Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Getback on April 16, 2009, 09:31:38 PM

Title: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Getback on April 16, 2009, 09:31:38 PM
Just curious. I know the i7 is a good chip but from what I understand you're only going to use 2 cores anyway.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: AirFlyer on April 16, 2009, 10:05:46 PM
It's a great CPU, faster then the E8500 I'm sure, but for your question, no I doubt you will see any noticeable difference in AH since the E8500 already dominates AH.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: BaldEagl on April 17, 2009, 12:37:35 AM
You're not serious are you?
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TilDeath on April 17, 2009, 12:50:20 AM
If you decide on the 920 I can get it for about $50 more then the E8500.    Not a huge difference in AH but in other area's you will notice a difference
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Getback on April 17, 2009, 01:44:13 AM
Let me add this. I've heard you can assign different programs to different cores. So could you assign the sound to a certain core?
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TheZohan on April 17, 2009, 02:48:37 AM
the i7 would trounce the E8500
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Casper1 on April 17, 2009, 07:51:23 AM
You're not serious are you?

I think he is, and could be right.  The core i7 is definetly a fast, poweerful processor and handles many tasks much better than an E8400/E8500, but in AH, the noticeable change is proabably slight (not worth the extra costs associated with the CPU plus the CPU itself).

Go look at benchmarks at tomshardware.com:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-2-overclock,2146.html (February System Builder Marathon or SBM) 

Also look at the two prevous months' Marathons as they compare the E8500 and the Core i7 to the most recent SBM, which uses the Intel Quad 9550.

Might also be worth your while to poke around on other tech sites to understand where the i7 REALLY excels and where its JUST a little bit better than a Overclocked Dual Core. 

AH won't use more than two cores anyways at this point, so the extra cores on the i7 wont really help alot, which is the main point.

Of course, if the extra $200-300 is not an issue, then you would proabbaly be better served going the i7 route as it is obvisouly the CPU architecture that will have the most longevity, and who knows, MAYBE AH (or other games) will push past dual-core use in the future....
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: BaldEagl on April 17, 2009, 08:58:08 AM
I think he is, and could be right.  The core i7 is definetly a fast, poweerful processor and handles many tasks much better than an E8400/E8500, but in AH, the noticeable change is proabably slight (not worth the extra costs associated with the CPU plus the CPU itself).

Go look at benchmarks at tomshardware.com:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-2-overclock,2146.html (February System Builder Marathon or SBM) 

Also look at the two prevous months' Marathons as they compare the E8500 and the Core i7 to the most recent SBM, which uses the Intel Quad 9550.

Might also be worth your while to poke around on other tech sites to understand where the i7 REALLY excels and where its JUST a little bit better than a Overclocked Dual Core. 

AH won't use more than two cores anyways at this point, so the extra cores on the i7 wont really help alot, which is the main point.

Of course, if the extra $200-300 is not an issue, then you would proabbaly be better served going the i7 route as it is obvisouly the CPU architecture that will have the most longevity, and who knows, MAYBE AH (or other games) will push past dual-core use in the future....

I'm fully aware of the I7 and it's benchmarks, etc. but his question was "will there be a benefit in AH over the E8500".  Sh@t, the game doesn't even tax my E6750! 

I know Getback's already running an E8500.  Getback, answer me this; do you have issues playing Aces High with your E8500 now?  He already knows the answer to his own question and thus my initial response.

Now, if he's really asking "will there be a benefit with everything else outside of AH" then yes.  Go for it.

Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Casper1 on April 17, 2009, 09:18:23 AM
IM confused, LOL.  Who were you asking if they were serious?  AirFlyer or Getback? 
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: BaldEagl on April 17, 2009, 09:21:27 AM
IM confused, LOL.  Who were you asking if they were serious?  AirFlyer or Getback? 

Getback
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Getback on April 17, 2009, 09:21:33 AM
IM confused, LOL.  Who were you asking if they were serious?  AirFlyer or Getback? 

I have immunity!  :rofl :rofl
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Skuzzy on April 17, 2009, 09:28:41 AM
I do not have access to an i7 system, or I would test it.

Keep in mind Aces High II is more CPU dependent than most games.  If you bench the top 10 games, you are not going to see much difference in perfomance from an E8500 to an i7, for the simple fact that the top ten games are heavily vested in video card performance.

It is one of the largest fallacies of the WEB sites benchmarks when they are targeting CPU performance.  They fail to use a game which is vested in CPU performance!!  They have no clue what a CPU bound game is.

One day I'll have an i7 to bench the game with.  Right now, I cannot answer the question with any fact based certainty.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Larokkit on April 17, 2009, 09:35:47 AM
Skuzzy,
  I'll let Tildeth ship mine to you if you then ship it to me.
   I live in austin.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Skuzzy on April 17, 2009, 09:40:32 AM
Thanks for the offer Larokkit, but the lawyers would go stupid if we allowed it.  Liability and all that nonsense.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Casper1 on April 17, 2009, 10:04:31 AM
I do not have access to an i7 system, or I would test it.

Keep in mind Aces High II is more CPU dependent than most games.  If you bench the top 10 games, you are not going to see much difference in perfomance from an E8500 to an i7, for the simple fact that the top ten games are heavily vested in video card performance.

It is one of the largest fallacies of the WEB sites benchmarks when they are targeting CPU performance.  They fail to use a game which is vested in CPU performance!!  They have no clue what a CPU bound game is.

One day I'll have an i7 to bench the game with.  Right now, I cannot answer the question with any fact based certainty.

I see the light!
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TilDeath on April 17, 2009, 11:54:41 AM
Thanks for the offer Larokkit, but the lawyers would go stupid if we allowed it.  Liability and all that nonsense.
Can I send one for your review?  Not anyone rig so to speak.  I mean I own it and it is not promised to anyone.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TheZohan on April 17, 2009, 04:09:19 PM
send him a X2 7750 system too .. kill 2 birds with 1 stone
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Skuzzy on April 17, 2009, 04:57:47 PM
Right now, would be premature.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Denholm on April 17, 2009, 05:15:39 PM
I'm fully aware of the I7 and it's benchmarks, etc. but his question was "will there be a benefit in AH over the E8500".  Sh@t, the game doesn't even tax my E6750! 

I know Getback's already running an E8500.  Getback, answer me this; do you have issues playing Aces High with your E8500 now?  He already knows the answer to his own question and thus my initial response.

Now, if he's really asking "will there be a benefit with everything else outside of AH" then yes.  Go for it.



In other words... Getback wanted an excuse to get the newest toy. :P
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Getback on April 17, 2009, 06:06:52 PM
In other words... Getback wanted an excuse to get the newest toy. :P


 :rofl :rofl :rofl So true. Except I don't have a job. But when I get a job. I am on it. (I always look forward)
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Denholm on April 18, 2009, 08:49:45 AM
I'm liking you more and more. Always look at the bright side. :aok
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Masherbrum on April 18, 2009, 08:54:15 AM
send him a X2 7750 system too .. kill 2 birds with 1 stone

Why?    An i7 being tested by Skuzzy would be more "future proof".   :huh
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Getback on April 18, 2009, 09:16:18 AM
Why?    An i7 being tested by Skuzzy would be more "future proof".   :huh

 :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl Some miss the obvious don't they. Just an excellent point.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TheZohan on April 18, 2009, 02:12:15 PM
thats the point i make about the i7, if you have the money to get the lowend i7 system. get it..its gonna be around longer then the 775 platform,  if you dont have the money  then a E8400/85000 is more then enough to play AH at this point. I think about more then just playing AH though but thats just me.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: BaldEagl on April 19, 2009, 12:47:13 AM
send him a X2 7750 system too .. kill 2 birds with 1 stone

Send your X2 7750 system to Getback for testing and I can predict the future.  You will kill many many more than two birds with one stone...

(http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Science/Images/massive-nuclear-explosion.jpg)
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Getback on April 19, 2009, 08:38:04 AM
Send your X2 7750 system to Getback for testing and I can predict the future.  You will kill many many more than two birds with one stone...

(http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Science/Images/massive-nuclear-explosion.jpg)

 :rofl :rofl :rofl Ya cut me!

Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Delirium on April 19, 2009, 09:43:17 AM
When TilDeath built my system, I wanted one for the long haul; one I wouldn't have to upgrade (except for maybe a video card) in the next 3-4 years. The I7 combined with Tildeath's overclocking work has made that plan a solid investment.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TilDeath on April 20, 2009, 03:52:00 AM
OK I built a basic i7 system to check all this hoopla.  Skuzzy if you want to call me and give me a few BM programs or what ones you want to use let me know.  I will post my findings here as best I can.... I am a busy busy busy Bee now-days.  System is built though, need to do a lil tweaking before making any posts.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TheZohan on April 20, 2009, 04:59:02 AM
someones review on the i7 this his personal upgrade from a E8400

chris hurteau wrote :

I upgraded to the i7 from an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400. The main reasons I made the upgrade were:

1. Low power consumption (significantly lower than a Q6600 which is about $100 cheaper than the i7)
2. 8 logical cores available (quad core + hyper threading)
3. The ability to play cutting edge games that take advantage of all 8 cores.
4. The potential ability to load share between CPU & GPU once Windows 7 is released.

The upgrade might have been a bit premature, as the primary reason to buy an I7 processor won't be possible until Windows 7 is released. Windows 7 will allow load sharing between GPU (graphics card) and CPU. This will enable some really nice performance gains in games, or other graphic intensive applications like video editing software. Allegedly, games like Crysis will get a 20-30 percent performance increase. However, I heard that before when Windows stated that Vista would provide significant performance gains for DirectX10 games, which has not proved to be the case.

Regardless, the i7 920 is truly an amazing CPU. I've yet to experiment with overclocking much, but I do have it running at 3.12ghz stable and with a core temperature of 41C at idle and around 60C under load. I'll likely push things further in the coming weeks, and I'll give updates on temperatures and performance when I do.

Combining this card with two 4870hd 512mb graphics cards in Crossfire mode produced a 3DMark06 score of just over 19,000! That is a 5,000 point gain from my previous rig, and is in about the top 4% of all systems out there. That is pretty phenomenal performance. In Crysis with all settings at very high and DX10, I average over 50 frames at 1980x1200. This CPU is a gaming beast.

If you plan to overclock this card even a little, invest in an aftermarket heat sink and some Arctic Silver thermal compound. The heatsink provided with the retail package is small and ineffective at cooling an overclocked card. I recommend this Zalman Cpu Cooler for moderate overclocking. It is a very quite and very effective fan.

If your in the market for a 'future-proof' processor, this is a great option at a reasonable price point. The ceiling speed of processors is growing increasingly unimportant as multi-thread programing become the norm in both games and applications. You could spend a lot more for a higher GHZ CPU, but you're not really gaining as much performance as the jump from 2 to 4 cores, and then quad core to octo core. This processor will eat anything you throw at it and come back for more. Just make sure your mother board supports i7 chips before you buy one.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Getback on April 20, 2009, 08:14:53 AM
OK I built a basic i7 system to check all this hoopla.  Skuzzy if you want to call me and give me a few BM programs or what ones you want to use let me know.  I will post my findings here as best I can.... I am a busy busy busy Bee now-days.  System is built though, need to do a lil tweaking before making any posts.

Talking about going the extra mile!  :salute
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: RELIC on April 20, 2009, 10:12:05 AM
I'd be curious to hear how the i7 compares to the 8400/8500 also.  I did finally get my AMD 6000+ stable so it will be 6 to 12 months before I consider building again and I would be looking at those cpu options at that time.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TheZohan on April 20, 2009, 04:19:39 PM
I'd be curious to hear how the i7 compares to the 8400/8500 also.  I did finally get my AMD 6000+ stable so it will be 6 to 12 months before I consider building again and I would be looking at those cpu options at that time.

your in a good position if your board supports it to run a phenom X3 or X4 and gain twice the speed you have now without having to switch anything more then just the processor.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: RELIC on April 20, 2009, 10:54:00 PM
Nope it does not.  I have an ASRock board that is a 939 socket that allows for a daughterboard to run the first gen of AM2 cpus.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TilDeath on April 21, 2009, 01:30:23 AM
System Builds:

1) i7 920 Stock speeds 1800 FSB GTX 260 6GB Tri-Channel DDR3
2) E8400 Stock speeds 1600 FSB GTX 260 4GB DDR3
3) E8400 Stock speeds 1150 FSB GTX 260 4GB DDR2

Pegged FR at 59~60 on all systems.  No difference
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Greebo on April 21, 2009, 02:04:59 AM
I wonder if HTC have ever considered creating some sort of hardware benchmark routine for AH? Something like a series of graphically demanding sequences (carrier landing, mass furball, lots of bombers, heavy ack etc.) that the game plays through and you get an average framerate or a framerate graph at the end.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: skullman on April 21, 2009, 07:23:19 AM
I aint up on the technical side but the system TD just built for me the Q9550 is crankin 1800 on the FSB
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Getback on April 21, 2009, 10:12:54 AM
I aint up on the technical side but the system TD just built for me the Q9550 is crankin 1800 on the FSB

How's that working for ya?
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TilDeath on April 21, 2009, 01:11:32 PM
How's that working for ya?
He is just getting it today and as of this writing has not been delivered 2:15 pm est

Still not there 5:15 est

FedEx says by close of business today 8:00 pm cmt
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: eagl on April 21, 2009, 07:43:06 PM
System Builds:

1) i7 920 Stock speeds 1800 FSB GTX 260 6GB Tri-Channel DDR3
2) E8400 Stock speeds 1600 FSB GTX 260 4GB DDR3
3) E8400 Stock speeds 1150 FSB GTX 260 4GB DDR2

Pegged FR at 59~60 on all systems.  No difference


All sliders at max?  What resolution and what FSAA setting?

There is always a difference, you just gotta keep turning up the settings :)
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TilDeath on April 21, 2009, 08:02:50 PM
All sliders at max?  What resolution and what FSAA setting?

There is always a difference, you just gotta keep turning up the settings :)
EVERYTHING at MAX no difference.  Resolution 1680 x 1050.  Once you hit a point your maxed the game, there is no where else to go.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TheZohan on April 21, 2009, 08:45:46 PM
i wonder what the new graphics are gonna do.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: eagl on April 22, 2009, 05:28:37 AM
EVERYTHING at MAX no difference.  Resolution 1680 x 1050.  Once you hit a point your maxed the game, there is no where else to go.

Ah, there's the problem.  Only 1680x1050  :huh  Seriously, I didn't think the 260 would drive AH at 1680 with 16xQ FSAA and transparancy supersampling and all sliders maxed, regardless of the cpu.

I was gonna ask Skuzzy or Pyro if they would consider testing the new Radeon that can drive 4 monitors, but I think I already know the answer.  Still, that would be awesome.  Two widescreens stacked one on top of each other, and then two more in portrait mode on the sides...  That would kick butt in AH, but I dunno if the game would know how to deal with it and I'm not going to drop $2000 to test it for them  :lol
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: RTHolmes on April 22, 2009, 06:59:00 AM
I wonder if HTC have ever considered creating some sort of hardware benchmark routine for AH? Something like a series of graphically demanding sequences (carrier landing, mass furball, lots of bombers, heavy ack etc.) that the game plays through and you get an average framerate or a framerate graph at the end.

good idea, like the quake demo. offline mission with 20 sets B24s at 4k dropping over a 4x4 tile of fuel and city strats. should do the trick :)
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TilDeath on April 22, 2009, 09:56:27 AM
Ah, there's the problem.  Only 1680x1050  :huh  Seriously, I didn't think the 260 would drive AH at 1680 with 16xQ FSAA and transparancy supersampling and all sliders maxed, regardless of the cpu.

I was gonna ask Skuzzy or Pyro if they would consider testing the new Radeon that can drive 4 monitors, but I think I already know the answer.  Still, that would be awesome.  Two widescreens stacked one on top of each other, and then two more in portrait mode on the sides...  That would kick butt in AH, but I dunno if the game would know how to deal with it and I'm not going to drop $2000 to test it for them  :lol

Everything TURNED ON and at full  I will try some screen shots of the nVidia settings later to show.  But yes 16xQ FSAA, trans and supersampling and all sliders maxed!
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: aaronr on April 22, 2009, 06:52:45 PM
I think you will find Tilldeath's answers to be the most spot on for this situation at this present times there is very little processor power or Video GPU power required by this game it is relatively primitive in it's use of the power available at this time, the game has not reached a point of development where it is even remotely capable of stressing either the "CPU" or "GPU" of any machine build within the last three years.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Denholm on April 22, 2009, 07:01:34 PM
Excuse me while I replace my keyboard. Oh yes, I forgot the paper towels...
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Skuzzy on April 22, 2009, 07:47:22 PM
I think you will find Tilldeath's answers to be the most spot on for this situation at this present times there is very little processor power or Video GPU power required by this game it is relatively primitive in it's use of the power available at this time, the game has not reached a point of development where it is even remotely capable of stressing either the "CPU" or "GPU" of any machine build within the last three years.

And you have no idea what you are talking about.  Would you like to deal with the many people I deal with everyday who struggle to make the game play smoothly on thier computer?  How are you qualified to know anything at all about how our game works?  Did you help write it?  Are you a friend of HiTech's?  Scratch that one, as no friend of HiTech's would ever make such a statement.

People who come in here and pretend to know everything there is to know about our game, and never written one line of its code are not to be taken seriously.  I say that for anyone reading the above response.  This person has no idea what he/she is talking about.  Modeling flight is a very CPU intensive operation.  Anyone trying to dispute that is just clueless.

If anyone wants to know something, then ask the question.  I can promise you will get a more reliable and accurate answer than someone who is slinging this type of tripe around.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Masherbrum on April 22, 2009, 09:10:10 PM
I think you will find Tilldeath's answers to be the most spot on for this situation at this present times there is very little processor power or Video GPU power required by this game it is relatively primitive in it's use of the power available at this time, the game has not reached a point of development where it is even remotely capable of stressing either the "CPU" or "GPU" of any machine build within the last three years.

You might as well put the water bong down.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: BaldEagl on April 22, 2009, 11:24:09 PM
... the game has not reached a point of development where it is even remotely capable of stressing either the "CPU" or "GPU" of any machine build within the last three years.

I bet I could build a new machine tomorrow that would be totally overstressed by this game.

I'll tell you what, we both pay half.  I'll build it, test it and post screenshots.  If I'm right I keep the machine, if you're right you keep it.
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: TilDeath on April 23, 2009, 01:21:34 AM
I bet I could build a new machine tomorrow that would be totally overstressed by this game.

I'll tell you what, we both pay half.  I'll build it, test it and post screenshots.  If I'm right I keep the machine, if you're right you keep it.
Can I get in on this one...
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: Getback on April 23, 2009, 03:11:50 AM
Can I get in on this one...

Can I take a peice of TD's action?
Title: Re: Any advantage in AH to get an I core 7 over an e8500
Post by: BaldEagl on April 24, 2009, 12:43:42 AM
Can I get in on this one...

Does that mean you and I both pay half and if I can build a new machine that can be stressed by AH I get to keep it?