i5 760 vs X6 1055T

Sally · UberTweaker Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 1158 Location: WA

Well, it's been a while since I've posted anything, but I'm still around. I am getting ready for a much needed update to my desktop and I have put together two scenarios.

Current System:

I am not gaming. I am multi-tasking with Adobe programs (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, InDesign), web work, compressing video, and whatever else. From what I've read about the two of these processors it is a close match for non-gaming usage. If anyone has any input that'd be helpful. Thanks!

Static Elements:

I also plan to include:

For the Intel option, I was interested in:

For the AMD Option, I was looking at:

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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

I would consider a small Raid array for better file performace while using Adobe.

The Green drives are also a bit slower. Getting a faster storage system is the key to taking advantage of your hardware you will be getting.
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Sally · UberTweaker Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 1158 Location: WA

A fine point. I was considering a small sata drive as a scratch disk, but perhaps a striped raid of 2 Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s would be better. The budget is really the killer here.
I'd like the system to last. The system I have now has been virtually unchanged for years and still "works". I'd like to build another hassle-free system that will give my 5 years of service. One cost cut that I considered was getting a slightly lower end motherboard with onboard graphics and just upgrade that down the line. My concern, however, is that I would loose out on USB 3.0 and would get lower end NB/SB. Thoughts?
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Best deal is a get a good motherboard and upgrade the processor down the road.
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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

I'd personally go with the Intel. The AMD is nice, but it's not exactly a top performer. The i5 will perform better on what you want to do. That, and you can upgrade to an i7 next year, where with the AMD, you're likely to still be maxed out with nowhere to go.

I would also consider a better video card. If you can fit it in your budget, go for an HD 5770. This one would be a good choice. You're getting a much more powerful card, not only in the VRAM department, but the core itself is considerably faster. Gaming or not, you want that power, and the DX11 support will wind up being pretty much a must for you. If you're using CS4, you'll definitely want the 3D performance over the 4650. Also, on the video front, I noticed you didn't pick a vid card. The onboard graphics on Intels are on the processor, not the motherboard. You'll need a vid card, since the i5 you want is a Lynnfield, and doesn't have the onboard video. You'd need a Clarksdale to get that feature, but don't do that. You really, really don't want onboard graphics for what you do. That hasn't changed, only the location has.

I don't know that I'd worry too much about RAID. You'll get a nice boost using a seperate drive just as a scratch drive (that's what I do, myself) without the added worry of a drive failure trashing everything, including saved projects. You can go with the Caviars, but you know you won't be using the full capability of the drives as far as speed goes. I'd be replacing the drives at no more than three years at any rate, five years is pushing it on a system built for heavy lifting like yours. By that time you may find yourself itching for a better board anyway, whether you need it or not.

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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Argh.........I will never remember we don't have an edit button here.......

I added the bit about Clarksdales being dual core in the quoted post.
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