8x2.8ghz 2008MP vs i7-980

[roblin]

My 8x2.8ghz is getting old. Not really impressed with what apple offers right now and I mostly run Windows on it anyway so I was considering gettting a PC. How would a i7-980 with some watercooling and clocking perform compared to it?

This one:
Intel® Core™ i7-980 Processor
Socket-LGA1366, Six Core, 3.33Ghz, 12MB, 130W, QPI: 4,8GT/sec

Also is the 2600k better? How would it compare?

 

[jimmie32]

i7-2x Series is about 20% faster clock-per-clock over the i7- first gen series.
Theoretically, of course, it varies for usage. But you'll get a significant performance bump when you jump for the i7. Core to Nehalem is a bigger jump than Nehalem to Sandy Bridge.

Also, better overclocking experience? Maybe

But choose wisely. A Nehalem mobo won't work with a Sandy Bridge one. One pin difference = backwards incompatible. >.<

Or, you could wait for a Mac Pro refresh. It should come... someday..
It's not like your current MP is broken anyway.

 

[bearcatrp]

As was mentioned, might want to wait for the refresh just to see what apple actually does. Could be worth it. But, since you mostly use win7, it will still be allot cheaper to build your own. Folks over at xtremesystems.org are showing impressive OC on air with sandy bridge chips. Well over 4ghz. I had a 2008 Mac pro like yours. Sold it while I could get a descent price. Built my own dual socket westmere systems with an ATI 6950 and win7 64. Apples prices on Mac pro's are just to damn expensive. If you don't need OS X, build your own and save some money.