SSD or quad core processor?

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version

   Hi, I'd like to ask you guys for your advice.

I'm using my computer mostly for development purposes in grad school, mostly visual studio/compilers and some OpenCL/CUDA stuff. In the evenings, I play a bit of games (2-3 hrs/week) and watch some movies in the evenings. I do lots of image editing in photoshop as well. I use a 27" 1920x1080 monitor.

My budget would be around $1750 before shipping and tax.

So I'm toying around with the idea of downgrading my processor from a quad core (i7 870) to a dual core (i5 655k) and using the $122 in savings to get a intel 40GB SSD for my boot drive instead. would this offer better performance for my computer in the long run?

I hate the long startup times for visual studio/word and the long compilation times, but then again I can't store my source code/assets on the SSD because of insufficient storage capacity.

Regardless, I'd love to hear any opinions on this. thanks!

If you spot any cost savings/tweaks for my build below, please let me know as well! thanks (:

My current build ($1741) [budget = ~$1750]

========================

Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - SilverStone Raven 2

Processor: Intel Core i7 870 2.93GHz (Quad Core)

Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D PRO P55 SLI (Intel P55 Chipset)

System Memory: 4GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested)

Power Supply: 750W Digital Storm Certified (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition Recommended) 

Expansion Bay: - No Thanks

Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (1TB Hitachi/Seagate (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache)

Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks

Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks

Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks

Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x)

Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks

Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)

Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 1.2GB (Includes PhysX Technology) (EVGA Brand)

Add-on Card: - No Thanks

Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio

Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Noctua Dual 120mm Fans High Performance Cooler (Compatible With ONLY i7 Processors)

Edited by ssurf - 05 Sep 2010 at 7:41am

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version
ssurf Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 05 Sep 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Quote Reply Topic: SSD or quad core processor? Posted: 05 Sep 2010 at 7:40am
	Hi, I'd like to ask you guys for your advice. I'm using my computer mostly for development purposes in grad school, mostly visual studio/compilers and some OpenCL/CUDA stuff. In the evenings, I play a bit of games (2-3 hrs/week) and watch some movies in the evenings. I do lots of image editing in photoshop as well. I use a 27" 1920x1080 monitor. My budget would be around $1750 before shipping and tax. So I'm toying around with the idea of downgrading my processor from a quad core (i7 870) to a dual core (i5 655k) and using the $122 in savings to get a intel 40GB SSD for my boot drive instead. would this offer better performance for my computer in the long run? I hate the long startup times for visual studio/word and the long compilation times, but then again I can't store my source code/assets on the SSD because of insufficient storage capacity. Regardless, I'd love to hear any opinions on this. thanks! If you spot any cost savings/tweaks for my build below, please let me know as well! thanks (: My current build ($1741) [budget = ~$1750] ======================== Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - SilverStone Raven 2 Processor: Intel Core i7 870 2.93GHz (Quad Core) Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D PRO P55 SLI (Intel P55 Chipset) System Memory: 4GB DDR3 1600MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series (Highly Recommended) (Hand Tested) Power Supply: 750W Digital Storm Certified (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition Recommended) Expansion Bay: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (1TB Hitachi/Seagate (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache) Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x) Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 1.2GB (Includes PhysX Technology) (EVGA Brand) Add-on Card: - No Thanks Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 1: Noctua Dual 120mm Fans High Performance Cooler (Compatible With ONLY i7 Processors) Edited by ssurf - 05 Sep 2010 at 7:41am

!ender_ Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List DS Veteran Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4219	Quote Reply Posted: 05 Sep 2010 at 6:24pm
	whats killing you here is a TB drive and that asus board over the evga... also an 870 over an 860 which is no gain.. heres what i suggest: http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=438734 this is under your budget with everything you wanted in it, if you want to go back up to the raven 2 for $80 thats your personal battle to fight

ssurf Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 05 Sep 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Sep 2010 at 7:53am
	Hey ender, thanks for the very informative reply! I'm hoping to keep the rest of the configs as they are if possible. And I do need the 1TB of space. My question is - which would you recommend if you could only get one -> i7 860 or the SSD? Thanks =)

!ender_ Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List DS Veteran Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4219	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Sep 2010 at 8:53am
	eh, just depends on what you are doing ssd will speed up your read/write and opening of programs, i definitely wouldnt get the 2 core id at least get the 750 (or 760).... going up to an 860 from that really only gives you hyperthreading which makes your 4 cores function as 8... currently the extra cores are pretty unused, but i think/hope they will be if you asked me, id spring for the 860, very easy to add an SSD later when they get a little more reasonably priced

SSD or quad core processor?

About Us

Community

Support

Company

Contact Us

Follow Us