RAM manufacturers.

[CrossLOPER]

I have two dual channel kits, same specs, but different manufacturers. How bad would it be to use them both? Is it worth getting another kit?

[Lemur]

Should be okey-dokey if they are same spec, same speed, same voltage, etc.

[CrossLOPER]

OK, here's the deal. I was trying to upgrade my current tower, which has been able to handle pretty much everything to a certain extent for the past five years. The old AMD 4200+ has been under all kinds of stress and for a time, all that seemed to be needed was an occasional video card upgrade. Now this has changed.My rig has been acting up. It seems much slower. Games which ran fine on medium not a year ago now barely play. I remember this type of thing happening many times before. I think this rig is beginning to reach the end of its time as my main rig, soon to join my army of data servers/test subjects.

The GTX 275 is still a valid card for my purposes and I can easily sell it if I need an upgrade. The CPU, however, is rapidly entering the realm of obscure processors whose nomenclature will soon be forgotten. Unfortunately this all comes at a time when AMD is supposedly ready to release a new line of processors. Delays suggest that they themselves are not impressed with results. I think I will be happy running that hex core that's been out for a while. Since it can apparently run on an AM3+ motherboard, I can upgrade to the Bulldozer model at anytime. Thing is, waiting may or may not be worth it since the Bulldozer may do little more than match the i7, and by the time the AMD hexcore is obsolete, the Bulldozer will be low on the list as well. The sandy bridge i7 is more than what I need, and will stand for some time. Unfortunately, most of the 1155 MBs are awful, while the AM3 boards have been tested and proven, for the most part. However, the i7 outperforms the 1100T by a very wide margin.

So I need some advice: i7, 1100T, or wait for the Bulldozer, which will be priced at a reasonable 320USD, much like the i7?

[Lemur]

Whoa, that's a much bigger string of questions than RAM matching. Wowsers.

Waiting on technology is an iffy game. You never know how much something may be delayed, or how it will perform when it hits reality. It may be the neatest thing since tentacle porn, or it might not.

Th I7 is here and it works. Does it do what you need? Does it give the kind of performance you want? If not, then wait. If so, buy now.

Note: The only time I would recommend waiting on the tech is when reviews are already leaking out saying, "This is amazing." Then it makes sense. Or when the existing tech does not do what you want.

-edit-

I7 versus hexacore: My understanding is that the I7 is faster in almost all scenarios. Not much of a contest.

[CrossLOPER]

Will an i5 be sufficient? I've heard several things, and it seems that the i7 has little improvement over the i5 in terms of gaming. The difference lies within 1-5 fps.

[Lemur]

The i5 is a very good chip. Here's a comprehensive article (http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/1) on the two architectures, including some benchmarks for you to peruse.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Lemurmania/35038.png

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Lemurmania/35047.png

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Lemurmania/35057.png

[CrossLOPER]

I think I saw those benchmarks last night, but lost the location. I don't think that ~3-5 fps is worth 100USD.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/core-i5-2500k-and-core-i7-2600k-review/21

http://www.guru3d.com/article/phenom-ii-x6-1055t-1090t-review/16

Yeah, gaming isn't that intense yet. Seems that even that 1100T can compare. GPUs are just not that advanced. Seems like I would be better off going with the i5 option and just spend the extra cash on that Radeon 6870 + Shogun 2 TW deal. Cool.

EDIT: Yup, here it is: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/20
No reason for an i7, it seems.