Skylake vs Broadwell - any new features?

[h4rm0ny]

I'm currently on an FX-8350 and wanting to upgrade. I would like to wait and see what Zen is like but I doubt I'm willing to delay that long so.... I need lots of processing power for VMs and database work. I'm looking at a 5820K. I don't normally buy a generation behind, but I just don't see a lot of extra in the 6870 - faster but fewer cores and expensive. Is there anything more than just the processing power to consider - any new features that are useful or might be in the future? Thanks for any help.

 

[h4rm0ny]

Thanks both, especially Phemo. I had for ages though that 4 == Haswell and 5 == Broadwell. Many formerly confusing conversations become clear.

Well I guess that the 5820K makes the most sense, then. Would be great to go up to the 8-core version but it's just way too much money. Will be an upgrade from an 8350 regardless.

 

[h4rm0ny]

If you want a mutli GPU setup I'd go with 5930k if you're just looking at a single GPU 5820k.

Skylake - E? a year away? meh.
Skylake now? 16 PCIe lanes? No thank you.

If you install a GPU and an M.2 Drive on Skylake you get 8x performance on both.

Skylake as is is not a Gaming platform, given that you can't use a Multi GPU setup at full capacity, or even use a single GPU and an PCIe SSD.

Wait, what? Okay - this is why people like me need to post threads in places like this. 16 PCIe lanes? That's no good! I'm actually not much of a gamer, but when prices on PCIe SSDs start coming down to sane levels, I will want a couple for work purposes (database and VM stuff). If I hadn't already made up my mind to get the 5820K then that would have done it.

Incidentally, here is my provisional order if anyone is interested.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-546-IN
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-523-GI
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-445-CS (2x for 32GB)

Total: £761.95 inc. VAT.

Btw, I looked for 8GB Quad-Channel DDR4 sticks and couldn't see any (but may have missed them). Am I right in thinking that you wouldn't get quad-channel in a two-stick set but only in a four-stick pack? Because that seemed to be what was available. Quad Channel is worth it over Dual Channel?