i5 vs i7 gaming - still no difference?

[opethdisciple]

Is it still the case that there is little difference between an i5 and an i7 in gaming?

I cant get any reliable info on this. You tube, seems to suggest no difference, some of the benchmarks on here seems to suggest otherwise.

I'm currently running an overclocked 3570k @ 4.5ghz.

Wouldn't mind upgrading to a 5820k or waiting for the new Intel CPU's when they launch.

How is this going to change with DX12? I know DX12 will be better multi threaded. But will this mean lesser CPU's will be more capable or that more powerful CPU's will be better utilised?

---

Just as an example I have seen conflicting info on the witcher 3. Some have shown there to be a difference between the i5 and the i7. Others have shown there to be very very little difference as the game is gpu bound.

 

[joeyjojo]

Games ought to always be as GPU bound as possible, basically because game logic is simple. Which games have you seen with a big difference? Even recent Total War games only show a <5% difference.

Regarding Witcher 3, there is a difference, but it's not huge. Check out 1:12 to 2:16 in the following and watch the orange and red lines in the chart on the right. The i5 has more dips while the i7 stays very flat and smooth. Whether one can feel a difference, and whether that's worth over £100 is another matter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rutk9ErhKG4

But will this mean lesser CPU's will be more capable or that more powerful CPU's will be better utilised?

Both. Driver and engine overheads are a waste of CPU time. By making DX12 "leaner" and more threaded the GPU should be better utilised, making the CPU less important.

 

[opethdisciple]

Just as an example. I know he is way over 60fps so difference is negligible but still there's quite a big difference.

Also seen conflicting evidence for the witcher 3. Some benchmarks say there is no difference, other videos on you tube show the difference to be about 10fps. Needing an i7 to push above 60fps where the cpu is the bottleneck.

Spoiler

Guys I just tried what a difference HyperThreading can make as well as overclocking the cpu in Crysis 3

Stunning outcome..

System used:
i7 4790k@stock and @5100MHz
2x8GB Corsair Dom Plat(Painted red ) 2400CL10
MSI 295X2@1150/1500MHz
Asus M7 Hero
Crysis 3@Max Settings

4.4GHz HT-OFF = 65fps (cores at 99%)

4.4GHz HT-ON = 82fps (cores at about 85%)

5.1GHz HT-OFF = 79fps (cores at 99%)

5.1GHz HT-ON = 93fps (cores at about 85%)

 

[joeyjojo]

True that difference is quite big, but if it takes Crysis 3 at maximum settings on a £660 dual GPU to show a difference then I think you've found your answer.

Also seen conflicting evidence for the witcher 3. Some benchmarks say there is no difference, other videos on you tube show the difference to be about 10fps. Needing an i7 to push above 60fps where the cpu is the bottleneck.

Not saying W3 shows no difference - in that link it's 60's to 70's, so maybe 15% - but only in one of the scenes (the horseriding though town one). In the others there's no difference between the i7 and dual core Pentium.