Best DDR3 based upgrade

wannabedamned

wannabedamned

wannabedamned

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I currently run a i7 3770k overclocked to 4.4ghz

I'm looking to upgrade my motherboard and CPU, but I don't want to move onto DDR4. I have 32GB DDR3 Ram which I'd like to keep using.

PC is used for gaming, but also rendering. My rendering is offloaded onto my 1080ti, but I could do with more CPU threads\cores to keep system stability and general useability while rendering.

I was wondering what's the best motherboard\CPU combo out there for rendering, and gaming while sticking to DDR3.
 
Oddly enough there's a guy in this forum right now looking to upgrade his i7-4770K - Clicky

Edit: Although, he would need to spam the forum for a couple of days to reach the MM. He may live close to 'Between Realities'.
 
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Thanks for that! Had a look at the processor aswell, looks to be a 20% performance increase in certain areas. Which I'd happily take.

Just found out about the 4790k however so going to see if i can find one on MM
 
This is a really bad idea. You'll need a new motherboard to go with your Haswell (at best) based CPU. 20% IPC (in the best case scenario) same amount of cache and cores. Worth it? Not really.

Makes more sense to bite the bullet on DDR4 prices and wait for Ryzen+. Pick up an 8 core and 16GB of DDR4. If you need another 16 buy it later when prices cool off.

If you push your 3770K to the wall on clocks (might hit 5Ghz, 4.7-4.8 more likely) you'll make up the difference between your 3770K and a 4790K.
 
mistersprinkles said:
>snip<
Click to expand...
I can see your point - but his present CPU and motherboard will command a very good price (1155 MBs sell for stupid money) offsetting the price of the 4790K/MB combo which should make the upgrade very cost effective and from his opening post would meet his needs.

He could well spend under £100 for total upgrade (depending on sale/buy) and then he gets the opportunity to wait for the insane memory prices to drop plus see Ryzen show their hand this April, or even next year, before he dips his toe properly in the water - if his PC continues to do all that he asks of it with the upgrade.

@wannabedamned have you seen this request on the MM? - Clicky

Excuse edits - mobile device, gave up and got laptop.
 
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Just to add, if you go the 4770K/4790K route:

The important thing is how much the seller says it clocks, as they're essentially the same chip. So for example a 4.8GHz 4770K would be a more sure bet (if seller can be given benefit of the doubt) than an unknown clock 4790K. Vice versa, if the top clock on a 4770K is unknown, then an unknown clock 4790K is the surer bet, with its higher default clock. If that makes sense. The motherboard could also have some impact here - if you get a non-overclocking motherboard then the 4790K would be faster.

Having said that, you won't get more cores or threads as you hoped for in your OP. You'd have to look at X79 chipset boards and i7-3930K/3960X/3970X/4930K/4960X. But good luck finding one of those boards.

Wonder if a Xeon and compatible board would be another avenue to look at.
 
4790Ks clock well in almost all cases. I got lucky with mine that does 4.5Ghz on 1.22v and stays nice and cool with my NH-U14S. I upgraded to the 4790K from a 2600K a couple of years ago. I see what you are saying about the resale value. I found a BNIB 4790K for $300 (I didn't ask why he was selling it so cheap... but I digress) at a time when they were selling BNIB retail for $440+13% VAT so I got a good deal. This was further helped by the fact that I already had a Z97 board for my G3258 that I bought "fer screwin' around with" and for casual HTPC use. I also had DDR3. So basically my total upgrade cost was $300. I sold my Maximus IV extreme and 2600K and when I came out the other end of the whole ordeal I'd spent a mere pittance on the upgrade. It was great.

So yes, it will be faster, and yes, it'll work out relatively cheap if you're looking at used parts. But there are caveats:

-Used parts are just that- used. You don't know if the user was negligent and let the board cake in a 2cm thick layer of tar and dust in his smoke and pet-hair filled home. You don't know if the original owner was running his 4790K at 1.4V for the past 3 years. You don't know if the motherboard has been exposed to repeated power surges. Caveat emptor.

-You're still going from 4c/8t 8MB L3 to 4c/8t 8MB L3 so while there is a performance boost, it's not going to be epic like going from a 4 core 2nd gen i7 to an 8 core ryzen

There are also positives:

-You gain access to PCIE 3.0 and, if you get the right board, M.2. Make sure the M.2 is of the PCIE Gen 3 @ X4 variety for best results.

-Haswell has better IPC than sandybridge

-You get more SATA 6Gb/s ports from the chipset (6 vs 2)

-Any aftermarket cooler you had for your sandy CPU will carry over to your Haswell CPU

So in the end it's up to you. Buy your used parts from somebody you feel is trustworthy and takes good care of their components.

And pick up a tube of Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut. That stuff is freakin' insane man. Took like 8 degrees celsius off my 4790K when I switched over from naff Cooler Master paste.
 
Xeon maybe a good shout @Danny75 - unsure of second hand prices but suspect they've taken a hit thanks to Ryzen/threadripper.

Agreed @mistersprinkles - always a risk with second hand but the MM Forum can remove a lot of those concerns, to a degree, if you're fortunate enough to be buying from a member you know/regular poster.

If i wasn't so lazy i would upgrade more - as you can get a new system for relatively peanuts (as you did) if you buy and sell at the right times. It's the pre-owned factor and hassle of DOA goods that has always put me off - but as mentioned the MM Forum does/should negate some of these issues. I'm upgrading in April when the new Ryzen is released - good or indifferent - i want a new format to play with and i'll have to 'suck up' the memory prices as they're not coming down anytime soon :/

Good points, well made - should help @wannabedamned considerably with his decision if he had any doubts.
 
Speaking of crazy parts prices, you would think prices would start coming down as the crypto craze calms down a bit. Good on Nvidia trying to crack down on big mining farms exploiting the cheaper consumer grade GPUs for better profit margins, should help bring prices down soon
 
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