Is a 6600k build worth it?

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Michele42

Commendable
Mar 19, 2016
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Hi guys, I'm seeking your help once again for a cpu matter: after six years of honored duty I've decided to replace my i5 2400; it's a choice driven by the fact that I have a bigger budget and the will to do a nice OC.
The main purpose is to get better performance in gaming so I was looking into the i5 series, precisely at the 6600k. I'm aware that my current mobo needs to be changed in order to install a new cpu, and that made me thinking: would a 4690k build work just fine? I know that the difference between the two cpus is minimal and I also know that a 6600k requires a more expensive MOBO.
Having to change both mobo and cpu the price for the whole build changes quite a bit... Also I would need a nice heat sink (possibly a liquid one since I think my case is quite hot) since I'm planning to OC, so we are talking about quite a big amount of money. I said I have a nice budget and I do, but I would gladly avoid useless expenses.
Taking all of it into consideration, is it worth buying a 6600k over a 4690k?

My actual build, in case you need it:
- h67ma-e45
- gtx 970
- i5 2400
- evga g2 550w
- ssd
- Gskill ddr3 1333 4x2 gb

Thank you guys!
 
Solution
synphul
Either way it might be a good idea to update the ram considering your current ddr3 is the slowest 1333. If doing a major upgrade that involves a cpu and motherboard I think you'd be better off doing the full upgrade. A water cooler isn't necessary unless your case is small and won't support a decent air cooler. Aio water coolers are generally pretty expensive, entry level or lower level single 120mm aio's start around the same price as a nice air cooler.

It's not a whole lot more expensive to go with a 6600k and z170 over the 4690k and z97. If you go with the 6600k and z170 may as well pick up something like ddr4 3000.
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bicycle_repair_man

bicycle_repair_man

Splendid
Jan 10, 2014
5,752
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Well, first things first, a 4690K would let you keep your existing RAM modules, not that RAM is very expensive anyway.

From a gaming perspective, overclocking really comes into its own when the CPU starts to hold back the GPU, so in a sense, buying an unlocked CPU now can save you money in the long run. An i5-2400 is showing its age, but an overclocked i5-2500K can still dance with the best of them.

Regarding the 4690K and 6600K, my advice is if you're happy to spend the money then you should go for the 6600K. Otherwise, the 4690K will do very nicely. You'll be getting an aftermarket cooler either way.
 
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Michele42

Commendable
Mar 19, 2016
22
0
1,510



I wish I bought a i5 2500k when it was released, nowadays it's pretty hard to find... I'm not happy spending money if I don't really have to... what is the price difference anyway? Is it big or not? And the 6600k can't work with a ddr3 ram? thank you
 
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bicycle_repair_man

bicycle_repair_man

Splendid
Jan 10, 2014
5,752
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The 6600K can work with DDR3L, which is a low-voltage variant of DDR3. Your current RAM modules aren't compatible with the 6600K.

If you don't want to spend more money than you have to, stick with the 4690K and your current RAM modules. The performance difference is negligible and overclocking will soon make up for it.
 
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synphul

synphul

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Mar 11, 2011
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Either way it might be a good idea to update the ram considering your current ddr3 is the slowest 1333. If doing a major upgrade that involves a cpu and motherboard I think you'd be better off doing the full upgrade. A water cooler isn't necessary unless your case is small and won't support a decent air cooler. Aio water coolers are generally pretty expensive, entry level or lower level single 120mm aio's start around the same price as a nice air cooler.

It's not a whole lot more expensive to go with a 6600k and z170 over the 4690k and z97. If you go with the 6600k and z170 may as well pick up something like ddr4 3000.
 
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