i5 4690k or the i7 3770k?

[JoeVonWilson]

Thank you for reading this in advance.

Now before you point it out to me, yes I am aware that these 2 CPU's require different motherboards (as a result of their different chipsets). However, the reason I ask this question is for a variety of different reasons that I am about to list:

Which CPU should I purchase?

- I already have a motherboard compatible with the I7 3770k (it's 2 years old though).

- I am going to be streaming almost all of the games I will play.

- Buying the I7 will save me around £20-30. as if I decide to go for the I5 4690k, I will also have to purchase a new motherboard.

- I will not be watercooling or overclocking (at least initially) whichever CPU I choose to buy.

- The I5 4690k will use less power than the I7 3770k

Current PC Specifications:

CPU: I3 3220
GPU: Asus HD 7850
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-v lx
PSU: Corsair CX600

[NOTE: I'm aware that some games are more CPU intensive than others, and I believe you should know that one of the main games I plan on streaming is Arma 3, an incredibly CPU intensive game]

I appreciate all answers, as I truly am stumped on which one I should buy. The older processor that's more powerful, or the newer one that's less powerful.

 

[ToxicFantom]

Definitely the 3770k. Also, I wouldn't OC on a CX600. It's capacitors are pretty cheap, not really designed for overclocking.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Is there anything that requires hyprthreading, that's the only reason to go i7.... gaming isn't one of them.

The assumption that the older one is "more powerful" is a mistaken one ...

4790k > 4770k > 3770k
4690k > 4670k > 3570k

A 4690k is a 4790k w/o Hyperthreading and a lower stock overclock. Ot's not that teh 4690k can't do 4790k speeds, it's just that Intel lowers the stock clock speed so as to justify the $100 premium. You can easily set the 4690k to 4790k speeds.

As you can see here, in gaming, the 4690k wins . There's 20 or so game tests putting the 3770k against the 4690k. The 4690k wins 10 outta 10 head to head average fps head to head comparisons. It also wins 6 outta 10 minimum fps comparisons and when it loses 3 outta the 4 is by 0.2 fps

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1261?vs=551

As is clearly shown above, the 3770k is the slower CPU for gaming.

The decision then comes down to the extra cost of the MoBo versus the extra cost for the i7. From a longevity standpoint, I'd leave Ivy Bridge behind and take the faster 4690k.

 

[spentshells]

+1 for the 3770k
-1 for overclocking with the cx 600
A 3770 and a 7850 leave plenty of overhead on that psu for overclocking, if anything you'd hit 55-60% of the psu's rated capacity if you absolutely maxed out the overclocks on both the cpu and gpu.

Go wild, I've overclocked hardware with a lot more wattage draw than that on a cx 600 as has digital storm and they are quite reputable. http://www.digitalstorm.com/

I've done so with extremely high ambient temperatures hitting near 550 watts.

 

[JoeVonWilson]

+1 for the 3770k
-1 for overclocking with the cx 600
A 3770 and a 7850 leave plenty of overhead on that psu for overclocking, if anything you'd hit 55-60% of the psu's rated capacity if you absolutely maxed out the overclocks on both the cpu and gpu.

Go wild, I've overclocked hardware with a lot more wattage than would be used by that setup, I've done so with extremely high ambient temperatures.

So I have misinterpreted the CX600's overclocking abilities? Apologies for this, just need to clarify, I'm perfectly fine overclocking a 3770k and the current gpu with a CX600? I ask this because others have said otherwise

 

[littleleo]

Sounds like the i7-3770K is the best way to go considering all the factors you listed. I agree with Toxic you should also upgrade your power supply.

 

[babernet_1]

Why not go with the latest? The Skylake and newest motherboards?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The CX600 is not suited really for a gaming / enthusiast machine but then again you have been using it already for quite some time. If you are not changing your usage, then no point in changing unless adding a big beefy GPU like the 980 Ti.

The 3770k is better for many things but, unfortunately, gaming is not one of them ..... as the numbers in the above link show, a 3770k gaming box is slower than a 4690k gaming box.

Why not go with the latest? The Skylake and newest motherboards?

Same reason it's unwise to use a new OS before it's been out a while... staying off the bleeding edge. Right now we are in the 1st stepping of CPUs and MoBos on 170..... over the next few months, bugs will be discovered, performance tweaks included and the 2nd and 3rd stepping boards / CPUs will be that much better. If you want ti avoid the bugs and get the "new and improved" products, you wait 2-3 months for those things to get washed out.

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/29

No processor design is perfect. The first version of a new microprocessor product is the A-0 step. Later, as improvements are made to the product for functional (bug) fixes or manufacturing improvements, the stepping number will increase.

Generally speaking, minor changes result in an increased number, (that is, A-1 to A-2) while more complex changes result in the letter being changed (that is, A-2 to B-0).

If new steppings come out with fewer bugs you are usually not eligible to RMA for a newer processor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepping_level

The term stepping level or revision level in the context of CPU architecture or integrated circuit is a version number.

Stepping level refers to the introduction or revision of the lithographic photomask or masks within the set of plates that generate the pattern that produces an integrated circuit. The term originated from the name of the equipment ("steppers") that exposes the photoresist to light.[1][2] Integrated circuits have two primary classes of mask sets, base layers that are used to build the structures that make up the logic such as transistors, and metal layers that connect the logic together.

Typically, when an integrated circuit manufacturer such as Intel or AMD invests money to do a stepping (i.e. a revision to the masks), they have found bugs in the logic, have made improvements to the design that allow for faster processing, have found a way to increase yield or improve the "bin splits" (i.e. create faster transistors and hence faster CPUs), improve maneuverability to more easily identify marginal circuits, or reduce test time which can reduce the cost of testing the part.

 

[JoeVonWilson]

Why not go with the latest? The Skylake and newest motherboards?

I was under the impression that they weren't out just yet? However if I am indeed wrong, which CPU would you have me buy under Skylake? budget up to £250.

 

[JoeVonWilson]

Is there anything that requires hyprthreading, that's the only reason to go i7.... gaming isn't one of them.

The assumption that the older one is "more powerful" is a mistaken one ...

4790k > 4770k > 3770k
4690k > 4670k > 3570k

A 4690k is a 4790k w/o Hyperthreading and a lower stock overclock. Ot's not that teh 4690k can't do 4790k speeds, it's just that Intel lowers the stock clock speed so as to justify the $100 premium. You can easily set the 4690k to 4790k speeds.

As you can see here, in gaming, the 4690k wins . There's 20 or so game tests putting the 3770k against the 4690k. The 4690k wins 10 outta 10 head to head average fps head to head comparisons. It also wins 6 outta 10 minimum fps comparisons and when it loses 3 outta the 4 is by 0.2 fps

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1261?vs=551

As is clearly shown above, the 3770k is the slower CPU for gaming.

The decision then comes down to the extra cost of the MoBo versus the extra cost for the i7. From a longevity standpoint, I'd leave Ivy Bridge behind and take the faster 4690k.

Thank you for the well thought out and informative reply!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I was under the impression that they weren't out just yet? However if I am indeed wrong, which CPU would you have me buy under Skylake? budget up to £250

They are out... but:

1. Do you want to be on the bleeding edge ? (see above post)

2. There 's quite a price premium for "new stuff" which will remain until supply catches up with demand from everyone who wants new and shiny stuff

3. Once that happens, everything you were looking at will come down in price.

Im itching to build with one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130870

But we typically don't do any builds in the 1st 10-12 weeks after a new generation of boards hits. By then 2nd and 3rd stepping components are on the market and , concidentally, Black Friday discounts will arrive.

If ya not in a rush, waiting till mid November to put together your build will put you in a position to get paste the early steppings, give you the opportunity to read technical as well as user reviews on the various X170 options to distinguish the winners from losers, and if ya do go with the 3770k / 4590k still, they will all be that much cheaper as the new stuff pushes price down.

 

[spentshells]

The wattage of your cpu and gpu and the rest of your system is very low and well within the capacity of the psu.

System Wattage with GPU in FULL Stress = 256W this is with older more power hungry 1st gen i7 overclocked to 3.75Ghz. The cx 600 is way more than capable of providing 50-60% of it's rated capacity which is where you would be hitting with an overclock on both the cpu and gpu.

I've done so with a cx 600 as has digital storm who I am quite sure has built more pc's than anyone in the forums.

3770k @ 4.8Ghz (unlikely) consumes about 244 watts at load The 7850 is limited to under 150 watts due to it's single 6 pin connector and 75 watts provided by the motherboard. Plenty of power.