New i5 pc is not quad core?

[neworldman]

Hello,

I bought THIS from a friend for $500. It came with the 24" LED. He never used it just ppluggedit in and set it up. He got laptop instead. I got my quad core i7 ZT desktop stolen. I bought this thinking it is the same because it said it was quad core on the sticker on the pc. But I found out it has two cores and two thread with Turbo Boost and hyper threading technology. I am using it for Cam/Cad stuff SolidWorks & Mastercam. It seams alot slower then my i7 ZT. So now i am thinking of getting THIS processor to put in my motherboard. Will the new Intel Core i5-2400S Sandy Bridge 2.5GHz (3.3GHz Turbo Boost) work with my motherboard? Or would it be better to get THIS AMD 6 core and new motherboard? Here are my specs on the pc now. Or will it be cheapest to try and over clock this one?

Dell Motherboard # DH57M02

8 gb of ram
Intel(R) HD graphics
1.5 Tb hard drive


ManufacturerIntel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 650 @ 3.20GHzClock Speed3.3GHzL2 Cache Size512

[roma_turok]

Dell Inspiron 580 Desktop motherboard is Intel H57 chipset
From Intel site Core i5-2400S is not compatible with H57 chipset

[jman98]

I've got the exact AMD processor you asked about an am using a Gigabyte 890GAP-UD3H motherboard without any issues. I originally tried to use Asus motherboards and went through 2 of the same model that I couldn't get to POST before giving up and trying Gigabyte. The box is plenty fast for my needs. If this helps you any I can encode dual layer BluRay rips to single layer size in under 3 hours on the box using BDRebuilder.

I support AMD at home and always have but work always gives me Intel (grrr!). Not real sold on Sandy Bridge yet and I'd advise caution with it as some of the early reports were that it may not yet be ready for prime time. But things do change and to be honest with you I do not really keep up with what Intel does very much.

[TBoneit]

First only the latest motherboards may or may not support Sandy bridge CPUs, they have to be designed for it. It isn't just chipset it is also tied to the socket.

They changed the socket for Sandy bridge. thus there are now three different sockets for i7 CPUs

Second AMD and Intel processors are not interchangeable the motherboards have to be designed for either.

To find out what your board supports do a Google search with the computer model or motherboard model followed by CPU upgrade and read.

[neworldman]

Dell Inspiron 580 Desktop motherboard is Intel H57 chipset
From Intel site Core i5-2400S is not compatible with H57 chipset

Thanks for the info. Is there any Intel quad core that will fit with my H57 chip set? I think this would be the cheapest way if it is possible. Other wise I have to by new mother board and processor. If i have to do this i will buy AMD six core.

[neworldman]

What I found out is all of the i7 CPU's will fit in my H57 chip set. Which one is best for my Cam/Cad stuff? I found a used i7 860 for $179. Site

Intel® Core™ i7-880 Processor
(8M Cache, 3.06 GHz)
No95 Watts4C / 8TYesYes$583.00Launched Intel® Core™ i7-875K Processor
(8M Cache, 2.93 GHz)
No95 Watts4C / 8TYesYes$342.00Launched Intel® Core™ i7-870S Processor
(8M Cache, 2.66 GHz)
No82 Watts4C / 8TYesYes$351.00Launched Intel® Core™ i7-870 Processor
(8M Cache, 2.93 GHz)
No95 Watts4C / 8TYesYes$294.00Launched Intel® Core™ i7-860S Processor
(8M Cache, 2.53 GHz)
No82 Watts4C / 8TYesYes$337.00Launched Intel® Core™ i7-860 Processor
(8M Cache, 2.80 GHz)
Yes95 Watts4C / 8TYesYes$284.00Launched

[redwudz]

Here's one list of H57 compatible CPUs: http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Intel_(chipsets)/H57_Express.html I can't guarantee it's accuracy.

From that list, quad core i7 870 Lynnfield 2.93 CPU might work, but I would do a lot of checking first: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115213

Those are about $290US at NewEgg.

The low end AMD six core 1055T is about $160US at present. If you are looking for a Gigabyte Micro-ATX MB to go with it, maybe one of the 880G versions: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128440

I run the same CPU in the PC in my computer details, OC'd a bit. It is much faster than my Intel Q9550 for H.264 encodes.

[neworldman]

Here's one list of H57 compatible CPUs: http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Intel_(chipsets)/H57_Express.html I can't guarantee it's accuracy.

From that list, quad core i7 870 Lynnfield 2.93 CPU might work, but I would do a lot of checking first: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115213

Those are about $290US at NewEgg.

The low end AMD six core 1055T is about $160US at present. If you are looking for a Gigabyte Micro-ATX MB to go with it, maybe one of the 880G versions: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128440

I run the same CPU in the PC in my computer details, OC'd a bit. It is much faster than my Intel Q9550 for H.264 encodes.

Wow thanks. So I can get a six core AMD with motherboard for about $260. Or get a i7 860 CPU only to fit my H57 chip set for $180 to $270. With my high end SolidWorks & MasterCam i think i should go with the AMD. Or will I like the i7 860 better. Seams like six cores are better then four? This AMD board should fit right in my Dell 580 box right?