i7 6800k vs i7 7700k

[Killkorde]

I'm upgrading my pc but I'm torn between the i7 6800k @ 3.4GHz(3.6GHz Turbo) and the i7 7700k @ 4.2GHz(4.5GHz Turbo). The other components I will be using in the rig are:

- MSI X99A SLI mobo(In the case of the 6800k) / Z270(In the case of the 7700k)
- Nvidia GTX 970
- 16 GB RAM (DDR4, either Corsair Vengeance @ 3200MHz or Crucial Ballistix @2400 MHz)
- Antec HCG-850M 850W Gaming PSU

I largely only do gaming and other simple tasks on my pc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

P.S. Links to the two processors where I'm buying them (Evetech):

-6800k: https://www.evetech.co.za/PC-Hardware/core-i7-6800k-processor-1899.aspx
-7700k: https://www.evetech.co.za/intel-core-i7-7700k/best-deal/2419.aspx

EDIT: Thanks for the replies. I added a reply at the bottom.

 

[Herc08]

The simple answer would be get the 6800K as the 7700K is on a different socket.

 

[Dunlop0078]

Well you would need a different motherboard for the 7700k thats socket LGA 1151. Do you already have an X99 processor? Like a 5820k or something? If so upgrading to something like an i7 6800k would not be worth it at all in my opinion.

 

[Rogue Leader]

If you only game then do not buy the X99 motherboard and the 6800k.

The 7700k and a Z270 motherboard will outperform it in gaming all day long.

 

[LilDog1291]

Rogue Leader is right. Most games will use 2 or more cores but certainly not all 12 logical cores in the 6800k. So it will come down to per core clock speed and in that department the 7700k wins hands down without even overclocking. Toss a Corsiar H100i in there and you can easily get to 4.9GHz from what I'm seeing.

 

[joex444]

If you mainly game, a 6800K + GTX 970 makes no sense. If you already have the X99 motherboard, though, you'll need to either pick up the 6800K or return the motherboard.

If you simply are planning and have chosen that board, then do note that you're deciding between two CPUs which are on incompatible sockets. You can either go 6800K + X99 or 7700K + Z270. There's no way to go 6800K + Z270 nor 7700K + X99.

Some reasons you might want X99:

1) Running virtual machines

2) Running heavily threaded applications that benefit from numerous cores

3) Running scientific computing programs which are memory bound and would benefit from quad channel RAM

4) Running things that need more than 64GB RAM, which you can do with 8 DIMM slots but not 4.

Some reasons why you might want Z270:

1) You play a lot of games

Unfortunately the 6800K + X99 are about as expensive as the 7700K + Z270, which means that no matter which of these two combinations you choose you'll have to increase your budget in order to afford a GPU more powerful than the GTX 970.

Now... the GTX 970 is old. You're not planning on buying this new, are you? You should be looking at the GTX 1070.

If gaming is what you want to do and you'll only be using 1080p then the GTX 1070 is well-suited to the task. Really, if you're interested in gaming and you're asking about CPUs it just shows that you've been reading out of date build guides or have a non-modern understanding of how PC gaming works. It almost all boils down to the GPU, not the CPU. Hence, you want a GTX 1070 (akin to the GTX 980), and you would - from a budget conscious perspective - choose the cheapest CPU capable of driving it. That's probably an i5-6500 (Skylake) or the i5-7600 (Kaby Lake).

Perhaps you're better off with a GTX 1070 + i5-6500/7600 (non-K) + H270.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Several issues here ...

1. Different platforms... the equivalent of 7700k would be the 6700k... the 6800k is a different playform.

2. 6700k versus 7700k. If you must buy now, then 6700k.... if you can wait till April, then the 7700k as it's the latest generation platform. As THG noted in its processor review for the 7700k, the 1st CPUs off the production line won't be as good as the ones that come off later. This is even more true for motherboards. Later steppings of CPUS / MoBos will have all the early production line bugaboos taken care off and CPU efficiencies will improve overall as the companies get a chance to tweak everything.

3. What is that you are using now ? (I'm not quire sure what exists and what will be new) ... and what is it you expect from an upgrade ? Be aware that there is little performance difference in CPU / MoBo platforms for the last 5 generations when it comes to gaming. A 2500k/2600k remains a fine gaming platform.

4. The X99 platform is only capable of topping Z170/Z270 if you are using 3 or more GFX cards. If you are only using 1 or 2 cards, X99 is costing you more and delivering less, not to mention the extra expense for quad channel RAM.As you stated that the box will be used for "gaming and simple tasks", X99 is not bringing anything tot he table.

 

[Killkorde]

Ok, I have read through all the answers and as I see it, it's probably better to consider options other than the 6800k.
My current build:

- i7 3770
- mobo unknown (Embarrassing I know, will update when I'm at home and can check... But I'm pretty sure it's outdated so I want to upgrade even if the socket is fine)
- GTX 970
- 8 GB RAM (Also unsure of the speed, probably DDR3)

Any recommendations for how I should go about upgrading. I noticed someone mentioning that I rather buy a better GPU and then a CPU that won't bottleneck it/can support it. I also don't mind waiting for new releases so current prices can lower.

I'm thinking I could get a 1080 or wait for Nvidia to release a new card so the price will lower, does anyone have an idea when that might be? Either that or a 1070. I've noticed that there are many, many different Z270 mobos. Is it worth it to get like an M7 or an XPower over the others?

 

[theonerm2]

That CPU is plenty for a GTX 1080 or 1070.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I don't see anything that warrants an upgrade, other than moving to 16 GB ... unless you can get a 2nd 970 on the cheap (assuming ofc that MoBo and PSU are capable). I'd put that upgrade money towards a fresh new build in the future.

 

[Killkorde]

I don't see anything that warrants an upgrade, other than moving to 16 GB ... unless you can get a 2nd 970 on the cheap (assuming ofc that MoBo and PSU are capable). I'd put that upgrade money towards a fresh new build in the future.

Yeah I've decided that I'd rather do that, since I can run most things well. Saving the money for a new build later. Thanks! 😉

 

[therealmckellar]

If you only game then do not buy the X99 motherboard and the 6800k.

The 7700k and a Z270 motherboard will outperform it in gaming all day long.

I am building a new system and I game quite a bit, but also use the computer for general browsing, picture editing, and will be learning to code. I have been trying to figure out if I should go 6850k w/ X99 or just got 7700k w/z270. Would the picture editing be a big reason to jump to the X99 platform or will the 7700k handle it fine?

 

[Rogue Leader]

If you only game then do not buy the X99 motherboard and the 6800k.

The 7700k and a Z270 motherboard will outperform it in gaming all day long.

I am building a new system and I game quite a bit, but also use the computer for general browsing, picture editing, and will be learning to code. I have been trying to figure out if I should go 6850k w/ X99 or just got 7700k w/z270. Would the picture editing be a big reason to jump to the X99 platform or will the 7700k handle it fine?

Picture editing is very low impact, the 7700k is fine. Please start your own thread if you have any additional questions, do not hijack others..