what cpu?

[whoppa]

I want to build a computer for high end gaming. I'm buying all the parts and im going to assemble it. I am deciding on a cpu for it and i cant decide between the AMD HDT90ZFBGRBOX Phenom II 1090T Black Edition Six Core Processor - 3.20GHz, 6MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s) FSB, Retail, Socket AM3, Processor with Fan

(http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6052729&Sku=A79-1090)

or the Intel Core i7 950 Processor BX80601950 - 3.06GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 4.8GT/s QPI, HyperThreading, Quad Core, Bloomfield, LGA 1366, Retail, Fan

(http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4777384&Sku=I69-0950)

The AMD has a 6 cores but the intel i7 can benefit more from ddr3 memory. I was thinking of using OCZ OCZ3G1333LV8GK Gold 8GB PC10666 DDR3 Dual Channel Memory Upgrade - 1333MHz, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, 2x4096MB

(http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6101233&Sku=O261-1061)

i want dual channel benefit and i cant find any other good 8gb (2x4)gb ram cards. also that ram was designed specifically for the intel i7. i like the amd cpu more but it seems that the intel i7 is more compatible and i can buy a better motherboard to support it.

what cpu do you guys think is better and why? also, what motherboard do you all think would be good to accompany it?

 

[Remeniz]

The Phenom II 1090T Black Edition is great for very heavy multi-threaded applications but so is the i7 950. Anything else and the i7 supersedes the Phenom purely because the i7 has a more efficient architecture.

Also if you go with the i7 go with a triple channel RAM kit as well. The Phenom is fine with a dual channel kit.

Personally i'm with the i7 but if I were building a gaming rig i'd be thinking less about the CPU and more about the motherboard and graphics card.

 

[~Darkseeker~]

its not that the Intel is more 'compatible' as such, just its alot better known than the AMD equivalents, so more other hardware is tailored specifically for it. Most people know what Intel is, if nothing else just from the Dell adverts. But, i doubt many many who arent big into computers would even know what AMD is, catch my drift?

obviously, the architecture is different (ironically so is the price label).

but the point remains, the Phenom Hex will play your games, to a high standard. The i7 is just a better designed chip by a small margin. Plus, something i myself learned recently, make sure your mobo will support the version of the chip you get. i.e. no point buying a 125W 6-core chip, if your motherboard only supports the 925 or less (95W). Speed is going to depend on your N. Bridge and FSB speed as well, you can only run as fast as your CPU can communicate with your RAM.

you'll find, smply because their name is alot bigger, once you start buying hardware with Intel written on it, your budget will need to stretch.