Should I base my new build on generation 3 CPU/Motherboard or go with gen 4?

[UncleDaddySwiss]

Hi,
I am building my first computer, a gaming computer. I want to play games such as Skyrim, etc. with good frame rates (45+) and graphics turned up as much as possible. My budget is going to be around $2000, so I want to have the best setup possible, future proof as much as possible, and obviously, good performance for the money.

My head is spinning right now, I have read several forums/review sites on CPUs and motherboards, and have tentatively decided on a CPU - the i5 3570k.

However I am starting to rethink, maybe I should start with a gen 4 setup such as i5 4670k and z87 chipset. The reason being, if decide to upgrade CPUs in the future, from what I have read, I would have to upgrade the motherboard as well from Z77 to Z87 to accomodate the gen 4 CPUs. Would it make more sense to just go with the more current setup now, or would the older ones last me for a while yet?

If I do go with the older i5 3570k, I dont have a clue where to even start for motherboards (except it would have to be a Z77 chipset, right?)

I don't know much about choosing components, obviously, but would appreciate any help.
Thank you.

By the way, I probably won't do it right away, but eventually I would think about overclocking, hence the "k" cpu.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.97 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Hero ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($156.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($86.47 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 290X 4GB Video Card ($747.86 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 750D ATX Full Tower Case ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Cooler Master V850 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Lite-On IHAS324-07 DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1972.73
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-02 19:35 EST-0500)

 

[UncleDaddySwiss]

^Confused- Is this what you recommend? The point of my question is: is future upgradability something I should worry about while Im building now? If I go with gen 3 I wont be able to upgrade to gen 4 later on without changing out the mobo too, right?

Duh, just noticed you did recommend gen 4, sorry

Thank you, I do have some more research to do, but thanks for the recommendations.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Yes correct , go with Haswell now.

 

[In3rt1a]

+1 for haswell. It runs 15% faster than ivy bridge, albeit hotter. Plus, Broadwell (intel's next line of cpus) will supposedly operate on the same chipset, meaning you can use your haswell cpu on a broadwell motherboard or vice versa.

 

[Adroid]

Honestly you can't go wrong either way. They provide near identical game speed - if you overclock them.

I would probably go with the 4670K just because it's the latest and "Greatest" but I am really happy with my 3570K and don't think I will be upgrading for quite a long time.

 

[UncleDaddySwiss]

Yeah, I would agree with Haswell, basically only because this is a fresh build. I want to have future upgradability. So now, the question is which motherboard. Don't even know where to start. I can figure out which chipset, but after that...

(Dont worry, I won't ask for help building the whole rig, I just need a base upon which to build) LOL
Thanks for the replies!

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

The HERO I posted in the build is super solid.

 

[UncleDaddySwiss]

Ok, just didnt know how that board was chosen, automatically by the site, or actually by you. There was a board that was rated just a little higher, and I think a little cheaper. (I snooped around a little on PCPartPicker)

Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H

 

[wehler53]

Luckly for the only reason to go haswell is for a gaming rig, affordable performance

And before any of you haswell die hards rev it up me, they aren't good cpu's they were meant for laptops and smaller devices as Intel's entry into phones and tablets. They don't hold a candle to the lga2011's and again before you guys say anything look at the benchmark performance they are far better

 

[UncleDaddySwiss]

OK, well funny you should bring that up...I was just about to ask this: It will primarily be a gaming PC, but it will also serve as my media center (XBMC), which means ripping DVDs to the harddrive, and also a file server to my laptop/Android phone. I also do SOME 3D modeling. So is the i5 still a good choice or should I go i7?

 

[wehler53]

Mate I built my machine for that exact same purposes, I wouldn't hesitate at all spend a bit more and grabbing the 4930k look I know parts will cost more. But the extra cores with be invaluable for a media centre and 3D modelling I've used both a lga1155 and now a lga2011 for these purposes and I tell you I'd never no matter what happen go back they are truly in different leagues. Lga2011 dominates all

 

[UncleDaddySwiss]

alright, I think I may be rethinking the i5/i7 situation mainly because of all the things the build will be used for. i7 sounds good with the hyper-threading support. If it was just gaming, I would go with i5.

 

[jb6684]

Yeah, never buy yesterday's technology..... Sandy/Ivy bridge is done I believe, no new parts in the pipeline, only Haswell going forward.....

 

[In3rt1a]

Luckly for the only reason to go haswell is for a gaming rig, affordable performance

And before any of you haswell die hards rev it up me, they aren't good cpu's they were meant for laptops and smaller devices as Intel's entry into phones and tablets. They don't hold a candle to the lga2011's and again before you guys say anything look at the benchmark performance they are far better

why are you even comparing lga 2011 to haswell? And if you were familiar with Moore's Law, chip size would not matter to you.

 

[UncleDaddySwiss]

Ok, what does anyone think about the i7-4770K? 2 less cores than the 4930k, but also about $200 cheaper.

 

[jb6684]

For gaming, it's the fastest CPU on the market. (some say go with the i5-4650 that drops hyperthreading which some say isn't highly used in games, but, it's not that much cheaper for me to drop down to it...

 

[wehler53]

I'm not comparing there's no comparison between them haswell was voted the 3rd worst price of technology of 2013. I've used both and I would never go back to haswell it just doesn't perform any near as well as lga2011

Also jb6684 you obviously don't know anything about intel, the 2011 socket is to remain the Flagship CPU for at least the next 4 years, it's the platform that intel is currently working on to build an efficient 8 processor. There is to many benefits of the 2011 socket to shut it down and it has far to large of a user base.

 

[UncleDaddySwiss]

Alright, I think I found my CPU...Again LOL. Now on to the motherboard for this thing.

 

[wehler53]

Choose between asrock and asus they make the best boards (honourable mention to gigabyte)

 

[UncleDaddySwiss]

I'm not comparing there's no comparison between them haswell was voted the 3rd worst price of technology of 2013. I've used both and I would never go back to haswell it just doesn't perform any near as well as lga2011

Also jb6684 you obviously don't know anything about intel, the 2011 socket is to remain the Flagship CPU for at least the next 4 years, it's the platform that intel is currently working on to build an efficient 8 processor. There is to many benefits of the 2011 socket to shut it down and it has far to large of a user base.

Ok, now Im confused again. You say you wouldnt go back to Haswell, which is "4th gen" right? But you compare it to LGA2011, which is "i7" correct? So are you saying that you would go i7, but not 4th gen? Am I getting this correct, or do I totally not understand?

 

[wehler53]

Not really what I'm saying is the 4th gen (haswell) is no real improvement as this CPU was built for desktops mainly for Intel's entry into phones and tables it was more of an after though to make the new 1155 CPU. The new lga2011 are build on Ivey-bridge and are simply better you'll regret not have 6 cores trust me

 

[UncleDaddySwiss]

Getting really confused here about all the numbers and versions, etc. LGA2011 is ix 3xxx? If not, what is LGA2011?

 

[In3rt1a]

I'm not comparing there's no comparison between them haswell was voted the 3rd worst price of technology of 2013. I've used both and I would never go back to haswell it just doesn't perform any near as well as lga2011

Also jb6684 you obviously don't know anything about intel, the 2011 socket is to remain the Flagship CPU for at least the next 4 years, it's the platform that intel is currently working on to build an efficient 8 processor. There is to many benefits of the 2011 socket to shut it down and it has far to large of a user base.

Not many things DO perform as well as lga 2011, and if you actually looked at benchmarks comparing apples to apples, you would see that 4770k > 3770k http://www.anandtech.com/show/7003/the-haswell-review-intel-core-i74770k-i54560k-tested/6
Even ivy bridge doesn't stack up to lga 2011 http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/551?vs=552
However, haswell gets alot closer: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/836?vs=552

 

[In3rt1a]

Getting really confused here about all the numbers and versions, etc. LGA2011 is ix 3xxx? If not, what is LGA2011?

LGA 2011 is its own socket, but honestly, you don't need that much power. For 100 dollars less, get a 4770k, and you will have awesome performance in all of your applications. http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/836?vs=552