of a hassle.

Any comments would be welcome, thanks for you input, John:)