Which Socket Should I Select for New Motherboard / CPU?

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bzowk

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Hey Guys -

I have upgraded my PC part by part for the past few years now - noever getting a new one, but replacing or adding a part or two at once. I do a variety of things on the system from hosting python-run sites, gaming, virtual machines, media server, and more.

Next in line to upgrade is my CPU and processor. What I have currently isn't bad, but they aren't on par with the other current components. I get all of my parts from NewEgg which currently has LGA 1150, 1151, and 2011-v3 in it's top sellers. The 2011-v3 cost more, but didn't know if that's where the market was going. I also have 32gb of DDR3 RAM so would like to use it instead of having to purchase DDR4

My Question
Should I get a cheaper MB with older socket and spend the cash on a faster CPU, go for a MB with a newer style socket and lower CPU and upgrade later where faster ones are cheaper, or should I wait for something new coming out as it's really not a need right now (I don't think)? Below are my current system specs:

Current System Specs
- Intel i7-3770k
- GA-Z77-UDHH5
- 32gb RAM (DDR3 1600)
- Nvidia GTX 970 Video Card
- C:\ - 256 Samsung 850 Pro SSD (Windows 10 x64 & base apps installed only)
- D:\ - 32tb Drive Pool (x8 3-4tb disks & x1 256b Samsung 850 Evo SSD in pool using Stablebit Drivepool - SSD set as landing zone which receives all direct writes)
- E:\ - 1tb Hybrid drive for game installs and VMs
(The x8 standard disks in the pool above are connected via a SAS card with x2 4-port SAS -> SATA fan out cables. The SSDs and Hybrid are connected to SATA ports directly on the MB)

The only other upgrade I have planned is to swap out the Hybrid with a 1tb SSD for increased gaming performance. Any thoughts bout the above? Thanks!
 
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Zerk2012
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Zerk2012

Zerk2012

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If your going to reuse your memory then about the only upgrade you have is to a 4790K and it's in no way worth the price considering their nothing wrong with the processor you have.
Upgrade your cooling if you must and overclock the processor up to the 4.5 area and just keep doing what you do.
 
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martinch

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If you want to re-use your RAM, you're looking at an 1150 motherboard with the i7-4790K CPU, but that's not really much of an upgrade (unless you have software that uses AVX2). Socket 1151 is the replacement for 1150, and is a little faster, but takes DDR4. Socket 2011-3 is Intel's "Enthusiast" branch, the CPUs have more cores which would be helpful for VMs (but not your web server as Python's web server is annoyingly single-threaded), and has more PCI-E lanes, but takes DDR4.

If you need more cores or RAM, look at 2011-3, otherwise, I'd wait, as the others aren't much of an upgrade.
 
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geofelt

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Your i7-3770K is already very competent.
More so if you have overclocked it.

For gaming, the strongest upgrade would be lga1151 and a i7-6700K.
But, that is perhaps only a 15% boost in cpu capability.
There are a few Z170 motherboards that will accept DDR3 ram.
But intel says you will damage your processor if you use 1.5v ram.

All the lga2011v3 motherboards require ddr4.

IN essence, a cpu/motherboard change is going to involve ddr4.
Fortunately, ddr4 prices are now comparable to ddr3.

Today, I think your best upgrade is i7-6700K and a Z170 motherboard. It can handle 64gb of ram if you wish.
Ram speed does not seem to be very important.
Read this:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1478-page1.html

And... Z170 motherboards are supposed to support the upcoming kaby lake processors.
No solid word on when, but estimates are 6 months, and no word on performance except better than skylake.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Correct.
But if the purpose is gaming, the extra cores are no faster than the 3770K cores, you just get more of them.
My take is that batch type applications that take longer to run because of insufficient threads are easier to tolerate than stutters or slowdowns during gaming that are caused by insufficient core speed.

For gaming, the 5820k build has a potential plus in allowing triple sli.
I think that is not so useful when sli GTX980ti is available on a Z170 motherboard, and there are some even stronger graphics cards coming.

 
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bzowk

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Thanks Guys - I really appreciate all of the comments...

After reading it all and further research, I'm leaning towards keeping what I have and overclocking it as that compared to something new really wouldn't be worth the cost. I've researched overclocking before (both CPU and RAM), but don't know what the best approach would be for me to do so. I know the limits you can go to vary between chips of even the same model but also have much to do with cooling. Fortunately, my motherboard supports overclocking and has tons of options. Gigabyte offers software to assist with overclocking like EasyTune, but it hasn't been updated in years and I don't know if it's worth using or not - would imagine not.as I'm sure Windows 10 isn't supported.

With all of that being said, how do you suggest I proceed with overclocking it? First, what cooling solution and second the method / settings / tools you suggest, please. I have used liquid cooled before, but don't think I could squeeze that in my current case. I opened another thread for cooling yesterday which shows what it looks like

Thanks!

 
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geofelt

geofelt

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No exotic cooling is really necessary.
A simple tower type air cooler with a 140mm fan will do the job.
Look at noctua or Phanteks for starters.

Test with OCCT. It will shut down the test if things get too hot.
Gradually increase the multiplier. Leave all else on auto.
Monitor vcore, you don't want it to go past 1.30v.

When done, implement adaptive voltage and speedstep. That will reduce the vcore and multiplier when there is little to do.
 
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Zerk2012

Zerk2012

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See my post in your other thread should cure all your problems at one time the Cryorig cooler is very good.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2956349/quiet-cooling-solution-system.html
2 different post with 2 different problems gets a bit confusing.
Google your motherboard and overclocking. http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/gigabyte_z77x-ud5h_review/5
 
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