Which CPU to get: i7-7820x or Threadripper 1900x

Profanos

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Apr 7, 2017
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Hello everyone!
So I have a doubt about which CPU to get, I know that I should wait for the reviews and I will, but I'm a bit anxious about such decision,since I'm planning on building my PC since may, but as I'am a bit insecured about making such big decision for my PC,I decided to wait for AMD threadripper. At first I was going to build a R7 1700 build,since I do a bit of game developing(Unreal Engine4) and 3D modelling stuff(Blender) on the weekends,but I game 95% of my free time, I have a big budget , I thought about jumping in to the X299 series, having the same amount of cores and a better average and minimum FPS on games, I know that it isn't a big difference(usually 5% to 15%),but if I have the money, why the hell not too. So the i7-7820x was the choice since It is better than the R7 and not so expensive as the 1920x or 1950x,as I didn't need so many cores.

But AMD announced the 1900x, and I became a little confused on what I should do. If the 1900x have the same gaming benchmarks as the r7 1800x, I would say that the i7 7820x would be a better choice for me, mainly because I game 95% of my time and I don't need so many PCI-e lanes,which I know it's great and all,but I'm more than sure that I will not be using more than 1 GPU or a lot of M.2 drivers. But I don't know if it's the hate that the X299 platform is getting( and I understand why...)or the praise that the X399 platform is having. Somethig makes me insecured to go for either system. What woiuld you guys do on this situation, the only thing I can be sure is that the difference between the two chips is going to be minimal. One other thing that I should say in my particular case,is that I love the X299 asus ROG strix-e mobo, and I'm sad that I won't be able to get the same one in the X399 series,since It will be a E-ATX acording to asus,and my case doesn't support it( I already have the case)

Pcpartpicker link: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/R2H3Yr

Thx for reading,and sorry for any gramatical erros,I'm not a native english speaker.
 
Solution
If you're so insecure about it, why not just wait it out a little longer? Threadripper's going to have it's share of bugs, give it some time... Skylake-X's new mesh topography is hindering its speed at the moment, give it some time as well...
It sounds to me like you'll be just fine on a ryzen 7 1800x or I7 7700k, or even the I7 8700k that's right around the corner, and get a high-end motherboard and fast ram to go with it. Since you seem to prioritize gaming over work so much, you'll get more out of those options than the 'big boys'.
But I'm in no real position to tell you this, as I'm on a 7820x right now - but I knew what I was getting into when I grabbed it. If your build was more work-focused, then I'd have to suggest the TR, as...
I don't think the 8 core version of Threadripper is going to give any better performance than a similarly clocked 1700-1800X, save possibly for at low resolutions where Threadripper might give faster FPS due to quad channel memory bandwidth...(same effect seen on X99/299, but, generally not a player at 1080P)

And the $350-$450 mainboard expense of TR4 will hardly be a plus, either...

If you are 95% gaming, both rigs are possibly still slightly behind in gaming performance to the several hundred dollar less expensive Z270/7700K anyway...; depends on your desire or placement of importance for 8 cores/16 threads, and your priority on rendering/decoding videos 40-60% faster with twice the cores...

Adding fuel to the fire....

The 'mainstream' Coffeelake update 8700K is coming with 6 cores/12 threads...not sure exactly when though! :)

Good luck whichever way you choose....
 

Well, It shouldn't, the thing is I already have It. I could sell and try to get another one,not sure if it would be worth it thou, I was looking at the X399 Taichi, and it's a solid mobo. I Think the only problem is that I always dreamed of having a ROG motherboard ,that's why I'm confused on which CPU to get. Hardware Unboxed did a video comparing the I7-7820x and R7 1700,and the difference was minimal,now Imagine with Threadripper and it's quad channel memory.
 


I don't really think that either CPU is really a good investment in therms of price to performance,R7 1700 is the champion without a doubt, I guess that the only reason I choose to do this upgrade was that money is not an issue, so I could do a PC up to 4000US$. I will be playing on a 100 Hz panel in 3440x1440, so I'm sure I will see no difference on any of this CPU. With that being said, I want to build the best PC with that money, and that's why I'm having a hard time do decide between both CPU.
 


I'm in the same boat as far as CPU's, but for different reasons. I'm looking for long term multi-task programs, not just gaming. And when I say long term, I'm thinking 5 - 6 years. (My SandyBridge is still kicking!)

But if you're just gaming, I think these are totally the wrong CPU choices for you. The king (for now) of gaming is the Intel 7700k.
 
If you're so insecure about it, why not just wait it out a little longer? Threadripper's going to have it's share of bugs, give it some time... Skylake-X's new mesh topography is hindering its speed at the moment, give it some time as well...
It sounds to me like you'll be just fine on a ryzen 7 1800x or I7 7700k, or even the I7 8700k that's right around the corner, and get a high-end motherboard and fast ram to go with it. Since you seem to prioritize gaming over work so much, you'll get more out of those options than the 'big boys'.
But I'm in no real position to tell you this, as I'm on a 7820x right now - but I knew what I was getting into when I grabbed it. If your build was more work-focused, then I'd have to suggest the TR, as the mesh will probably take longer to iron out the kinks. I get that you wanted to go big, but early adoptions tend to bite folks in the butt.
 
Solution


You sound as if mainstream cpus have no longevity at all. 10 years easy, unless you cheaped out on it, or deliberately break it.
 


It only just came out...
Also, you skipped DDR4L, DDR5, DDR5L.... no way that's all gonna be within 5 years, more like 15 - 20.
 


I actually had this same question the other day. I have been running a 5820k for nearly 3 years and wanted an upgrade while I could still sell my X99 cpu/mobo for some decent $$. I do a mix or video work/encoding with a higher percentage of cpu time gaming. I wanted a bit more PCIe lanes than what Ryzen offered so thus my looking at the X299/X399 builds. I was pretty set on upgrading to threadripper 1900X, but my current waterblock and 32GB of ram are not compatible (ram not listed as that way anyway) which would have been added expense and I got a 7820X for $530 which is less than the MSRP for the 1900X along with nabbing a ASRock X299 Taichi on sale for $235, so I went Intel again.

Both X299 and X399 are new platforms so there are always bound to be some teething problems. Most should be ironed out over time.
Like you mentioned. performance should be similar between the 1900X and 7820X with the slight gaming nod of course going to Intel. I think if costs are not too disproportionate, just go with the X299/7820X since it has the mobo you desire and should offer you a bit better gaming performance which is what you spend most your time doing. I would mention one caveat though, if you think you might want to upgrade to more cores down the road, the X399 platform looks to offer much better cost effectiveness.
 
In case I want to use 1-4 Nvidia GPU running at x16 at the same time, which CPU do you recommend? I think the threadripper supports more PCI-e lanes but I cannot find a motherboard that supports threadripper and 4 x PCIe 3.0 x16/x16/x16/x16. Thank you.
 
Rereading OPs first post: 1st choice - 1800x, 2nd - a coffeelake I7build(if you can wait for it), 3rd - 7700k
But if you're really set on splurging $$$ on things you're not even sure you're gonna use as you stated in the second paragraph of your first post: 1st - 1900x, 2nd - 7900x, 3rd - 7820x
 


That is correct...none made wired for 64 PCI-e lanes to 4 PCI-e slots, best I've heard is 16 + 4 +16 +4 i think.....
 


Why? Does that mean if I want to use 4 GPU running at x16 at the same time, I have to use Intel CPU?