How futureproof is an i5-3470?

[Guardian22]

Hello guys,
I have recently built a gaming pc, here are my specs:
CPU: i5-3470 cooled by Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo
Mobo: Asrock Z77 Extreme 4
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 OC w/ boost
RAM: Twinmos 1333mhz

Is my pc going to play all the games that will come out in the following years flawlessly at high to very high settings? Can I slightly overclock my cpu to, say 3.9~4.0 GHz? Will I be able to play crysis 3 at High settings (Didn't buy it yet)?
Sorry for so many questions. Thanks

 

[manofchalk]

No, but regardless of how powerful your computer is it wont be able to max out games in 2-3yrs time. Thats like asking if a HD5870 would max out current games.

You can overclock that chip a small amount through the baseclock and Turbo Boost options, but your far more limited than you would be with a "K" edition chip.
I have a similar rig (in my sig) and I can play Crysis 3 with most things maxed out at 45-60FPS despsnding whats happening. Also if you bought the card recently, you should have gotten a code that's redeemable for Crysis 3 (and other games). Might want to ask your retailer about it if a card didn't come in the box.

Might want to sort out your brand names as well. I didnt know Thermaltake made the Hyper 212 EVO :lol:.

 

[RobCrezz]

Might want to sort out your brand names as well. I didnt know Thermaltake made the Hyper 212 EVO :lol:.

Yeah and the Extreme 4 is an Asrock board isnt it?


Also, get at least 1600mhz ram.

 

[Guardian22]

Sorry about that, I mixed up the brands
Is it a wise choice to get the i5-3570k?

 

[RobCrezz]

Sorry about that, I mixed up the brands
Is it a wise choice to get the i5-3570k?

Yes for sure. that with your hyper 212 evo, will overclock nicely and you should have enough CPU power for games for at least 3 years, or longer!

Im still running a 2500k that I bought in 2011, clocked at 4.3 and it has no problem with any games for me.

 

[jaguarskx]

You have a very good gaming PC and in general it should be capable of handing most games at high or very high. But the performance depends on the resolution of the monitor. How long the rig will last you also depends on what you consider acceptable frame rates. Click below link for benchmarks with very high graphic settings (the prior page has high settings) and a few resolutions. The test rig has a Core i7 3960X clocked at 4600 MHz.

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/crysis_3_graphics_performance_review_benchmark,7.html

However, Techpowerup's results are quite a bit different. They only test games at the maximum graphic quality settings offered by the game. The test rig has an Intel Core i7-3770K @ 4.6 GHz.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7990/12.html

 

[Guardian22]

Thanks for providing info. 30+ fps is acceptable for me only in 3rd person games and strategy games. 50+ fps is acceptable for 1st person games. I can return the i5-3470 and add some more cash and buy the i5-3570k if i want to.

 

[jaguarskx]

The i5-3470 is not really the issue especially since it can be OC'ed to about 4.0GHz with an Asus Z77 motherboard.

The problem is the graphics card. The Radeon HD 7970 is not powerful enough if you want to play graphically intensive games at very high / ultra (or whatever the games calls "max") and get over 50 FPS @ 1920x1080 resolution.

 

[Guardian22]

The i5-3470 is not really the issue especially since it can be OC'ed to about 4.0GHz with an Asus Z77 motherboard.

The problem is the graphics card. The Radeon HD 7970 is not powerful enough if you want to play graphically intensive games at very high / ultra (or whatever the games calls "max") and get over 50 FPS @ 1920x1080 resolution.

Can I oc the i5-3470 with my current board? I dont want to play all games at max maybe med to high at 1080p.

 

[manofchalk]

The problem isnt the board, its the chip itself. If you want to overclock, get a 3570k.

A 7970 will definitely cover you for med-high gaming at 1080p. As I said before, I can play Crysis 3 with near every setting maxed out at 1080p, during gameplay the framerate stays in the 45-60FPS range depending on whats happening.

 

[Guardian22]

The problem isnt the board, its the chip itself. If you want to overclock, get a 3570k.

Hmm I know that only k series processors can be oced. i5-3470 can be partially oced right? Near to 4.0Ghz?

 

[manofchalk]

It can be partially overclocked in two ways.
Your CPU frequenxy is determined by "Baseclock x CPU Multiplier"
Because its a non-K edition chip, you cant touch the multiplier.

Instead you have to tweak the base-clock, which wont get you as far as the multiplier and impacts on other aspects of the rig, which will lmit your overclock.
The other way is through Turbo Boost, which is Intels way of making the chip up and downclock itself based on the load its under. That chip under normal load will run at 3.2Ghz, but can boost up to 3.6Ghz if it needs the performance. You can set your "normal" clock speed to 3.6Ghz.
Doing both might allow you to get close to 4Ghz.

Or get a 3570k, where you can overclock through the multiplier quite easily, and get far further than you can on the locked chip.

 

[Guardian22]

It can be partially overclocked in two ways.
Your CPU frequenxy is determined by "Baseclock x CPU Multiplier"
Because its a non-K edition chip, you cant touch the multiplier.

Instead you have to tweak the base-clock, which wont get you as far as the multiplier and impacts on other aspects of the rig, which will lmit your overclock.
The other way is through Turbo Boost, which is Intels way of making the chip up and downclock itself based on the load its under. That chip under normal load will run at 3.2Ghz, but can boost up to 3.6Ghz if it needs the performance. You can set your "normal" clock speed to 3.6Ghz.
Doing both might allow you to get close to 4Ghz.

Or get a 3570k, where you can overclock through the multiplier quite easily, and get far further than you can on the locked chip.

Thanks, if I buy the i5-3570k how high can I oc it with my current cooler?

 

[manofchalk]

As high as your willing to let it get hot, but I wouldnt go beyond ~4.4Ghz with it. Beyond that point you have to start ramping up the voltage, and Ivy notoriously ramps up the heat in tandem.

 

[Guardian22]

As high as your willing to let it get hot, but I wouldnt go beyond ~4.4Ghz with it. Beyond that point you have to start ramping up the voltage, and Ivy notoriously ramps up the heat in tandem.

Ok I'll return the i5-3470 and buy 3570k

 

[RobCrezz]

As high as your willing to let it get hot, but I wouldnt go beyond ~4.4Ghz with it. Beyond that point you have to start ramping up the voltage, and Ivy notoriously ramps up the heat in tandem.

Ok I'll return the i5-3470 and buy 3570k

Get 1600mhz ram also.

 

[manofchalk]

While 1600Mhz RAM is ideal, there isnt much difference between it and 1333Mhz. If you can replace the sticks, might as well, but dont think that buying a new kit of 1600Mhz will have any real impact to performance.

 

[Guardian22]

While 1600Mhz RAM is ideal, there isnt much difference between it and 1333Mhz. If you can replace the sticks, might as well, but dont think that buying a new kit of 1600Mhz will have any real impact to performance.

Can simply oc the ram to 1600mhz?

 

[manofchalk]

You can but RAM overclocking is quite complex. I tried to learn about it a while ago but eventually gave up because what your dealing with when it comes to RAM can get very tricky with a lot of variables.
If you want to learn how go for it, but many don't bother.

 

[Guardian22]

You can but RAM overclocking is quite complex. I tried to learn about it a while ago but eventually gave up because what your dealing with when it comes to RAM can get very tricky with a lot of variables.
If you want to learn how go for it, but many don't bother.

How much fps will I gain if I buy 1600mhz ram?

 

[jaguarskx]

WTF, a 7850 even is able to max most games at 1080p at 60fps with aa turned down maybe but still 7970 is like a top end card so that will easily max most games at 1080p unless its a badly ported coded game.

I stated "graphically intensive games" such as Crysis 3, Far Cry 3, Hitman: Absolution, Tomb Raider 2013, Metro 2033 and most likely the upcoming Metro Last Light.

I also stated with everything maxed out for Very High or Ultra; whichever term the developer wants to use for "Maxed Out" graphics.

 

[manofchalk]

1-3FPS, if there's any improvement at all.
As I said, theres no real difference.