2600k or 2500k

schnipps · 14 Jun 2011 at 08:53

I fancy the i7 but really do i even need it? will the 2500 clock higher anyway? i dont do any video stuff btw.

sk82jack · 14 Jun 2011 at 08:58

What do you do? Mainly gaming?

You can see in this Sandy Bridge review that the i7 doesn't offer enough advantage in gaming performance over the i5 to justify the extra cost at all.

The i7 is only cost effective if you will be doing a lot of media editing/encoding, etc.

Plec · 14 Jun 2011 at 09:22

As above - if your day to day usage doesn't require the extra features of the 2600k you'll notice little performance differnece in games/light apps use between the two.

The 2500k really is a 'Jack of all trades and the master for general usage".

And if you're a gamer you could put the extra money saved towards a better gfx card - which would give you far bigger rewards in games.

hanluc · 14 Jun 2011 at 09:25

Choose the 2600K if multi-threaded applications are important to you.

KelDG · 14 Jun 2011 at 13:23

For gaming you cant really justify £100 extra on a processor that should be going towards a better graphics card.

~REALiTY · 14 Jun 2011 at 13:50

2500K, will handle anything you throw at it with ease. Why pay £100 more if what youve said is you wont really need it. Save yourself £100 and get the 2500k

Narn · 14 Jun 2011 at 14:22

if you play football manager 2011 get the 2600k

mhowarth · 14 Jun 2011 at 14:37

Get the 2600k if you can, even if you don't fully utilise it your e-penis will receive a boost

Nightglow · 14 Jun 2011 at 14:56

KelDG said:
For gaming you cant really justify £100 extra on a processor that should be going towards a better graphics card.

Totally agree, was in same position a few weeks ago,settled for a 2500K & 8gb of Corsair memory, couldn't justify the extra money on a 2600K.

Have overclocked the 2500K to 4.2ghz, does everything I want in gaming.

roachyuk · 14 Jun 2011 at 16:01

why is it if you play football manager your better off with the 2600k?

the1gooner · 14 Jun 2011 at 16:25

Nightglow said:
Totally agree, was in same position a few weeks ago,settled for a 2500K & 8gb of Corsair memory, couldn't justify the extra money on a 2600K.

Have overclocked the 2500K to 4.2ghz, does everything I want in gaming.

My Core i3 540 at 3.8Ghz does everything I want in gaming.

When asking about a processor for gaming it helps to know what graphics card is being used and at what resolution games are going to be played at.

TheYoungster · 14 Jun 2011 at 17:01

I LOVE YOU GUYS, YOU JUST SAVED ME MONEY!

olivier renault · 14 Jun 2011 at 17:36

KelDG said:
For gaming you cant really justify £100 extra on a processor that should be going towards a better graphics card.

Basically. £80-£100 goes a long way.

Nelly · 14 Jun 2011 at 17:45

I still purchased a 2500K for mainly gaming, I could not justify the £45 difference for me purchasing a 2600K over a 2500K both retail.

Buckster · 14 Jun 2011 at 21:08

£45 ? I thought itwas more like 80 difference ?

Nelly · 14 Jun 2011 at 21:48

Buckster said:
£45 ? I thought itwas more like 80 difference ?

That is not easy to answer I'm afraid, their is plenty of options to Marks & Spencers for food, same goes for everything else if you shop around.

If only the Pound Shop sold CPU's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Evoss · 15 Jun 2011 at 08:54

If its gaming then then 2500k. At high resolutions they handle games the same.

schnipps · 15 Jun 2011 at 10:20

I went for the 2600k in the end i couldnt really get better gfx in the spec i did anyway.

Narn · 15 Jun 2011 at 20:40

roachyuk said:
why is it if you play football manager your better off with the 2600k?

the game makes good use of hyperthreading which you wouldnt get with the 2500k

Buckster · 15 Jun 2011 at 20:47

did I read somewhere that 2500s overclock higher on general vs the 2600 ?

if so does that typically over-take the difference in an app even if it uses Hyperthreading ?

ie higher overclock vs hyperthreading ?

mind you 2600k has more L3 too ?

cheers