Is it worth upgrading from an i7 2600K OC to i5 6600K ?

rshafik · Aug 22, 2016

Hello all,

Is it worth upgrading from an i7 2600K to i5 6600K ?

My CPU is overclocked to 4.7GHz and can reach 5GHz with a proper cooler, so the question is, will i feel any difference if i upgrade from i7 2600K to i5 6600K and also overclock the 6600K?

My PC specs are:

CPU: I7 2600K OC to 4.7GHz
CPU Cooler: NZXT Havik 140
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V LX
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB 2133MHz 1.505V @ 9-11-11-20
GPU: Will get a GTX 1060 or 1070, depends on the money
PSU: Seasonic G Series 750W Gold
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB
HDD: Western Digital Black 5TB 128MB Cache
Case: Cooler Master Haf 912 Advanced

Ecky · Aug 22, 2016

The 6600K is somewhere around 30% faster per clock, but you're probably not going to get 5ghz out of it. Most will hit 4.6ghz, and a few will hit 4.7-4.8. You'll lose hyperthreading, so multithreaded performance will probably be around the same, while single-threaded performance will go up ~25%.

Side benefits: Lower power consumption, new motherboard with M.2, USB 3.1, PCIe 3.0

boosted1g · Aug 22, 2016

It basically comes down to what you do with PC.

For gaming the new i5 will be more efficient and marginally better. You might get 8-12 more FPS out of it, at best.
For video rendering, photoshop, 3D modeling, or any other threaded application the i5 will be a step back, your i7 is much better
For high speed single-threaded application programs the new i5 will be slightly better.

Now with all of that said, the gain is not very significant for a $400 parts bill, and that is assuming you can get windows reactivated and not have to be a completely new key.

rshafik · Aug 22, 2016

Ecky :

Your reply makes the decision more difficult

If you are in my shoes, will you upgrade?

rshafik · Aug 22, 2016

boosted1g :

Mainly, i will use it for gaming

Ecky · Aug 22, 2016

What games is your 2600k not performing well in?

logainofhades · Aug 22, 2016

I would say hold onto your 2600k, and put your money into graphics card upgrade. You will get more performance, per dollar, from a graphics card. Your CPU still is pretty good.

rshafik · Aug 22, 2016

Ecky :

Till now there are no issues with any game.

I'm asking mainly to know if there will be any benefit from upgrading to 6600K.

rshafik · Aug 22, 2016

logainofhades :

So, there will be no issues if i get even a GTX 1080?

logainofhades · Aug 22, 2016

Given your overclock, you will still be fine.

rshafik · Aug 22, 2016

logainofhades :

Thanks, i will hold on to my CPU till at least one more generation

Ecky · Aug 22, 2016

A more powerful video card will not make your current CPU deliver fewer frames. The framerates you can achieve now, you'll still be able to get with a 1080, just with higher graphical settings.

rshafik · Aug 22, 2016

Ecky :

Yes, i know, but some CPU demanding games could get higher frame rates if the CPU is more powerful
, am i right?

Ecky · Aug 22, 2016

Sure, but which games are you experiencing low framerates in?

logainofhades · Aug 22, 2016

A 4.7ghz 2600k is not going to have any problem with any game. Even with the generational improvements, your cpu can still hold its own against a stock 6700k.

rshafik · Aug 22, 2016

Ecky :

From what i've seen in some reviews, games like The Witcher 3 and BF4.

I had a GTX 970 but i sold it and i was getting average between 40 and 45 FPS, but in most reviews, the card can get to average between 50 and 55 with the same settings and my card was OC to about 1518MHz core and 4000MHz on memory.

That's why i thought that it's the CPU problem

vahevahevahe · Aug 22, 2016

Not at all. If you overclock your 2600k you'll do almost as well as the 6600k. The 2600k has 8 threads and I had mine overclocked to 4.5ghz quite easily. Just over clock it a bit more and wait for the 7th generation core processors which should be out soon. The 6600k is bout to be the old model. Keep your 2600k. I had my 2600k (4.5 ghz) with a gtx 1070 and a ssd and I was maxing out every game at 1080p getting 60fps with vsync and 60+ without. You won't notice much of a difference.

I've read articles that say it's not even worth it to upgrade to the 6700k. That's why I upgraded to the 6800k xD

http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-2600K-vs-Intel-Core-i5-6600K/621vs3503

For gaming you won't notice much of a difference. Save up for the 7th generation processors or see how the zen processors come out.

I think the biggest difference is the integrated graphics. If you're using the integrated graphics then the 6600k is much better but without the igpu it's definitely not worth it.

Ecky · Aug 22, 2016

One easy way to tell if your CPU is what's holding you back is to simply drop your graphical settings. Lower the resolution, and if your framerate rises, your CPU is not what's limiting your framerate.

rshafik · Aug 23, 2016

vahevahevahe :

Not at all. If you overclock your 2600k you'll do almost as well as the 6600k. The 2600k has 8 threads and I had mine overclocked to 4.5ghz quite easily. Just over clock it a bit more and wait for the 7th generation core processors which should be out soon. The 6600k is bout to be the old model. Keep your 2600k. I had my 2600k (4.5 ghz) with a gtx 1070 and a ssd and I was maxing out every game at 1080p getting 60fps with vsync and 60+ without. You won't notice much of a difference.

I've read articles that say it's not even worth it to upgrade to the 6700k. That's why I upgraded to the 6800k xD

http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-2600K-vs-Intel-Core-i5-6600K/621vs3503

For gaming you won't notice much of a difference. Save up for the 7th generation processors or see how the zen processors come out.

I think the biggest difference is the integrated graphics. If you're using the integrated graphics then the 6600k is much better but without the igpu it's definitely not worth it.

It's already OC to 4.7GHz and i can reach 5GHz but with better cooler

rshafik · Aug 23, 2016

Ecky :

I will try that solution when i get the new GPU soon.

If the problem remains, i might upgrade to 4790K instead of 6600K

vahevahevahe · Aug 23, 2016

rshafik :

vahevahevahe :

It's already OC to 4.7GHz and i can reach 5GHz but with better cooler

Yeah sorry bud, I didn't see that part until after I posted this. Your cpu is still sick.

logainofhades · Aug 23, 2016

Only reason that I have a 6700k, was I wanted an i7 for F@H. My 3570k was still plenty, for just gaming. I could have bought a 3770k, as a drop in upgrade, but couldn't find a decent priced one, at the time, and got a steal of a deal on a stopgap H170 board.

Is it worth upgrading from an i7 2600K OC to i5 6600K ?

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