Intel i7-920 vs AMD Phenom 955 @3.8GHz

KissSh0t

Hey guys.. I've just been given a second hand motherboard and it had the fan still stuck on and I've taken it off to see what chip was there and it's a i7-920

Currently I'm running a Phenom 955 @ 3.8GHz with an Antec 620 watercooler

I was wondering if it would be worth it.. moving over to this i7 chip and maybe overclocking it to 3.8GHz also..

Would the i7 be better? does this chip overclock aright?

Agent-A01 · 01-21-2013, 04:55 | posts: 5,623 | Location: USA

i7 920 is much better than any phenom 2. Phenom 2 competed with the old Core 2 quads. If you get a D0 revision chip those will hit 4.2-4.4 max with good cooling. Otherwise the C0 version will hit a wall at 3.8. It would be a decent upgrade

KissSh0t · 01-21-2013, 05:04 | posts: 895 | Location: Deep Dark Dungeon

Nice.. thanks for the info..

hallryu · 01-21-2013, 07:55 | posts: 10,840 | Location: England

Get that 920 fired up! You will not be disappointed.

dmitrice · 01-21-2013, 08:01 | posts: 308 | Location: Ghana

Yes, the 920 is a very good chip when overclocked. IMO there is little performance difference between an overclocked 920 and 2500 except maybe power usage.

KissSh0t · 01-21-2013, 08:24 | posts: 895 | Location: Deep Dark Dungeon

Ohh cool.. it sounds really interesting now : >

Veteran · *Last edited by Veteran; 01-21-2013 at 10:05.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

i7 920 is much better than any phenom 2. Phenom 2 competed with the old Core 2 quads. If you get a D0 revision chip those will hit 4.2-4.4 max with good cooling. Otherwise the C0 version will hit a wall at 3.8. It would be a decent upgrade

You will need cherry picked cpu to hit 4.4, not all 920/930s will hit 4.4 ht on even with good cooling.

The majority of the good ones go 4.2, but there are also some really poor d0 versions that will struggle to do 4ghz but these are quite rare fortunately.

It all depends on the batch number which should be across the front of the cpu unless the cpu has been lapped.

Even if its a c0 the op will be lucky to get 3.8 stable, there are 2 people on this forum that I know of with a c0 who cannot get it to budge past 3.4 and 3.6.

Saying that I would still rather a c0 than a phenom.

---TK--- · 01-21-2013, 10:28 | posts: 14,700 | Location: New Jersey, USA

I would take the 920 even if its a beat ocer

BLEH! · **Memory**: 24GB @ 1600 @ 9-10-9-27

920 any day. Me and Veteran are still running X58.

lucidus · 01-21-2013, 12:20 | posts: 3,179 | Location: UAE

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLEH!

920 any day. Me and Veteran are still running X58.

Me too but I don't have the badass OC

Veteran · 01-21-2013, 12:59 | posts: 7,388 | Location: United kingdom

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLEH!

920 any day. Me and Veteran are still running X58.

Yeap its still a great CPU.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucidus

Me too but I don't have the badass OC

Is your cpu a c0 or d0?
What cooling do you have?

lucidus · 01-21-2013, 14:40 | posts: 3,179 | Location: UAE

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veteran

Is your cpu a c0 or d0?
What cooling do you have?

Yep it's a C0 cooled with a coolermaster v8. I don't know how to push it over 3.5 ghz .. I get bluescreens but it works perfectly undervolted

Agent-A01 · 01-21-2013, 14:47 | posts: 5,623 | Location: USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veteran

You will need cherry picked cpu to hit 4.4, not all 920/930s will hit 4.4 ht on even with good cooling.

The majority of the good ones go 4.2, but there are also some really poor d0 versions that will struggle to do 4ghz but these are quite rare fortunately.

Yeah but by good cooling, i mean H20. And of course, its all luck of the draw

Subaru Swift · 01-21-2013, 14:53 | posts: 912 | Location: UK - Staffordshire \ bromsgrove

i still have a 1366 socket i7 in my main rig ! i used to have a 920 C verison & it went to 3.8 no worries ! but i have moved up a bit to a 950 now & i have yet to really test what this cpu can do as i7 are still a quick cpu to have these days.....

however great of someone to give you a 920 & mobo

KissSh0t · 01-21-2013, 20:06 | posts: 895 | Location: Deep Dark Dungeon

The motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R, the person who gave it to me thought it was broken and was going to throw it in the bin, so I asked if I could have it.. turns out the video card in it was what was broken and the mobo and chip is fine..

^__^

Veteran · 01-21-2013, 20:15 | posts: 7,388 | Location: United kingdom

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucidus

Yep it's a C0 cooled with a coolermaster v8. I don't know how to push it over 3.5 ghz .. I get bluescreens but it works perfectly undervolted

If it was a d0 i was going to offer some bios suggestions but once you mentioned a c0, well tbh forget it.

Atleast its doing a good job for you

Subaru Swift · 01-21-2013, 21:14 | posts: 912 | Location: UK - Staffordshire \ bromsgrove

fair play mate i wish someone kind person would give me a nice cpu & mobo....

KissSh0t · *Last edited by KissSh0t; 01-22-2013 at 13:47.*

I just checked the 920 in CPU-Z and it is a revision D0

I played a little bit of Skyrim with it.. just at it's stock settings.. and it is really smooth..

How is it that a 2.66GHz chip is smoother than a 3.8GHz chip?

I have never had an Intel system of my own before, so I have never really fiddled with one that much :I

KissSh0t · *Last edited by KissSh0t; 01-23-2013 at 03:44.*

I got myself to 3.8GHz on my first try *__*

Is my QPI link alright? I'm not sure about that setting.. it's the only thing I am unsure of.

Idling in the 50's

Agent-A01 · 01-23-2013, 03:45 | posts: 5,623 | Location: USA

QPI is fine, doesnt make much difference. Also intel I series cpus have always been faster per core than amds offering. You got a D0 chip, go for 4ghz provided temps are below 80c stressing

KissSh0t · 01-23-2013, 04:01 | posts: 895 | Location: Deep Dark Dungeon

i..... i........... I just might try that you know...

KissSh0t · 01-23-2013, 04:32 | posts: 895 | Location: Deep Dark Dungeon

4GHz.. and it's stable//

@___@

Agent-A01 · 01-23-2013, 05:07 | posts: 5,623 | Location: USA

Nice. good voltage as well. 4.2 24/7 would be really nice

KissSh0t · 01-23-2013, 05:10 | posts: 895 | Location: Deep Dark Dungeon

I think I will keep it at 4GHz... it is very fast like this..

Agent-A01 · 01-23-2013, 06:03 | posts: 5,623 | Location: USA

what are your temps in p95 fft? want it to be <80c. and general usage(games) less than 70c