Looking at a CPU upgrade- Haswell v. Skylake?

[Eden Tosh]

So I've been trying to decide on if I want to go and upgrade to the new Skylake platform, or if I should just go with Z97, since it's not better performance-wise. This is for my gaming computer, which is also used for many other things, such as Music production and Programming for school.

I've compiled some prices for the various processors, motherboards, and RAM, so you can quickly tell me your opinion on whether it is a good choice or not. All prices are on Newegg in the US.

Z97 Build #1- i5-4590

• Intel Core i5-4590- $184.99
  MSI Z97A Krait Gaming Motherboard- $136.69 w/ $2.99 Shipping Total $139.68
  16GB (2x8GB) HyperX Fury DDR3 RAM- $80.93
  Total Price- $405.60

Z97 Build #2- i5-4690k

• Intel Core i5-4690k- $214.99
  MSI Z97A Krait Gaming Motherboard- $136.69 w/ $2.99 Shipping Total $139.68
  16GB (2x8GB) HyperX Fury DDR3 RAM- $80.93
  Total Price- $435.60

Z97 Build #3- i7-4790k

• Intel Core i7-4790k- $309.99
  MSI Z97A Krait Gaming Motherboard- $136.69 w/ $2.99 Shipping Total $139.68
  16GB (2x8GB) HyperX Fury DDR3 RAM- $80.93
  Total Price- $530.60

Z170 Build #1- i5-6500

• Intel Core i5-6500- $204.99
  MSI Z170A Krait Gaming Motherboard- $134.99
  16GB (2x8GB) GeIL Super Luce DDR4 RAM- $89.99
  Total Price- $429.97

Z170 Build #2- i5-6600

• Intel Core i5-6600- $229.99
  MSI Z170A Krait Gaming Motherboard- $134.99
  16GB (2x8GB) GeIL Super Luce DDR4 RAM- $89.99
  Total Price- $454.97

Z170 Build #3- i5-6600k

• Intel Core i5-6600k- $279.99
  MSI Z170A Krait Gaming Motherboard- $134.99
  16GB (2x8GB) GeIL Super Luce DDR4 RAM- $89.99
  Total Price- $504.97

As you can see the Haswell i5s are quite a bit cheaper than their Skylake counterparts, with the difference between the top unlocked i5s being $69.37. And also with the top unlocked Haswell i7 totaling at only $25.63 more than the Skylake i5. I don't know what I should get, in regards for the best value.

I'm a high school student with a minimum wage job slaving over 25 hours weeks and three AP classes, ACT and SAT prep, and sometimes having a social life. So although I can always save up more money to go for that extra performance, I still want to save up for other things. So that leads me back to my Original question.

What should I get?

Also Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to my post, this has been bugging me for quite some time, and I just need some opinions to steer me into the right direction.

-Eden

 

[lodders]

I am also struggling to decide whether to build Haswell or Skylake for my sons new gaming computer.
But for me one big advantage of Haswell is cheap motherboards, like the one in this PC (see signature for details)
I wondered what made you want a Z97 mobo?

 

[PsyKhiqZero]

All around I would go with the i7 build. Hyper threading helps when rendering video or 3d (modeling not gaming). But if your GPU isn't quite up to snuff i'd go with the skylake build with the 6500. Use the money saved towards a better GPU.

 

[Eden Tosh]

I am also struggling to decide whether to build Haswell or Skylake for my sons new gaming computer.
But for me one big advantage of Haswell is cheap motherboards, like the one in this PC (see signature for details)
I wondered what made you want a Z97 mobo?

Oops, I did not mean to select that as the Best solution. And I've seen from benchmarks that Z97 motherboards provide the best overclocking ability. And also I need a motherboard to match my color scheme.

 

[lodders]

I am also struggling to decide whether to build Haswell or Skylake for my sons new gaming computer.
But for me one big advantage of Haswell is cheap motherboards, like the one in this PC (see signature for details)
I wondered what made you want a Z97 mobo?

Oops, I did not mean to select that as the Best solution. And I've seen from benchmarks that Z97 motherboards provide the best overclocking ability. And also I need a motherboard to match my color scheme.

Yes, they do, but at a price.
As you can see, my motherboard has limited me to a "mere" 4.2Ghz. To get my CPU to 4.6Ghz would be 10% extra performance, but the cost of the Z97 mobo and the cooler would add about 30% to the price. Not worth it IMHO

 

[Eden Tosh]

I am also struggling to decide whether to build Haswell or Skylake for my sons new gaming computer.
But for me one big advantage of Haswell is cheap motherboards, like the one in this PC (see signature for details)
I wondered what made you want a Z97 mobo?

Oops, I did not mean to select that as the Best solution. And I've seen from benchmarks that Z97 motherboards provide the best overclocking ability. And also I need a motherboard to match my color scheme.

Yes, they do, but at a price.
As you can see, my motherboard has limited me to a "mere" 4.2Ghz. To get my CPU to 4.6Ghz would be 10% extra performance, but the cost of the Z97 mobo and the cooler would add about 30% to the price. Not worth it IMHO

True. But sadly they don't make a lot of lower-end chipset boards with the look and features that appeal to me.

 

[lodders]

The interesting thing about skylake is that asrock have just announced Sky OC -http://www.asrock.com/news/events/SkyOC/

could make skylake a lot more cost effective