- Dec 1, 2014
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i5 6600k vs i5 4670k
- Thread starter Karbonlambo
- Start date
Solution
- Dec 22, 2014
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Performance wise they are extremely similar. I wouldn't call one or the other better by a large amount.
The decision comes to technology. The i5-6600k is a newer Skylake chipset, which has support for newer DDR4 RAM, which runs at higher clock speeds. Now TBH in real world performance it offers minimal benefit (but it will bench faster). Skylake boards also more often tend to come with M.2 slots, USB 3.1, etc. In the end the overall system performance has the potential to be better, in addition to the 6600k being slightly faster.
Personally I would go for the newest technology, because there will be a new series of processors that will work with it coming (late this year, next year, we don't know) that you can use for a bit of an upgrade if you want to now or in a few years. The prior platform that the i5-4670k is on is basically done, and no new processors or innovation will be coming for it.
The decision comes to technology. The i5-6600k is a newer Skylake chipset, which has support for newer DDR4 RAM, which runs at higher clock speeds. Now TBH in real world performance it offers minimal benefit (but it will bench faster). Skylake boards also more often tend to come with M.2 slots, USB 3.1, etc. In the end the overall system performance has the potential to be better, in addition to the 6600k being slightly faster.
Personally I would go for the newest technology, because there will be a new series of processors that will work with it coming (late this year, next year, we don't know) that you can use for a bit of an upgrade if you want to now or in a few years. The prior platform that the i5-4670k is on is basically done, and no new processors or innovation will be coming for it.
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
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I agree on the i5-6600K.
(best-case might be 8% or so faster at the same frequency for things like Handbrake. For gaming it will be minimal to no difference)
Other than the above, the CPU:
a) uses less power, and
b) cores can come out of idle/park much faster (approx 6ms vs previous 60ms).
Does that matter?
PCPER did an interesting test and showed for a LAPTOP that scrolling a web page up and down was slightly less sluggish. That may affect some games, nor am I sure whether it affects the desktop or not, though I've seen reports in the past that Intel parking could noticeably affect games (which is why "core unparking" software still exists).
The better iGPU may even prove useful in some future situations.
So yeah, that and the points above by Rogue Leader, and it's hard to recommend older tech unless there is a considerable savings on the CPU or motherboard (calculate savings based on the TOTAL BUILD cost, not one part).
(best-case might be 8% or so faster at the same frequency for things like Handbrake. For gaming it will be minimal to no difference)
Other than the above, the CPU:
a) uses less power, and
b) cores can come out of idle/park much faster (approx 6ms vs previous 60ms).
Does that matter?
PCPER did an interesting test and showed for a LAPTOP that scrolling a web page up and down was slightly less sluggish. That may affect some games, nor am I sure whether it affects the desktop or not, though I've seen reports in the past that Intel parking could noticeably affect games (which is why "core unparking" software still exists).
The better iGPU may even prove useful in some future situations.
So yeah, that and the points above by Rogue Leader, and it's hard to recommend older tech unless there is a considerable savings on the CPU or motherboard (calculate savings based on the TOTAL BUILD cost, not one part).
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
- 21,567
- 13
- 85,015
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7BGH9W
I made an EXAMPLE build just for fun.
1) The CPU cooler is about $35/40 USD, but has no price. It should be available at Amazon or somewhere else.
2) No graphics card listed either.
3) Obviously I don't know your budget or how you would use this, but it's nice to see an example.
4) Pcpartpicker does a pretty good job of checking part compatibility, though you want to verify everything manually, such as:
a) graphics card length is supported
b) USB3 front panel (some older USB2 cases exist)
c) side window?
d) side fan for cooling graphics card?
e) clearance for large CPU coolers (system memory and top PCIe slot)
f) fit in desk?
g) case fans good enough?
I no longer use case fans you can control. I discovered a rapidly diminishing cooling benefit as the case fans speed up. For example, I stress test my PC, then cranked my fans from 800RPM to 1800RPM and showed only 2degC change on the CPU.
Further to that, my case fans also spin up loud under first bootup (before fan control kicks in). I replaced them with Noctua fans though you can get much cheaper. They cool well and make NO added noise that I can detect (because I stopped them from one foot away).
The ONLY obvious fan noise I have now is from my older GTX680 graphics card. I'm replacing that with a GTX1080 model that can disable the fans in light usage. My PSU also has the fan disabled, though I'd prefer that it spin the fan with no obvious noise instead (physical switch on the back for "ECO" mode to disable fan) to cool the components but i guess it's fine. It just seems weird I can only choose NO noise or LOUDER than I want when I've got 800RPM Noctua fans that cool silently. I got the EVGA 750GS and was surprised that the fan was louder than expected. I think the PSU I linked has a much quieter fan.
5) MOTHERBOARD quality is IMO the most important factor as it can affect system stability, or if it dies sending it back, waiting, building a new system is a really big hassle (I waited over four weeks, but had problems for months before that). People often buy a new power supply, or system memory before deducing it is the motherboard.
I made an EXAMPLE build just for fun.
1) The CPU cooler is about $35/40 USD, but has no price. It should be available at Amazon or somewhere else.
2) No graphics card listed either.
3) Obviously I don't know your budget or how you would use this, but it's nice to see an example.
4) Pcpartpicker does a pretty good job of checking part compatibility, though you want to verify everything manually, such as:
a) graphics card length is supported
b) USB3 front panel (some older USB2 cases exist)
c) side window?
d) side fan for cooling graphics card?
e) clearance for large CPU coolers (system memory and top PCIe slot)
f) fit in desk?
g) case fans good enough?
I no longer use case fans you can control. I discovered a rapidly diminishing cooling benefit as the case fans speed up. For example, I stress test my PC, then cranked my fans from 800RPM to 1800RPM and showed only 2degC change on the CPU.
Further to that, my case fans also spin up loud under first bootup (before fan control kicks in). I replaced them with Noctua fans though you can get much cheaper. They cool well and make NO added noise that I can detect (because I stopped them from one foot away).
The ONLY obvious fan noise I have now is from my older GTX680 graphics card. I'm replacing that with a GTX1080 model that can disable the fans in light usage. My PSU also has the fan disabled, though I'd prefer that it spin the fan with no obvious noise instead (physical switch on the back for "ECO" mode to disable fan) to cool the components but i guess it's fine. It just seems weird I can only choose NO noise or LOUDER than I want when I've got 800RPM Noctua fans that cool silently. I got the EVGA 750GS and was surprised that the fan was louder than expected. I think the PSU I linked has a much quieter fan.
5) MOTHERBOARD quality is IMO the most important factor as it can affect system stability, or if it dies sending it back, waiting, building a new system is a really big hassle (I waited over four weeks, but had problems for months before that). People often buy a new power supply, or system memory before deducing it is the motherboard.
synphul
Champion
- Mar 11, 2011
- 9,477
- 7
- 54,965
Skylake is a bit better, it costs a bit more. Performance to cost ratio is about the same as it was for the 4th gen cpu's. Newer isn't always better so that's a poor measure of performance. The 4690k stomped all over the 'newer' 5675c. Benchmarks and real world performance are the best measure of performance.
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
- 21,567
- 13
- 85,015
Price difference for the entire build is pretty small, unless you get a deal on the motherboard and/or system memory.
Trying to compare apples-to-apples, I saved about $30 (3% of a $1000 build). However, whether you care or not that approx $30 gives you a better iGPU, less heat from CPU, connector and other motherboard changes, and likely better resell value later. CPU faster idle response (6ms).
Hlsgsz
Champion
- Feb 29, 2016
- 8,003
- 5
- 51,415
Indeed. I can't how one can justify not getting teh latest gen. $30 or not. The cases where doing that is better are few and far between like getting a xeon that's cheaper that it's i7 equivalent(E3-1231 V3) and are usually at the high end of the spectrum, not mainstream i3 and i5.
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