Quote:
Originally Posted by Finner
I had a few questions for some of the tech guys on the board.
I'm still running a Intel Dual Core processor E8400 (i think) and am looking at upgrading.
I know I'm going to need a new motherboard, processor and DDR3 RAM (as opposed to the DDR2 RAM I currently have).
I run Windows 7 and was ideally hoping to not have to reformat if I install new hardware. Is it required if putting in this new hardware?
Secondly, should I be waiting? Is there new architecture coming out in the next 6 months or so from either Intel or AMD, or a new version of RAM that will require a different motherboard?
Thirdly, any thoughts on going with an AMD instead of an Intel processor? Part of the reason the AMD interests me is that I know that both the next gen consoles are going to be running AMD solutions, and was thinking that future games might be better optimized for AMD processors (regardless of single core horsepower), as AMD processors tend to outperform Intel in multi-threaded tasks.
Thanks for any and all help!
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a) You will need to reformat. Though, if you don't want to lose anything, this your opportunity to buy an SSD along with your new CPU/Mobo/RAM, and use your old boot drive as a storage slave (which will still contain all your old files), and get a huge boost to general PC functions.
b) Intel's new Haswell line is coming out in June-ish, but from what I've been reading, it's more geared towards mobile and low-power setups. The actual output increase for desktop is up in the air, but estimates are that it will be minor, much like the Sandy Bridge to Ivy Bridge transition (~8%-12% performance gain). This is however, all industry conjecture, and we won't know for sure until Intel put's chips in early adopter hands and they can benchmark them.
c) AMD is good for their price point, but unless you are planning to build a budget system and cut corners (which is essentially what console builders are doing), Intel handily beats AMD in the long game, and has for a good 6 or 7 years. the extra $70-$80 spent on an Intel processor will have a significant impact on your PCs overall performance. Not sure where you've seen AMD outperform in threaded tasks (maybe Opteron vs Xeon?) but the two comparable processors for most gaming builds at the same price point, ~$230 i5-3570k vs FX-8150, the Intel handily beats it in every test but 1 (file compression).
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/701?vs=434