Best current (futureproof) socket type for PC Gaming

[rswain823]

I currently have an i7-4770k and a GTX 1080. I will be picking up another GTX 1080 soon to go SLI and I have a large credit at my local Micro Center. What socket type should I go for? I was thinking an i7-6700k on the LGA1151 socket but I want to make sure I am getting the most up to date socket for my needs. I know that people say that only an i5 is needed for gaming, but I multi-task A LOT and tend to have other programs running in the background while gaming, so an i7 is a must. Please, any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks! Current PC Specs below...

-i7-4770k @ 4.2Ghz
- CORSAIR Hydro Series H50 -ASUS ROG MAXIMUS VII HERO LGA1150 DDR3 M.2 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Intel Z97 ATX Motherboard
- ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q 27" WQHD G-Sync LED Monitor @ 2560 x 1440
- EVGA GTX 1080 Founders Edition 8GB -16GB EVGA 1600 Superclocked DDR3 Series
- Samsung 850 Pro 500GB 2.5" Internal SSD
- Samsung 850 Pro 256GB 2.5" Internal SSD
- WD Black 1TB 7200 RPM SATA
- Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower
-Mad Catz® R.A.T.™ 7 Gaming Mouse -Razer Blackwidow X Ultimate

 

[why_wolf]

1151 is the newest socket type, kaby lake should use it as well and maybe cannon lake too. So unless you want to build an extreme 8+ core unit with LGA 2011-v3, 1151 is your only choice.

AMD will come out with AM4 for their new Zen chips when those drop at the end of the year.

 

[Garilia]

The Skylake LGA 1151 cpus are the best bet. Either the I7-6700k that you mentioned, or the I5-6600k, and 16gb DDR4 RAM of at least 2400 speed. The prevailing wisdom has been for years that an I5 an d8gb ram are the best for gaming. We are now seeing games push the 8gb ram to its limits, and some game developers are starting to take advantage of the I7. So I'd go with the most current and best I7, and 16gb ram to be as future proof as you can get.

 

[spdragoo]

Is there a particular reason you need to replace the current CPU & motherboard? You have a top-line CPU (1st-tier on Tom's list), the top-of-the-line desktop GPU, & 2 SSDs for your system, plus your motherboard can go all the way up to 32GB of DDR3 RAM.

Even with the newest games out like DOOM, a Skylake CPU (let alone the upcoming Kaby Lakes) isn't going to really provide you much of a performance boost. And if you're worried more about video editing/creation performance, you'd probably see more of a boost from additional RAM.

Your system is new enough that you will probably last for at least another year, maybe even 2 or 3, until you'd have to start worrying about replacing it...& by that 3rd year, chances are good that both AMD & Intel will be looking at the next generation of socket (i.e. post-LGA 1151/AM4).