Question Upgrading CPU on MSI X99A sli plus for mostly gaming with slight editing

[ShanaSakai]

Hi all, I currently have an i7- 5820k with 32GB (soon to be 64GB) of ram in my system. I've recently purchased a 7900 XT, and obviously the 5820k is badly bottlenecking my new GPU. While I am saving up for a new system (most likely Ryzen 7900 or 7900 X3D), that won't be until much later this year (like Xmas). However I got some available cash for an upgrade like right now or later this month. I have the 2nd newest bio on this motherboard (1e0 from 2018/6/19), so my two options are either the 6950x or the e5 -2696 v4 (aka the 2699 but with slightly higher clock).

The problem is, well if it is a problem, the games I play are mostly Fallout 4 and SKyrim. I know both are pretty much single thread/core dependent more than multi core (even though it can use up to 16 threads I believe? I heard one can do more via ini changes but never found an answer to that). Both the 6950x and the 2696 has slow single core but much faster multi-core than the 5820k.

I've checked on sites like the how many fps and bottleneck calculation, however they both tell me that I'll get higher fps and less bottlenecking (albeit not much tbh, like 10-15% better) on FO4 still, so that part slightly confuses me.

I occasionally do some light editing so I guess the 2696 would be much faster than the 6950x or my current 5820k.

So should I do it? Thanks!

 

[Lutfij]

my two options are either the 6950x or the e5 -2696 v4
I would first make sure you're on the latest BIOS version, i.e, 7885v1F2(Beta version) and then consider looking at a processor that shows up in the supported CPU's list for your motherboard. Between the Xeon and the i7 you've mentioned above, only the i7 shows up the supported CPU's list. If you have disposable funds/resources, get the Xeon and then see if it works. If it doesn't it's why that CPU isn't shown in the supported CPU's list on MSI's support site.

 

[John Chesterfield]

Mostly gaming and slight editing? I'd say not, especially if the editing isn't generating income.

 

[ShanaSakai]

@Lutfij , the 2696 v4 is just another 2699 v4, just higher clock speeds. According to a site, the supported bios is 1B, which is way before 1E, so I think I don't need to update bios again (last time I tried, I almost bricked the thing, thank goodness the board has dual bios).

@John Chesterfield I may have to though, due to the fact the way I use my machine, when I run a game, the CPU gets to 90% Plus most of the time. The question is would the 6950x OR 2696 (aka 2699) be worth upgrading to temporary solve my high CPU usage (I run alot of programs and can't have them turned off for FO4 or the games I play) until I get the new system? Thanks.