Core i7-3930K or Haswell

[Slayer]

Morning all

Just need some advice please (I do know this question is similar to other in this section). My current PC is based around a Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (built by OCUK) and it’s just turned 5 years old now and while it in fairness still seems to be preforming ok my upgrade itch is such that (providing the Seam Sale leaves me any money) it’s upgrade time. I was thinking about a PC based around a Intel Core i7-3930K on a Asus Rampage IV Extreme Intel X79. Now as I am very much just a gamer so this might be overkill but my hope is that it will last another 5 years, so I was more of less set this was going to be my upgrade path, but then Haswell arrived and has thrown it off a bit. So my question is, taking money out of the equation, should I now consider a Overclocked Haswell based rig or stick with the original idea of a overclocked 3930K?

Cheers

 

[james_2k]

gaming 4770k, encoding etc, 3930.

there will be a haswell refresh next year too for some upgradablility. and the motherboard chipsets are newer too.

 

[apeksdiver]

I have just left my old faithful Q6600. The x79 is probably overkill if you are only gaming, I chose a 4770K as I run photoshop but the 4670K should do fine and the socket 1150 will be used for the next generation of CPU too.

 

[Kaapstad]

The 3930k is overkill for gaming but it will outlast Haswell simply because it has 6 cores and overclocks better. If you do want to use X79 it may be a good idea to wait a couple of months until the 4930k launches which would give you the most up to date CPU.

For pure gaming a 4770k would be fine but with 4 cores it will show it's age before a 3930k/4930k but we are talking a few years from now.

 

[dave28]

I would not spend so much on a E model cpu.Lets say you keep it for 5 years, three of those years you will have to watch as everyone else gets DDR4 ram and you are stuck with DDR3. And I dont care what anyone says, everyone and their dog will be gagging to get DDR4. Even if DDR3 is not at full use right now, things change fast

 

[Boomstick777]

If you can wait a bit longer, a decent X79 mobo with a 4820K might be a good middle of the road option. Similar price setup to 4770K + Z87 but you gain, quad channel memory, full PCI-E lanes for multi GPU and also with the option to upgrade to more cores later on...

 

[pgi947]

+1 for waiting and seeing what the 4820k turns out like, 130w with a soldered lid and a strong imc, should be capable of high clocks not usually seen by the standard ivy or haswell chips.

Tbh though you won't go wrong with either platform.

I suspect ddr4 will first show its face on x99/hw-e in late 2014/early2015

 

[Uncle_Gravy]

Any sources on this 4820k first I've heard of it, I'm quite interested in it.

 

[pgi947]

All we know are the basic specs, 4 core 8 thread core i7, 130w tdp, can't remember the turbo clocks but that's irrelevant on a k chip. Soldered lid as it's an extreme chip with no igpu so clocking should have the normal heat restraints. If you require the extra threads later on you'd have an upgrade option of a 4930k which is a hex core 12 thread chip.

We won't know and solid info until nearer the nda lift when reviewers get hold of chips.

 

[Phixsator]

The x79 is probably overkill if you are only gaming

That is what people said back when x58 launched, yet everyone who has ever bought one will say its been awwsome for gaming and has been the best money ever spent considering how well even the lowest i7 920 is performing today. 4+ years for a more than capable gaming platform that is money well spent.

 

[flopper]

The 3930k is overkill for gaming

6 cores allows likely better minfps, overkill?
maybe unless your competitive fps gamer or rts such.

if the Op upgrade every 5 year, then a 2011 system is better suited for him. IMO.

 

[xtremedetailz]

you actually get better frames on the ivy/haswell setups compared to the x79

 

[pgi947]

What performs better entirely depends on what game engine is being used and how many cores and threads it can utilise. I'd bet a 3930k would easily outperform a 4770k in bf3. Though we have a serious lack of games that use so many threads. This may change in the near future with the new console architecture and core layout - then again it may not!

 

[Skynet5]

If you can wait a bit longer, a decent X79 mobo with a 4820K might be a good middle of the road option. Similar price setup to 4770K + Z87 but you gain, quad channel memory, full PCI-E lanes for multi GPU and also with the option to upgrade to more cores later on...

This is a good plan.

X79 all the way