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Sandybridge CPU's still competitive?

BUDFORCE

BUDFORCE

BUDFORCE

Soldato
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Just something I been thinking about.

On my gaming rig I still use my i7-2600k.

I have now since upgraded lots of other bits from the original build, 5-6 years ago, SSD, RAM and EVGA 1070 being the main bits.

I have no desire to upgrade the CPU.

My brother is looking to replace his i5 2500k system, he's still on a mechanical drive, and has some old GPU.

But I have advised him to salvage the CPU, mobo and RAM, add more ram, SSD, new GPU, good CPU cooler. Then completely reformat, and overclock.

Just wondering if anyone else is still using Sandybridge CPU's, still loves them and has done similar, or looking to replace them?
 
Still running a 3770 IvyBridge with a 980Ti, more than enough for the games I play at 1080p. Might be interested in an I9 9000 series when they release, but what I really want is an Intel CPU with Meltdown/Spectre fixed in hardware.
 
Whilst sandybridge is still a platform that still can provide good performance it is starting to show its age , personally wouldn’t invest anything more into that platform , rock what he’s got now , upgrade gpu if that’s where he’s bottlenecking and then when he has the where with all jump on to chip and corosponding hardware
 
If I was planning to upgrade soon I would first see how good the new Intel CPU’s are, but if not, I say wait for the next gen 7nm CPU’s coming from AMD in early 2019.
You can build a nice 6 core system from both Intel and AMD so maybe you should try and calculate how much your brother would have to pay for a simple upgrade vs buying a new system.

For example a 6 core Intel 8400 or a 6 core 12 threaded 2600 AMD CPU (AMD has better stock coolers) using a budget motherboard won’t cost that much.
DDR4 ram is still expensive though so that will up the overall costs but it will get cheaper later this year and through 2019.

Everyone should have their OS on a SSD these days so I definitely suggest your brother gets one.
 
SSD and GPU first. The 2500k/2600k still have life left in them. They overclocked very well so if you haven't overclocked, you need to be looking into that as well. 4.8ghz is pretty easy even on a poor chip
 
I was gaming on my 2500k (@4.4GHz) with a 980Ti up until a few months ago. It was fine, really. I didn't really notice any poor performance in any games (though I didn't play much that was heavily threaded I don't think).

SSD and GPU would definitely be the upgrades he'd notice the most. Should hold him over for a while. Then it might be best to wait and see what the next round of CPUs bring. Also we live in hope that RAM prices will improve at some point, so that might be a good point to waiting to upgrade unless there's a pressing need now. It sounds like he's not into pushing the best performance possible in the newest games going by what you say about him having an old GPU.

Basically, he loses nothing by grabbing an SSD and a new GPU since he can use those in whatever system he decided to upgrade to anyway.

Is he using the stock cooler btw?
 
BUDFORCE said:
Yea thanks guys, good point about the RAM actually, that kinda is dead money.
Click to expand...

I had 8GB of RAM (2 x 4) and got another 2 x 4GB of the same make and model of RAM for 35 quid off a well-known auction site, figured I'd take the gamble and it paid off. For 35 quid, the difference in some games is very noticeable, BF1 was using 9.7GB last night for example. Seems if it's there, just like Windows, some games will use it.

For 35 quid, it may well be dead money. But it isn't a great deal of money for the difference I've seen between 8GB and 16GB.
 
Still rocking my 2011 i7 2600k @ 5.1ghz. Runs great at 1080p with an R9 290. AC: Origins was the only game to give me sub 30-40fps, as that seems to like multi core cpus. Doubt I'll upgrade until next year.
 
AStaley said:
what I really want is an Intel CPU with Meltdown/Spectre fixed in hardware.
Click to expand...

This is Also what I am waiting for. I am still using a i7 950 at stock speed with 6gb of ram and a Nitro 390 8gb at 1080p.

I don't want to upgrade until hardware comes out with these issues fixed instead of having to have god knows how many patches and performance reduction because of them.
 
i previously had 3770k @4,5ghz ... now i have 5820k ...
so i went from ivy bridge to haswell-e and a extra 2 cores.... cinebench and some benchmarks show bigger numbers other than the fact that i can use an m.2 ssd now i don't really see the difference

if you need extra power - >upgrade .. but at least to a 6core cpu... no point getting just a faster 4c/8t cpu...
i bought my x99 platform very cheap... that was the only reason i upgraded.... If i were you i would wait a little bit more
you are probably getting a little less frames here and there ... but does it bother you?
 
SandyBridge -E 3930k here. Currently 6 cores at 4.2 (can do 4.8 for benching and gaming but no need for that speed for me as I only play at 1080p freesync)

Had this setup for 5 years and never missed a beat. upgraded PSU, SSD, GPU a few times but the core of the system is the same.

Only the 600t case is older (7 years) Really makes a strong case, excuse the pun, for getting a high end case to see you though years of PC gaming and upgrades. Must admit I've got the itch to change the venerable 600t for something newer...
 
My 2500K is still going strong, at stock its not quite quick enough, but OC its fine. Upgraded RAM and GPU 2 years ago, and as its still not time to change it got a larger SSD just over a month ago, and ordered a ViewSonic XG2401 monitor yesterday - Freesync 2/HDR doesn't seem in a rush to come onto 24" 1080p monitors so thought whats the point of waiting since its under £190. Current (soon to be relegated to secondary) monitor is a Viewsonic VX922 that I got 3 PC's ago! - one before that was a CRT.
 
Still good chips. 2500/2600/2700K will do 4.5GHz all day long on auto settings just by changing multiplier- just stick a half-decent cooler on.

I'll have a rummage when I get home- pretty sure I have some 1600MHz DDR3 knocking about, at least 8gig, possibly 16... I would say tap me up, but let me check I still have it first...
 
Still using my 2600k but upgraded my ati 7950 to a 1080 gtx and dell 27” 1440p so gaming is mostly gpu bound, DDR4 prices is what’s stopping me from upgrading. My next upgrade will be Ryzen but probably in 6 months.
 
Still running a 2600K @4.0GHz (Never felt like i've needed more) with 16GB 1600MHz Ram and a GTX1070.
Never missed a beat and I play most of the latest released games.
 
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