Should I buy new CPU or Overclock?

[Mr Arky]

What would you do, is it worth it?

Should I buy this CPU:

1 x Intel Core i7-3770K 3.50GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £239.99




and I guess I could overclock that if i needed to,

or should I stick to what I have which is:

1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £167.99



And overclock that.

Cooler wise was looking at this one, but not sure if it would be worth getting a watercooler.

1 x Alpenföhn K2 Mount Doom CPU Cooler £49.99




Im looking at Running watch dogs on on Ultra, as I'm getting a new GPU but the specs for ultra says an i7-4770k for the processor.

The last thing I want to do is spend money out on upgrading and find Im lagging

Also I have not overclocked CPU before, I know how to I guess since Ive looked at guides of it being done in the bios.

Would like to know whats best for long term, as I can always sell my CPU, but would I notice the difference?

Thanks

 

[Martini1991]

You need a new board for that CPU.
I'd stick with what you have till Watchdogs, it's only this month.

 

[Mr Arky]

I have this mobo

1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £76.99



I would need to upgrade the motherboard when going from i5 to i7?

 

[Martini1991]

No, you've chosen a socket 1150 CPU ; 4770K.
Your upgrade would be to the 3770K which is socket 1155 and would work on your board.

What GPU are you upgrading to? I'd just get the GPU and hangfire on the CPU upgrade till you play Watchdogs.

 

[JamesM]

Yes if you choose the 4770k you'll need a new motherboard.

Could try and find a 3770k if you wanted another CPU without changing motherboard.

Personally if you have a single GPU i'd stick with what you have and just overclock.

 

[Mr Arky]

Aaaah I gotcha sorry my bad, Ive Edited the cpu now, and its the 780ti http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-236-EA

I will probably then wait and see how it goes with watch dogs, guess its better not to rush into things.

 

[~>Dg<~]

your fine the game will be **** any way.

 

[Mr Arky]

your fine the game will be **** any way.

LOL noted

I guess its for future titles aswell

 

[matt_fsr]

To be honest, I'm a little confused as to why the game suggests you need a i7 for 'Ultra' settings, unless they are being completely bribed by Intel.

Check some benchmarks - clock for clock speed, the i5 and i7 same generation CPU's perform within 1% - 2% of each other in almost every game.

The i7's are better for running virtual machines, and perform better in certain other tasks due to Hyperthreading, but for gaming the i7 seems to be nothing other than e-peen, you'd be far better off spending the difference on a better GPU!

 

[Stuen4y]

To be honest, I'm a little confused as to why the game suggests you need a i7 for 'Ultra' settings, unless they are being completely bribed by Intel.

Check some benchmarks - clock for clock speed, the i5 and i7 same generation CPU's perform within 1% - 2% of each other in almost every game.

The i7's are better for running virtual machines, and perform better in certain other tasks due to Hyperthreading, but for gaming the i7 seems to be nothing other than e-peen, you'd be far better off spending the difference on a better GPU!

The answer is included in the question. The difference between i7 with HT on and i5 is more or less 0. Sometimes there is 1-2% difference but for gaming the 4 core without HT is plentiful.
I do not think the question "should I overclock" is adequate at all. Of course you should overclock. For cooler get something like Alpenfoehn Matterhorn Pure or some other single tower 6 pipe cooler, preferably from Thermalright. You do not need dual tower cooler for Ivy Bridge, let alone for an i5.