Would a 1st generation i7 be able to handle todays games compared to this generation??

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Brian99

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Todays pc games are demanding. Would a 1st generation i7 be able to handle todays games compared to the newer i7 or this generation?
 
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RedJaron
I think many of you are placing an inordinate amount of emphasis on the CPU. That's only a limitation when detail settings are low, a situation few people play at when they have an i7. Set the resolution to 1080 and detail levels to medium and the bottleneck shifts over to the GPU, just like it's been for years.

http://www.techspot.com/review/921-dragon-age-inquisition-benchmarks/page6.html
http://www.techspot.com/review/1006-the-witcher-3-benchmarks/page5.html
http://www.techspot.com/review/991-gta-5-pc-benchmarks/page6.html
http://www.techspot.com/review/979-battlefield-hardline-benchmarks/page5.html

Nehalem may not be as efficient as Haswell, but IPC can't be much worse than the FX-8350 ( if it's even behind that ), and that chip...
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nkhaira

nkhaira

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Not necessarily,
In terms of benchmarks the i5-4690k cuts out ahead
Also want to consider that the 1st gen i7s though capable are quite old, compared to something like the i5-4690k
 
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RedJaron

RedJaron

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I think many of you are placing an inordinate amount of emphasis on the CPU. That's only a limitation when detail settings are low, a situation few people play at when they have an i7. Set the resolution to 1080 and detail levels to medium and the bottleneck shifts over to the GPU, just like it's been for years.

http://www.techspot.com/review/921-dragon-age-inquisition-benchmarks/page6.html
http://www.techspot.com/review/1006-the-witcher-3-benchmarks/page5.html
http://www.techspot.com/review/991-gta-5-pc-benchmarks/page6.html
http://www.techspot.com/review/979-battlefield-hardline-benchmarks/page5.html

Nehalem may not be as efficient as Haswell, but IPC can't be much worse than the FX-8350 ( if it's even behind that ), and that chip keeps pace with a 4790K pretty well.

Also, the question was about modern games, which are increasingly going to multi-thread.

Brian, your i7 is fine. The bigger factor is your GPU, especially if you're still using one from the same time you bought the Nehalem. If you've got a current GPU and old-ish i7, you can play just fine. You might give up a little performance, but you asked if it's playable, not if you can max out detail settings.
 
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delaro

delaro

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Used Value of I7 970 $275+ New Value Over $900
Used Value of I7 980 $350+ New Value Over $1000
Used Value of I7 2600K $160 New Value Over $400
Used Value of I7 2700K $300 New Value Over $500

Cost of a I5 4690K New $229

Gaming performance in 1080P over a I5 4690K..... next to nothing. Your not going to tell them apart at this resolution or any other unless you hit 4K and need Multiple GPUS. If you happen to have one of these bad boys then upgrading is more like a side grade to lower heat and gain what benefits you get from new tech.


 
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RedJaron

RedJaron

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No way would I recommend a BW chip for a gaming-first desktop. You're spending extra money on an iGPU that will never get used. That same money can get you an i5-K if you want to OC, or get a 4460 and put the extra $60 toward other computer components.

Also, a Nehalem holding back a 980 only becomes a concern if you're at 4K or triple 1080p, which doesn't include the vast majority of gamers. A 980 is overkill for 1080 gaming. The point your 980 is held back at 1080p, you're already at more than smooth framerates.
 
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