i7 3930k vs i7 4930k

RealitySpeaks · Oct 9, 2013

I've narrowed down my CPU search to these two. I did choose the 3930k at first, but then a friend recommended me the 4930k because it was only 10$ more on Amazon. I was asking around and I heard that there is only a 3%-5% boost in performance. Besides that the only other thing I know is that the 4930k is the New Ivy-Bridge-E chip. Can you help me in choosing which to use?

rolli59 · Oct 9, 2013

For the $10 I would go with the 4930K it is worth it.

fudoka711 · Oct 9, 2013

Even with only a 3-5% improvement in performance (I think that's after overclocking is factored in), its worth the extra $10. Tom's did a review of the ivy bridge-e cpu's a little while ago.

EDIT: Here's the review Tom's did. It's for the 4960x, but it clearly shows the differences between ivy bridge-e and sandy bridge-e. It's definitely worth it to get the 4930k over the 3930k. Check out the review if you want here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-4960x-ivy-bridge-e-benchmark,3557.html

RealitySpeaks · Oct 9, 2013

fudoka711 :

Okay, now to throw a curveball at you. I was looking at my budget and I came across the i7 3970x It looks like an absolute beauty, but I don't know if it would be an upgrade over the newer i7 4930k. Also! There is a 4960x available too. They cost alot, but I want my computer to have power behind it, and future proof it a bit more too. That and I like showboating off sometimes too haha! Can you help me narrow my choice by these last 3?

rolli59 · Oct 9, 2013

Those CPU's are only for bragging rights there performance increase over the others is puny compared with the price increase.

RealitySpeaks · Oct 9, 2013

rolli59 :

So you believe that the 4930k is the best choice?

fudoka711 · Oct 9, 2013

RealitySpeaks :

Well, given those 3 options (technically there aren't any other super high end options unless you look at xeon), I would still get the 4930k.

At stock settings, the 3970x beats the 4930k by just a few seconds and loses to the 4960x by a similar amount. However, Tom's found the 4960x to be 30% more efficient than the 3970x. The 4930k should be binned pretty high and therefore achieve overclocks that would beat out a 4960x (at a low-moderate overclock at least). Unless you're willing to spend like $400+ more for the 4960x on like 1-4% improvement over the 4930k, I wouldn't do that.

Instead, I would get the 4930k and spend the extra money on a great cooling system you can show off and overclock even more. But if you simply have to have the best of the best, then you're welcome to go for that, too =).

RealitySpeaks · Oct 9, 2013

fudoka711 :

RealitySpeaks :

Well, given those 3 options (technically there aren't any other super high end options unless you look at xeon), I would still get the 4930k.

At stock settings, the 3970x beats the 4930k by just a few seconds and loses to the 4960x by a similar amount. However, Tom's found the 4960x to be 30% more efficient than the 3970x. The 4930k should be binned pretty high and therefore achieve overclocks that would beat out a 4960x (at a low-moderate overclock at least). Unless you're willing to spend like $400+ more for the 4960x on like 1-4% improvement over the 4930k, I wouldn't do that.

Instead, I would get the 4930k and spend the extra money on a great cooling system you can show off and overclock even more. But if you simply have to have the best of the best, then you're welcome to go for that, too =).

I'll take your word on it

! I was watercooling from the start, using an XSPC AX240 Raystorm kit

RealitySpeaks · Oct 9, 2013

fudoka711 :

RealitySpeaks :

I just found out that the 4930k has only 5 cores compared to the 3930k's 6 cores. I'm so confused, doesn't that mean that the 4930k's performance would be lower?

Well, given those 3 options (technically there aren't any other super high end options unless you look at xeon), I would still get the 4930k.

At stock settings, the 3970x beats the 4930k by just a few seconds and loses to the 4960x by a similar amount. However, Tom's found the 4960x to be 30% more efficient than the 3970x. The 4930k should be binned pretty high and therefore achieve overclocks that would beat out a 4960x (at a low-moderate overclock at least). Unless you're willing to spend like $400+ more for the 4960x on like 1-4% improvement over the 4930k, I wouldn't do that.

Instead, I would get the 4930k and spend the extra money on a great cooling system you can show off and overclock even more. But if you simply have to have the best of the best, then you're welcome to go for that, too =).

I'm so confused, the 3930k has 6 cores while the 4930k has only 5. Doesn't that mean the performance of the 4930k would be less?

rolli59 · Oct 9, 2013

They are both 6 core! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116939

fudoka711 · Oct 9, 2013

rolli59 :

Yup they're both 6 core/12 threads! Don't worry, the 5 was probably a typo somewhere.

guskline · Oct 10, 2013

I have a 3930K @4.4 Ghz on an Asus Sabertoth X79 mb. These suckers throw off a lot of heat so when I custom water cooled I used both a XSPC RX 360 and added a Swiftech MCR120-QPK rad. I also water cool my GTX 680. The 4930k has 6 cores and 6 hyper threads for 12 overall threads. BUY the 4930k and build a custom water cooler with plenty of radiator space.

RealitySpeaks · Oct 10, 2013

fudoka711 :

Thank God! I read on Amazon's spec table and it said that the 4930k had 5 cores and panicked. I searched it on Intel though and it said it had 6 cores. How can they be wrong? It's their product after all.

RealitySpeaks · Oct 10, 2013

guskline :

I don't think my case (Thermaltake Chaser MK-1) Can handle multiple water cooling systems. I would like to use a XSPC RX360, but I don't know if my case supports it... I would like to water-cool my graphics cards as well (2-Way SLI Gigabyte GTX 770s, but again, I don't know about my case. I'm really drawn into the case because of it's breathing power LED, cool design and it matches with the BLUE LED Diodes I plan to install in the case. I don't know another case that matches style with a huge work space.. And the more blue the better haha

chrisfrew · Jan 17, 2014

rolli59 :

amazed you say that ,, but when I have has 3820 i7s 950 920 2600k , and now a 3930k and this pc runs the fastest of them all

so I guess your only the 920 I had 5 years ago bud / ?

mebe people say i5 processors are as good as you need for the game to work , but trust me it makes the game smoother the 3930k farless the performance of windows , even with no ssd and dual channel 8gb 2400 at the mo , I notice the difference of the 3930k

your rong lol trust me

rolli59 · Jan 17, 2014

chrisfrew :

I was referring to the I7 3970X over the I7 3930K! If you took the time to read this old post before adding your wisdom!. Basically not worth the $500 price difference.

RetroHushPuppy · May 22, 2014

i7 3970x is way too expensive. Even the 4960x is useless. Infact your even better off with 4770k as it has only a little difference. if you want pure work go for 4930k.

fudoka711 · May 23, 2014

Can we please get a mod to close this thread? It was started 6 months ago.

i7 3930k vs i7 4930k

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