Overclocked i5 2500k or stock i7 2700k for gaming?

[leviathan6321]

Hey Overclockers! I'm new here.
I've been recommended this site by a friend and I need an upgrade for my gaming rig!
I'm currently running an intel core 2 duo e7400 (2.8Ghz stock) overclocked to 3.3Ghz. 4GB ddr2 ram. GT560 graphics card.
It's just about reached the end of its lifetime since I have unacceptable fps in games like DayZ (Arma2) and Crysis3.
I have a budget of £300 and I know I need a new cpu, mobo and ram. I can't really afford ivybridge on that budget so my real question around that price range is:

Overclocked i5 2500k or stock i7 2700k? (since they're about the same price)

I've read that I wouldn't see much benefit from an i7 when gaming, and the bigger cache only really helps with repetitive sustained tasks like video rendering? SO if that's the case, would the i5 overclocked bundle on here actually be better for me than the not-overclocked i7 bundle?

Be gentle with me, I'm new.
Thanks!

 

[Suarez7]

It's easy to overclock the 2700k anyway, literally a matter of changing 1 or 2 settings in the BIOS.

 

[leviathan6321]

It's easy to overclock the 2700k anyway, literally a matter of changing 1 or 2 settings in the BIOS.

Yeah I thought about that. I overclocked my core2 duo myself, it wasn't too difficult, but I'd probably be nervous about OCing my shiny new i7.
Also, I'd probably have to upgrade from stock cooler, which would bump up the cost even more, especially considering my budget is £300 and the i7 bundle is already £30 over at £330.

 

[iTek]

I have the 2500K and 2600K (i7) and both are clocked at same speeds in games I dont see any difference what so ever. I recently put my GTX680 from my i5 rig in to my i7 system and don't score any better in terms of fps.

So go with what you can afford and get a nicer motherboard/memory and cooler.

Oh and overclocking is easier than the olden days of C2D and C2Q.

 

[Bluntwrapped]

You would use the same procedure for overclocking the i7 as you would the i5.

Overclocking has never been so easy, you've got nothing to be nervous about

 

[wildman]

in games i don't think you see much performance increase between 2500K and 2700K. In multi threaded apps 2700K would certainly be the better, but I think the gold standard for most gaming rigs is / was the 2500K. YOu can get 4.4 to 4.6 ghz out them pretty easily with a decent air cooler, A.I.O water cooler and likely higher with a decent custom water loop

 

[murah]

get the 3570k if you can bud
and yes it can be done on that budget.

 

[ArchAndroid]

Just for curiousity, in my BIOS, I disabled the HyperThreads on my 2600k and it made no difference to frame rates.

The only place I saw a drop in frames was HandBraking videos.