Arma II actually recommends a quad-core for optimal performance, it could be an indication that the industry is moving to support more than 2 cores effectively. Getting a quad-core is still more future-proofing than being practical when it comes to games IMHO. It won't hurt, but it's not strictly necessary (yet).

I7 is powerfull, the most powerfull core on the market, but it's not designed with gaming in mind (though it is indeed faster than Core 2). Personally I have 0 interest, but that has a lot to do with the fact I would have to get a new MB with a different socket to fit the CPU. And there lies IMO the main concern: get an older board, and you won't be able to upgrade in the future, since the new CPUs don't fit those boards. Another thing is that the Core 2 quad-cores aren't true quad-cores, they're 2 dual-cores stuck together. I7 quad-cores are "true" quads. I7 also has the memory controller on the CPU instead of in the MB northbride (AMD has been doing this for years btw).

If you don't feel like going I7, go for Phenom II. If you don't want AMD, go for I7 anyway so you can upgrade in the future. Better than buying an entirely new system... again. (something you'll be doing anyway if you go with Intel, but that's a different story)



Why is building your own not an option? :06:

Thanks for the answers guys, I appreciate it.

Keeps us posted, Rick!

This is a bad advice. Intel is going to ditch the low cost i7 920 when the lynnfields come out in september.
Those that will want to upgrade their i7 920 will be looking at 500$ cpu's. Thats no upgrade path at least looking at it from a "consumer" perspective.

The only real option if you want future upgradability is to go with the phenom 2 platform. On the Intel side you still have socket 775 which is pretty good (not top of the line), but still you can make yourself a pretty good pc. Buying into i7 is going to bring you to a brick wall with no upgrade possibile (unless you consider spending 500-1000 $ for a cpu a normal thing).
Socket 1136 (for lynnfields) is a better option but it isn't clear what upgrades you will be able to get in the future.

I wasn't aware of future Intel ploys, just pointing out Socket 775 has no upgrade path. So Intel is switching sockets yet again for their new CPUs? Than you understand what I meant with "something you'll be doing anyway if you go with Intel, but that's a different story". I wish they would just stick with a socket for a while, buying a new motherboard everytime you want to upgrade is pretty annoying. :yep: