Help with CPU choice

[Korsun]

Hi all

Could you help me with a decision please, I looking at building a system with the following mother board and memory;

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-516-AS
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-002-SA&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=

I plan to water cool this (which I will post on the appropriate section). The question is which CPU to fit? I'm still not sure about Ivybridge and feel for my use mostly gaming, I would be better of with a either an i5-2500k or a i7-2600k. Is the i7 the better option and is it as easy to clock as the i5? Or do I go with Ivybridge?

 

[Barry1987]

I'm not sure on the prices of the IB processors.

However, if you're going purely for gaming, you may as well just opt for the i5 2500k. However, I chose the i7 3820 simply because I got a bundle including the 3820 on finance over 36 months and there isn't that much more additional fees. I'm not going to feel much difference financially for opting for the 3820 over the 2500k because it's stretched over that amount of time and for longevity's sake I choose it because you never know when games will take advantage of hyperthreading in the future.

 

[Tattysnuc]

I'm not sure on the prices of the IB processors.

However, if you're going purely for gaming, you may as well just opt for the i5 2500k. However, I chose the i7 3820 simply because I got a bundle including the 3820 on finance over 36 months and there isn't that much more additional fees. I'm not going to feel much difference financially for opting for the 3820 over the 2500k because it's stretched over that amount of time and for longevity's sake I choose it because you never know when games will take advantage of hyperthreading in the future.

The 2500k or 2550k would be a great bet, but you'd be advised to wait until Ivy Bridge comes out as they will probably go on offer between now an then. I've seen that the 2600K will only give you an additional 25% performance over the 2500K, so unless you have an absolute need for those threads (video work, folding etc) then go for the 2500k. I've been having the same debate with myself for 2 years now - i7 920 or upgrade to i7 970/980/990X and the performance you gain is negligible because most tools don't optimally use the cores>4

 

[Tattysnuc]

saying that though, a 2600K or 2700K should see you through long term. It really does depend on how often you change things...