Should I sell my AMD rig?

[Neuromancer]

I really like having 2 PCs. One is a 24/7 rig for web browsing, file serving, communication, etc etc

I sold my 550 BE and with that + cash grabbed an x58 mobo

Still need a 920 D0 ($220 shipped from microcenter thanks to a buddy that lives next door to one), a heatsink that can handle it, megahalem looks promising (figure $75 there as well), DDR3 (have not checked prices but I assume around $100) and since I will back on Intel south bridge, I would want to get a second Raptor 150 or WD 500 GB Black to run raid 0 on :) (so another $50-100), but that is not right away...


Considering selling my 920 x4 with tuniq tower bolt through mod, HS yateloon, OCZ Blade LVs (1066), Sapphire 4850 and Foxconn A79A-s setup on eBay. I would hope this would go for around 400 which would get me everything but the extra hard drive.

It would mean not having a 24/7 rig though, and would put off going cold, since I would not be yanking the i7 out of the desk everytime I want to bench...


Having a tough time deciding, the i7 would be nice for getting some boints in 3d benches, since I can not even place with the 4890 on AMD :( And rip through movie re-encodes. Going by the latency tests I have seen lately, it looks like it might have that snappiness that socket 775 lacked, (in fact all Intel's since p3 have lacked) and AMD brought back with phenom II after losing it with AM2... So it should be a comfortable change over.

Does anyone else bench their 24/7 rig?

Also, worried about upgrading for boints because I am sure getting an nVidia card will be next (ick yuck patoo patoo) lol (not a lot of luck with that brand, between POS FX cards, overheating 6 series cards, cap screaming 7 series and BSOD prone 8 series, and of course the rebadged 8 series...)

I am really on the fence about this, so looking for some respected opinions too push me one way or the other.


Thanks

[DrNip]

I use to bench my 24/7 rig but no longer do as I haven't done that since my e8400 days. My i7 is strictly benching with the occasional gaming but that is usually only for a couple of months at the end of each year. I just have a plain o HP for my everyday cruiser. Of course I am on a mission to get paid one day doing what I do be it competitions, sponsors, reviews and what not.

You might look into the TRUE rev2 instead of the megahelm as you might run into clearance issues with it and your RAM. The rev.2 has a better mounting system as well as a few other perks.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=26116

[rickss69]

Myself, I would hate being without an everyday pc along with my bench rig. With the extreme cooling I use it seems my junk stays torn up constantly. Just got one of two rma's back this afternoon (two week turnaround).

Made a plan to stick with last week...I am going totally i7.

Everyday pc: Evga E757 X58 mb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188049&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-
920 CO cpu
Two Super Talent ssd's
Rounded out on air with assorted junk I already have on hand

Gamer pc: Evga Vanilla X58
965 EE cpu
Full compliment of water blocks on mb

Bench rig: Evga Classified
950 DO cpu (920 DO held in reserve)
SS phase unit by Sdumper

Of course I already have all these parts on hand from previous benching (with the exception of the E757 mb). Plans are for these rigs to last quiet a while with no further purchases except for maybe new benching vid cards later this year.

[Buckeye]

I would keep the AMD rig and get a 965BE if you can, its a really nice chip. Just uploaded all my runs on the bot today and was pretty happy with the results for a first time AMD over clocking noob.

I7 benching is gonna be pretty hard to do these days as there are so many scores in there now. Going to really have to think about LN2 and a nice chip to get up there in ranking now.

But heres the deal with HWBOT, don't even try to make it to top 10 as there are so many ES and Cherrys entered in there now its a game over thing. Look at the Core I7 965XE results. My retail chip is hard pressed to make it past 5.0ghz, I have used 2 retails actually and both dont come close to those scores on the bot.

Most important tho is to just have fun and push yourself to learn better over clocking, I have a very long ways to go at that, but I have fun along the way :)

[freeagent]

Welll, I would say do it, since hardware comes and goes all the time!

You know that as well as anyone else ;)

But if you arent hurtin, I'd wait for some more 32nm goodness :)

[punx223]

i would say no... get the 965BE like bill said.... its a great chip and amd chips are quite inexpensive

[Neuromancer]

Well if I stick with AMD, I would not upgrade the CPU, from what I have seen the 965 would be a sidegrade for me, the AM3 chips really shine if you get an AM3 board and ram, but for what that would cost me, I could go i7. (actually cheaper, since the 965 cost 25 more than the 920 D0 at microcenter including tax and shipping), ram might be a bit cheaper, but motherboard would be more expensive. (I got my i7 mobo for $120).

Yeah I find good deals on stuff most times ;) but 965 just came out and will not be getting any good deals on that for a few months anyway.


Options are keep what I have or go i7

(I should have known Shawn would vote sell it lol he bleeds blue)

[Ol'Bud]

People bench their 24/7 rigs all the time.
Just set it up on a new hdd and install windows new.
Then go back to the old install when you're done.
I usually bench it before I make it a 24/7 daily driver.
..

[Neuromancer]

Well got the motherboard already and just made payment on the 920. Gotta look up steppings still, guy is going to call me from MC tonight and let me pick the batch I want (of what they have available)

$150+4850 sapphire card :)

Doing some sidejobs so I might be able to pick up some DDR3 and heatsink this week. AMD rig is going to get my 2400XT so the i7 can run the 4890 :)

Will have to mod the 2400 of course and see if tray tools or riva can oc it ;)

[Neuromancer]

Okay....


Looks like I might be getting some Mushkin sticks as well 3x1GB (:() 7-8-7-20 1600 MHz for $60

Money saved on ram by going 3GB instead of 6GB goes towards an air cooler :) Megahalim???

[punx223]

sounds like a sweet setup

[Neuromancer]

I sure hope so.

This 4890 is going to waste on my AMD rig (boints wise I mean)

[Kal-EL]

What kinda clocks u able to muster on the 4890 on air homie? Just curious if you've pushed them at all.

[Neuromancer]

Ran it right up to 1000/1100 and benched 3d01. 06, I dropped it down to 950/1100.

IF I am home early enough tomorrow I will reinstall XP or FLP, and the 9.8s. Gotta find a good GPU clocking utility, also will need to RBE mod the card to allow over 1000 core speed (not sure if I have to if I do not install CCC) also will start playing with the software voltage controls, I expect good things from this card :D:D Thanks Supes!

Depending on what I do tonight I may have some time to look at softclocking utilities. Really miss ray adams utility, it even had control over the gmem timings :) MAde a nice differnce on my old x1950

Trying to decide if I am going to a bluegrass festival this weekend. If I do (doubtful), the i7 goes on hold for 2 weeks. If I do not, I should have it up and running by the end of next week :)

[Neuromancer]

Okay selling everything I can think of to keep my AMD rig, lol

3GB kit fell through, which is good I was going to regret running under 4GB anyway I am sure.

So shopping for a good 6GB kit, a heatsink and a good deal on either a 150GB Raptor, or a 500GB WD Black series.

(Since back to school is in full effect prices really seem to have gone up on stuff :( )

[Kal-EL]

So you need a 1366 h/s?

I'll send you my Thor's Hammer so you can bang up yer fingers instead of my large paws getting jacked up :D.

[Neuromancer]

LOL I doubt my paws are much smaller than yours.

I responded to your IM, should be home tomorrow after kids are in school.

[Neuromancer]

920 arrived. Will be sitting in the box for a while though.

Stepping is a 3910A not the greatest of steppings to be sure. Have not opened it yet, might have to flip it out on eBay, and keep my eyes out for a used B class.