Upgrade From i5 2300 to i7 4790 Worth It?

[Brayden Josh]

I might get a lot of shit for saying this but is an upgrade from an i5 2300 to an i7 4790 worth it at all. I just want to know if there will be a major fps improvement in games like CoD:AW for example? I am having to get a new MOBO because of the different sockets so I'm getting the MSI Z97 Gaming 3 MOBO to match my MSI GTX 970 4G graphics card.

Specs:
CPU- i5 2300 (Soon to Upgrade)
GPU- MSI GTX 970 4G
RAM- 8GB 2400mhz DDR3
MOBO-Unknown (Soon to Upgrade)
PSU- 750W Thermaltake Toughpower
HDD- 1TB WD Black

 

[geofelt]

Worth is something only YOU can determine.

The 4790K is as good as it gets for just about anything.

To satisfy yourself of what to expect, run a few tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You could also experiment with removing one core in the bios. You can also do this in the windows start configuration.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

I have little doubt that you will be impressed.

Some may say that a 4690K will do the job for $100 less.
They are probably correct, but if the extra $100 is not a big problem, go ahead with the 4790K
You will get a better binned chip that runs at 4.0/4.4 stock.

I have become a bit jaded on the subject of haswell cooling for overclocking.
How high you can OC is firstly determined by your luck in the bin lottery.
I had high expectations from the Devil's canyon parts and their better thermals.
I found out that the thermals really do not matter unless, perhaps, you are a competitive overclocker.
Haswell runs quite cool, that is, until you raise the voltage past 1.25v or so.
Once you go past 1.3v, then you really do need very good cooling to keep stress loads under say 85c.
But, the consensus is that voltages higher than 1.30 are not a good thing for 24/7 usage.
I have been unable to find any official Intel recommendation on what is a safe vcore limit.
If you are an enthusiast, you can go higher.
Even if you can handle the heat, how much do you really need that extra multiplier from say 4.4 to 4.6?
My thought is that it is better to use the exotic cooling funds for a quieter and less expensive air cooler.
I suggest a good tower air cooler like noctua or phanteks with 140mm fans.

Do consider upgrading to a SSD for the "C" drive.
I will never again build without a ssd for the "C" drive. It makes everything you do much quicker.
120gb is minimum, it will hold the os and a handful of games. If you can go 240gb.
Samsung EVO is a good choice.
Intel is OK too.

 

[alexakis99]

I might get a lot of shit for saying this but is an upgrade from an i5 2300 to an i7 4790 worth it at all. I just want to know if there will be a major fps improvement in games like CoD:AW for example? I am having to get a new MOBO because of the different sockets so I'm getting the MSI Z97 Gaming 3 MOBO to match my MSI GTX 970 4G graphics card.

Specs:
CPU- i5 2300 (Soon to Upgrade)
GPU- MSI GTX 970 4G
RAM- 8GB 2400mhz DDR3
MOBO-Unknown (Soon to Upgrade)
PSU- 750W Thermaltake Toughpower
HDD- 1TB WD Black

i am interested in your results so please post it when you are done
thanks

 

[Brayden Josh]

I might get a lot of shit for saying this but is an upgrade from an i5 2300 to an i7 4790 worth it at all. I just want to know if there will be a major fps improvement in games like CoD:AW for example? I am having to get a new MOBO because of the different sockets so I'm getting the MSI Z97 Gaming 3 MOBO to match my MSI GTX 970 4G graphics card.

Specs:
CPU- i5 2300 (Soon to Upgrade)
GPU- MSI GTX 970 4G
RAM- 8GB 2400mhz DDR3
MOBO-Unknown (Soon to Upgrade)
PSU- 750W Thermaltake Toughpower
HDD- 1TB WD Black

i am interested in your results so please post it when you are done
thanks

Ok I will do so! 😀