clock speed vs cores for gaming/editing hybrid

Marcello_1 · Jun 8, 2016

OK allow me to clarify, I want to do more editing than gaming (by which I mean use software like adobe, unity, etc) but at the same time i don't want anything that slugs when I'm gaming (not to the point where it's game breaking).

My budget is only £320, and all I have so far is the RAM, case, HDD, peripherals, all but the core stuff like the mobo, cpu, gpu, psu and cooling system. So what is the closest I can get to what I want with my budget, also would I be better off with AMD?

Lastly exclude the gpu, I already have that too.

update: I also want to know if 4 cores and 3.2ghz is enough for this.

update: I accidentally clicked on the solution, but my question haven't fully been answered yet, and I haven't made up my mind

KeelinTy · Jun 8, 2016

i7-4790k is a good balance between both. I do about 50 50 and this cpu is pretty great for what I do. I also have mine overclocked to 5ghz haha. But there wont be much of a performance difference between overclocked and non overclocked 4790k
But thats 300$ itself. You wont be able to get that decent of a cpu with a tiny budget

lodders · Jun 8, 2016

i7 is 30% faster than an i5, but only when running a 8 threads simultaneously.
If you are running 4 threads or less, an i5 and an i7 perform exactly the same.
99% of games use 4 threads or less. Editing does benefit from a better processor, but only when encoding, decoding or rendering.

Therefore, for most things, an i5 is the best value for money.

BTW, you don't need an expensive motherboard or an aftermarket cooler - have a look at my signature!!

lodders · Jun 8, 2016

KeelinTy :

Keelin
That is a fantastic overclock, but 1.384 Volts??
There are people who occasionally appear on this forum wondering why their huge overclock has suddenly stopped working... the harder you push it, the quicker it burns out.
My sons 8 year old Phenom II PC is overclocked from 3.2Ghz to 4Ghz. I could have pushed it to 4.1 or maybe 4.2 by increasing the CPU voltage still further, but would it still be working now?
If I were you, I would run your 4790k at 4.7Ghz and 1.3Volts
Hope you don't mind me saying this....

KeelinTy · Jun 8, 2016

lodders :

KeelinTy :

Keelin
That is a fantastic overclock, but 1.384 Volts??
There are people who occasionally appear on this forum wondering why their huge overclock has suddenly stopped working... the harder you push it, the quicker it burns out.
My sons 8 year old Phenom II PC is overclocked from 3.2Ghz to 4Ghz. I could have pushed it to 4.1 or maybe 4.2 by increasing the CPU voltage still further, but would it still be working now?
If I were you, I would run your 4790k at 4.7Ghz and 1.3Volts
Hope you don't mind me saying this....

That validation was my old overclock. I managed to drop the voltage down to 1.35 at 4.9ghz. Currently for better temps im running at 4.7ghz at 1.24v. I never go above 65c under load now.

Marcello_1 · Jun 9, 2016

lodders :

OK, that's actually pretty good, but like would it be better to buy than and an ok gpu, and buy the rest over time, or to just get a full amd set up with a somewhat better gpu? Again my budget is roughly £320 which is around $465

Ignorance101 · Jun 9, 2016

I'm not quite sure whether you should go AMD or Intel, but I can tell you that regardless of which one you choose you don't need more than 4 physical cores, and often times you'll be totally fine with 2 hyperthreaded cores as with the i3 chips. It's sad that a lot of games don't take advantage of many cores even now, but on the bright side it means you aren't required to buy an i7 Extreme chip to play a game you like. Once you reach 4 cores. clock speed will matter much more than adding more cores, for games at least, and this is pretty much why both AMD and Intel offer overclockable chips, albeit while charging a bit more for them.

Your particular chip is very good for gaming because it not only has a bit of future-proofing for games with the 4 hyperthreaded cores, but it still has a clock speed high enough to play any modern game without a hitch. Some slower-clocked xeons would struggle with games because of their sheer lack of clock speed in favor of multithreaded performance.

lodders · Jun 9, 2016

Marcello_1 :

To upgrade the CPU means a new motherboard, new windows installation, effectively a new build. Therefore I tend to slightly over spec the CPU so that the computer lasts a long time.
For example my son is happily gaming right now on a 8 year old computer which was high spec when new, but still as good as an i3 even now.
However, GPUs have been improving in performance a lot faster than CPU over the last 10 years, and a GPU replacement is a quick and easy upgrade. My sons PC is on its THIRD graphics card, which is waaaay more powerful than the GPU which it started with.
Therefore I suggest you get a i5 processor and motherboard, which should last you the best part of a decade, and upgrade the GPU every 3 years or so.

Marcello_1 · Jun 9, 2016

Ignorance101 :

I'm not quite sure whether you should go AMD or Intel, but I can tell you that regardless of which one you choose you don't need more than 4 physical cores, and often times you'll be totally fine with 2 hyperthreaded cores as with the i3 chips. It's sad that a lot of games don't take advantage of many cores even now, but on the bright side it means you aren't required to buy an i7 Extreme chip to play a game you like. Once you reach 4 cores. clock speed will matter much more than adding more cores, for games at least, and this is pretty much why both AMD and Intel offer overclockable chips, albeit while charging a bit more for them.

Your particular chip is very good for gaming because it not only has a bit of future-proofing for games with the 4 hyperthreaded cores, but it still has a clock speed high enough to play any modern game without a hitch. Some slower-clocked xeons would struggle with games because of their sheer lack of clock speed in favor of multithreaded performance.

what about the clock speed is 3.2ghz enough or do i need more?

lodders · Jun 9, 2016

Marcello_1 :

A single intel core at 3.2Ghz is roughly the same performance as a single AMD core at 6 GHz (yes really!!!!)
Therefore, if you buy a i5 4460 or 6500, you are actually getting better performance for gaming than an FX6300 with a really big overclock!
So I suggest you get i5 4460 or 6500

Marcello_1 · Jun 9, 2016

lodders :

Marcello_1 :

A single intel core at 3.2Ghz is roughly the same performance as a single AMD core at 6 GHz (yes really!!!!)
Therefore, if you buy a i5 4460 or 6500, you are actually getting better performance for gaming than an FX6300 with a really big overclock!
So I suggest you get i5 4460 or 6500

I found the i5 4690k in a bundle, but it's factory overclocked, should I get it? or should I get another bundle I found with the i5 6600k but it has a microATX motherboard, should I get it then replace the mobo? Which option should I got for? btw if I get the 6600k bundle i will be able to afford another, larger mobo, but both these bundle are set for 4k stuff and all that jargon

lodders · Jun 9, 2016

Marcello_1 :

lodders :

I found the i5 4690k in a bundle, but it's factory overclocked, should I get it? or should I get another bundle I found with the i5 6600k but it has a microATX motherboard, should I get it then replace the mobo? Which option should I got for? btw if I get the 6600k bundle i will be able to afford another, larger mobo, but both these bundle are set for 4k stuff and all that jargon

IMHO Instead of buying a bundle, go for maximum value for money
buy a 4690k and a gigabyte H81 HD3
or
If you want skylake, get a 6600 (not a 6600k) and a Asus H110-M

Marcello_1 · Jun 9, 2016

lodders :

Marcello_1 :

lodders :

I found the i5 4690k in a bundle, but it's factory overclocked, should I get it? or should I get another bundle I found with the i5 6600k but it has a microATX motherboard, should I get it then replace the mobo? Which option should I got for? btw if I get the 6600k bundle i will be able to afford another, larger mobo, but both these bundle are set for 4k stuff and all that jargon

IMHO Instead of buying a bundle, go for maximum value for money
buy a 4690k and a gigabyte H81 HD3
or
If you want skylake, get a 6600 (not a 6600k) and a Asus H110-M

INTEL Core i5 6600 3.3Ghz (3.9ghz turbo) & ASUS Z170-P and RAM all for the price of one, new, sealed, tested, approved, free shipping, getting this will reduced my list to only the gpu and psu

lodders · Jun 9, 2016

Your combo will work, but you have spent too much money.
expensive Z170 motherboard goes with a expensive 6600k CPU and an aftermarket cooler - for overclocking
cheaper H170 motherboard goes with a 6600 CPU, which comes with a free cooler

Marcello_1 · Jun 9, 2016

lodders :

I'm not good at the whole overclocking thing... don't wanna mess up

lodders · Jun 9, 2016

You can't overclock a 6600 - speed is locked. Therefore Z170 mobo is no benefit.
6600 is plenty fast enough anyway. Even 6500 is a really good performer.

If you want to overclock Skylake, you need a 6600k, and z170, and cooler. It costs a LOT more money for a bit more performance.

Haswell can be overclocked more cheaply, but speed gains are limited...

KeelinTy · Jun 9, 2016

lodders :

Actually you can overclock. Just not by the multiplier. You overclock with the BLCK on locked chips. You wont get nearly as much of an overclock and youll also be overclocking literally everything else in the system if you overclock the BLCK

lodders · Jun 10, 2016

KeelinTy :

lodders :

Actually you can overclock. Just not by the multiplier. You overclock with the BLCK on locked chips. You wont get nearly as much of an overclock and youll also be overclocking literally everything else in the system if you overclock the BLCK

On a normal motherboard, Bclk increase won't even get you from 3.5GHz to 3.6GHz.

clock speed vs cores for gaming/editing hybrid

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