Looking to upgrade my cpu

edgeyuk · Feb 28, 2016

Hey,

my current rig:
fx 6300
gtx 970
16gb ram

and i have a amd motherboard but im willing to change my mobo in order to upgrade my cpu.
i obviously want good value but im not short on cash so i do want performance to be key here but good for value

i know a little bit about cpus but just not enough to know whats the best performance for value here.

superninja12 · Feb 28, 2016

well since all amd processors will bottleneck your new gpu.
you need to upgrade to intel

i5 6500
z170 mobo
ddr4 ram

Mr Kagouris · Feb 28, 2016

superninja12 :

Sorry but that is a blatant lie. Anything from an 8320(E) and up would have no issues with a GTX 970. However an upgrade to Intel would be good.

OP, depending on how "not short on cash" you are, I'd say you should go for a 1150 i5 (anything from 4460 to 4690k with the 4690k being best) and a Z97 motherboard. You'll be able to reuse your RAM this way as well.

Titanforall · Feb 28, 2016

edgeyuk :

BUY AN I5 4690K is an excellent cpu and still the best in my opinion it wouldnt bottleneck GTX 970 .For motherboard buy MSI Z97 GD65 GAMING https://www.msi.com/product/motherboard/Z97-GD65-GAMING.html#hero-overview With intel core i5 4690k and GTX 970 it will be a perfect combination for extensive gaming

barto · Feb 28, 2016

I don't think the bottleneck is really applied here. AMD CPUs simply have lower results than an Intel CPU.

edgeyuk, what is your budget and what do you plan on doing with this build?

edgeyuk · Feb 28, 2016

Thanks for all the responses but would an I5 4690K still be as fast, im just thinking of the fact that it only has a thread per core but thats seems like something id go for

well i have a few Ks in the bank but dont want to go too wild lol but i game fairly heavily tbh so it needs to be good lol

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNIB-Intel-Core-i5-4690K-S-1150-Quad-Core-3-5GHz-Base-3-9GHz-Turbo-/121906752715?hash=item1c62356ccb:g:WnEAAOSwezVW0L4w

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-MSI-Intel-Z97-GD65-Gaming-S1150-USB3-PCIe-3-0-SATA-6-Gb-s-ATX-Motherboard-/331762968263?hash=item4d3e9d26c7:g:IR0AAOSwFqJWpp99

or a better place to buy?

barto · Feb 28, 2016

Starting with a budget and purpose of the build would help us a lot. If you're not into overclocking or multiple GPUs, there's little reason to move to an Intel K and a Z chipset build.

edgeyuk · Feb 28, 2016

well I'd like to continue on using one GPU and I'm not with the overclocking thing either and say 400 - 500 ish would probably be around my max tbf

and my purpose is to game heavily and a lot of the games i currently play are either alpha or fairly demanding.

Currently have water cooling as well i don't know if that's a problem.

barto · Feb 28, 2016

Well, if you're not going to overclock or use multiple GPUs:

Allowing you to possibly reuse RAM:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor (£159.98 @ Novatech)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£83.37 @ Ebuyer)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) (£74.99 @ Ebuyer)
Total: £318.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-02-28 21:30 GMT+0000

Moving to a DDR4 platform:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor (£172.79 @ Novatech)
Motherboard: Asus H170-PRO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard (£91.40 @ More Computers)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory (£51.40 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) (£74.99 @ Ebuyer)
Total: £390.58
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-02-28 21:29 GMT+0000

Notes: I chose ATX motherboards. What case do you have? A smaller motherboard may be necessary.

What RAM and PSU do you have?

edgeyuk · Feb 28, 2016

is the i5 4690k with z97 no good then? and i already own a windows disc with a product key on it.
my ram is 16gb ddr3 1600mhz
psu is a Corsair VS450
Its looking like its a better idea to buy a new pc all because of the processor lol

barto · Feb 28, 2016

edgeyuk :

Ha. Well you didn't say you already purchased them. The 4690k and Z97 is perfectly fine. I was just trying to save you a few quid that's all considering you're not overclocking. Reuse the RAM. If the Windows Key you have is a OEM version, you'll have to buy a new key. If it's the retail version, you'll be fine.

edgeyuk · Feb 28, 2016

No I haven't purchased them just yet lol but i will if that's the better build?

and that PSU is fine to use? and the water cooling doesn't affect anything? i can use it on my new mobo or do i have to buy another?

barto · Feb 28, 2016

Ok, let me put it in this perspective. The reasons to buy an Intel K and a Z chipset is for overclocking and multiple GPUs. The performance difference between an Intel K and a non K is effectively zero (0) in gaming. Applications outside of gaming can benefit from the faster CPU clocks but for the vast majority there is little difference.

The only need for water cooling is high overclocking. If you aren't overclocking, you're really spending a extra money for what a sub 30 quid air cooler can do.

If you're not overclocking, pass on the 4690k and Z97 and just get a i5-6500 with a H110/H170 chipset. It's the newer hardware. See for your self: http://www.anandtech.com/show/9483/intel-skylake-review-6700k-6600k-ddr4-ddr3-ipc-6th-generation/21

The term "better" is based on what your desire and needs are. You can go with whichever you like the best. You won't be disappointed in either case. It would be wiser to get the latest technology but it's your money.

edgeyuk · Feb 29, 2016

ok, thanks for clearing that up

just one more thing wouldn't i be better getting the i5 6600k? lol only a few pound more

using the same mobo's as you suggested, or use z170?

Mr Kagouris · Feb 29, 2016

edgeyuk :

If you get a Z170 board then the 6600k is worth it, if you won't then it's not. The selling point of K-series CPUs is that you can overclock them, but only motherboards with a Z-series chipset support overclocking.

edgeyuk · Feb 29, 2016

Great the Z170 and i5 6600k it is then but which cpu cooler should i buy? quiet one please.

Mr Kagouris · Feb 29, 2016

edgeyuk :

Either the Be Quiet! Pure Rock or the Dark Rock 3 depending on how much money you want to spend (or are those too expensive?). Dark Rock 3 offers better cooling. Also some Prolimatech PK-3 thermal paste would be good.

edgeyuk · Feb 29, 2016

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181633784090?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Is that the one? and i have thermal paste but i don't think its that specific one.

Mr Kagouris · Feb 29, 2016

Yup that's the Dark Rock 3. It'd be good to know what paste you have. It should say on the tube.

edgeyuk · Feb 29, 2016

The thermal paste is Heatsink compound HC-151 if that means anything but other than that it doesnt specify, is it wise to buy the one you suggested?

purchased the i5 6600k and the z170 along with the Dark rock 3 so all is well

thanks

barto · Feb 29, 2016

Cryorig H7 cooler or the best one is the Noctua NH-D14 of D15.

Mr Kagouris · Mar 1, 2016

edgeyuk :

Yeah it'd be a good idea to get thermal paste, it can make quite the difference. Either PK-3, PK-2, or Arctic Silver 5 in descending order of quality.

edgeyuk · Mar 1, 2016

I've bought some Arctic silver 5 as i couldn't find the others, thanks for all your help everyone.
Thanks to you my rig will be:
i5 6600k
gtx 970
16gb ram
When they deliver it lol

Mr Kagouris · Mar 1, 2016

Have fun

Looking to upgrade my cpu

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