Senseito7 Wrote: [ -> ]Barebones Core 8 but running~~
Only now? I though you would have had it like 1/4 a year ago.
Intel's Sandy Bridge (core i7 2xxx) is already here, and AMD's Bulldozer will launch in Q2 probably.
took time to get the parts. at least I finally got this far. as far Sandy Bridge - SB's intergrated GPU seems like a waste of space (though it shows how CPU/GPU manufacturers are moving further and further to SoC solutions) and despite it's excellent value for money performance I really don't think I'll need more than this 2.93GHz 4-Core i7-870 anytime soon.
Better late than never, right?
Anyway, it's running near silent after "calibrating" the "EPU-6 Engine" - the CPU fan is running ~1000RPM and front chassis 700~RPM.
The Intel X-25M SSD keeps impressing me, reboots under 30 seconds and everything opening instantly is just awesome. Will need to get a storage SSD though to move Swap and Temp files over.... as well as start storing stuff!
Senseito7 Wrote: [ -> ]as far Sandy Bridge - SB's intergrated GPU seems like a waste of space (though it shows how CPU/GPU manufacturers are moving further and further to SoC solutions)
It's good for people who don't plan on getting dedicated graphics. Because compared to ordinary integrated graphics, Sandy Bridge's graphics is way better (it's equal to entry level HTPC cards in power I heard).
Senseito7 Wrote: [ -> ]and despite it's excellent value for money performance
The new CPUs are cheaper and better than the previous generation, but the motherboards are more expensive (1155 compared to 1156 that is, 1366 is a ripoff), so that sort of cancels out.
Senseito7 Wrote: [ -> ]I really don't think I'll need more than this 2.93GHz 4-Core i7-870 anytime soon.
Yeah, true. Plus you can overclock.
Senseito7 Wrote: [ -> ]Anyway, it's running near silent after "calibrating" the "EPU-6 Engine"
Senseito7 Wrote: [ -> ]The Intel X-25M SSD keeps impressing me, reboots under 30 seconds and everything opening instantly is just awesome. Will need to get a storage SSD though to move Swap and Temp files over.... as well as start storing stuff!
Get more RAM instead. Then you won't need swap. Make RAMdisk and move temp folder onto that.
Solves both problems.
You can get like 8GB of RAM for the price of a 60GB SSD.
Mid to end of 2011 is probably one of the best times to upgrade IMO. Bulldozer is apparently a huge redesign, and from what I've heard, AMD seems to think it can compete with Intel in the high end market (they're bringing back the "FX" moniker). Plus there's UEFI becoming standard.