Should I upgrade from my i5 750?
Should I upgrade from my i5 750?
You're considering moving to a more powerful CPU while keeping the LGA 1156 socket. Since your motherboard is the ASUS P7P55 WS SuperComputer, check its supported CPU options and upgrade accordingly. Let me know if you need help finding the right model!
ASUS P7P55 WS is a high-performance workstation built for gaming and content creation.
Upgrade focus on the CPU to an X3440. If higher-end chips aren't significantly pricier, it makes sense to go board-wise. Consider purchasing an affordable USB BIOS programmer such as the CH341A and flashing the board with a Maximus III Extreme BIOS. If that fails, try the Maximus III Formula BIOS. You might gain advantages by swapping EBB for Rampage III Extreme, which essentially replaces a module file using mmtool 3.22. Personally, I own a P5Q with a P5Qd BIOS; I modified it with Maximus II Formula EBB and didn't notice any changes, likely because the board is already quite outdated (only supporting 570fSB).
I owned an i5 750 for a long time—it was a solid CPU when it launched and what pushed me away from Team Red at that point. If you're like me, you wouldn’t upgrade the CPU in that setup since it already has four cores, and adding hyperthreading with the i7 880 or Xeon won’t make much of a difference. To get the most performance possible, Tkitch suggests the Xeon X3470 as your top choice.
I reviewed the CPU compatibility list for that motherboard and followed the advice given. Quad-core Xeon CPUs with hyperthreading would be ideal. An i7-860 could also work well if you opt for a budget model—it’s very similar to a Xeon X3460. Looking at eBay listings in North America, prices are around $20, which is quite reasonable.