Switching to Intel i7 too many options, confused!

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bulletbutter

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Sep 29, 2014
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So I am currently running an AMD FX 8320 8 Core and I love this CPU, but the time has come to pass this computer onto my child for her gaming rig and I need a new machine. I have always wanted to try Intel but I am a pretty practical person when it comes to buying hardware. I faced this issue back when I "rebuilt" my current system. While I was satisfied with the 8320, I couldn't help but think that I was missing out. I have never personally owned an i7 so their performance is something I have never experienced (been building AMD computers since I started back in early 2000).

I have decided to go for an intel based computer and I want to get an i7. But my problem is, which one? I have narrowed it down between the following.

4790K
6700
6700K

For the life of me I can't seem to grasp why the 4790k is more than a "newer" cpu. And I don't want to grab a slightly weaker cpu when I could have just spent an extra $10-$20 for a better cpu.

The PC will be used for gaming mainly and some virtual machine (on occation). I also don't care all that much about running 100+ fps in any game, so long as its over 30 im good.

Is the i7 even worth the upgrade? I feel the 8320 is doing just fine, and I just have a desire to try the i7....I can't see a real reason to drop $300+ when I can just spend another $150 and stick with FX. Of course, this is coming from someone who has never experienced an i7. Is going i7 worth it and if so, which version should I get? (budget is between $300-$400).
 
Solution
geofelt
If you are buying new today, look for a current gen kaby lake solution.
They cost no more and will support upcoming OPTANE devices.

If you have a budget for a 6700K, buy a i7-7700k, there is nothing better.
But, realize that games do not usually use more than 2-3 threads, and it is important that the single master thread be fast.
You can test this assertion on YOUR games.
Experiment with removing one or more cores/threads. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option.
You will need to reboot for the change to take effect. Set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many threads.
If $100 is important to you, buy a I5-7600K instead and...
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Ecky

Ecky

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Feb 3, 2013
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An i7 is somewhere around twice as fast as what you have. You may not see twice the performance in many cases, but that's kindof your "upper boundary".

The reason the 4790K is not cheaper is that Intel doesn't discount older processors, they simply stop making them, and eventually supply dries up. The i7 7700 and 7700K are out now so I would not advise buying the older 6xxx CPUs. The major differences between the K and non-K models are that the K can be overclocked, is more expensive, and does not include a heatsink (so you need to buy your own). "K" CPUs should be paired with "Z" chipsets (Z270) while the non-K CPUs can be paired with the much cheaper B and H chipsets (B250 and H270).
 
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
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If you are buying new today, look for a current gen kaby lake solution.
They cost no more and will support upcoming OPTANE devices.

If you have a budget for a 6700K, buy a i7-7700k, there is nothing better.
But, realize that games do not usually use more than 2-3 threads, and it is important that the single master thread be fast.
You can test this assertion on YOUR games.
Experiment with removing one or more cores/threads. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option.
You will need to reboot for the change to take effect. Set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many threads.
If $100 is important to you, buy a I5-7600K instead and use the $100 to upgrade the graphics card or buy a ssd. With an overclock i5-7600K will perform about as well as a I7-7700k.

Some games are cpu limited, and some are graphics limited.
Typically, games such as strategy, mmo and sims are more single threaded and cpu ;limited.

Fast action shooters will be more graphics limited.
The one place where I7 and many threads prevails is in multiplayer games with many participants.



 
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