Where to go from 2500k

Skidder · 10 Oct 2017 at 13:15

I need to build a new system. I will keep my existing as a secondary PC so need to spec everything but thought I would start here.

Starting off with the processor and mobo, I tend these days to go for solid middle ground that will give performance without paying a fortune for a few extra FPS. Main usage is work PC but I do game (less than I would like) and will be doing VR sometime in the coming couple of months.

My outgoing processor is 2500k which has been happily and pretty heavily over-clocked. My previous was Q6600. I tend to keep a spec for a long while and do likely to ring reasonable performance out of it but my days of willy waving benchmarks are over, so real world is important. I like over-clocking but in a set and forgot way rather than a constant tweaking way (although happy to put some initial effort in). It will be air cooled whatever I go for.

I am out of the loop what should I be buying? It's a business computer first and foremost so no set budget but I want the sweet spot in terms of performance and value.

I am not wed to either manufacturer and can wait a month if it helps stock wise.

Any input for processor, mobo and air cooling much appreciated, thank you! What is that price / performance sweet spot these days?

DragonQ · 10 Oct 2017 at 13:26

Skidder said:
Starting off with the processor and mobo, I tend these days to go for solid middle ground that will give performance without paying a fortune for a few extra FPS.

Sounds like you want AMD's Ryzen. To know for sure you should probably list some applications you actually use though.

Skidder said:
Any input for processor, mobo and air cooling much appreciated, thank you! What is that price / performance sweet spot these days?

R5 1600(X) for under £200 is probably the best bang-for-buck CPU right now. The i5-8400 would compete with it (particularly in lighter threaded workloads) if it, and non-Z motherboards, were readily available. Under that you're looking at Pentium G4560 for ~£60, R3 1200 for ~£90, or R5 1500X for ~£150. Above that you're looking at R7 1700 for ~£260 or i7-8700K for nearly £400 (should drop to ~£325 if there is ever reliable stock). Note that all Ryzen CPUs are unlocked if you're into overclocking, but they max out at 4.0-4.1 GHz.

Skidder · 10 Oct 2017 at 13:51

Thanks most usage is Microsoft office and bit of Photoshop but I play FPS (or at least did, my 6950 is ancient).

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 10 Oct 2017 at 13:55

Skidder said:
Thanks most usage is Microsoft office and bit of Photoshop but I play FPS (or at least did, my 6950 is ancient).

If you keep your CPUs for a long time I would suggest going with the AMD Ryzen 5 1600,especially since I can see newer engines threading better and more software doing the same(that is my personal view). Also AMD on average(not always) tend to keep their sockets around longer,and the current Coffeelake Z370 chipset looks more of a stopgap.

SiDeards73 · 10 Oct 2017 at 13:59

+1 for the Ryzen 1600, you'll get 6c/12t with more than capable gaming performance and great productivity performance, some future proofing in core count and a motherboard that will likely allow you to do a simple processor upgrade in the future.

Skidder · 10 Oct 2017 at 14:09

Sounds like good advice. thank you both. Haven't had AMD since an FX53 I think it was. That was a beast at the time.

Scougar · 10 Oct 2017 at 14:45

According to some people on the forum, all you need to do is overclock the nuts off your 2500k and you won't need a new CPU for at least another few years......

My opinion.... there are features introduced that make the upgrade worthwhile, and the benefit of having more than 4 cores is definitely a big bonus.

Skidder · 10 Oct 2017 at 14:50

To be fair it is going strong and not really limiting me at the moment. My GPU which is a 6950 unlocked to 6970 is the limiting factor but we have two PCs, one for in the house and the kids and the other in my office. My basic one in the house has packed in and is an all in one so near impossible to work with so an opportunity to move my office one inside and go for all new.

JamieH · 10 Oct 2017 at 15:05

As far as your cooling question goes, I bought a Noctua NH-D15 about a year a go and it's an absolutely fantastic cooler. Highly recommend that for your CPU.

~>Dg<~ · 10 Oct 2017 at 15:53

get a newer gpu and see how you go.some people will use 2500ks till the planet explodes.you can get triple the performance of even a high ocd 2500k but people still say there is no difference. look at the new coffeelake cpus if you go that route. miles in front for gaming.check the benchmarks.

Scougar · 10 Oct 2017 at 16:15

~>Dg<~ said:
get a newer gpu and see how you go.some people will use 2500ks till the planet explodes.you can get triple the performance of even a high ocd 2500k but people still say there is no difference. look at the new coffeelake cpus if you go that route. miles in front for gaming.check the benchmarks.

Kinda agree. A new GPU will get more FPS than a new CPU.

SiDeards73 · 10 Oct 2017 at 16:24

~>Dg<~ said:
get a newer gpu and see how you go.some people will use 2500ks till the planet explodes.you can get triple the performance of even a high ocd 2500k but people still say there is no difference. look at the new coffeelake cpus if you go that route. miles in front for gaming.check the benchmarks.

Your totally missing his point, he has 2 PC's, one has packed up, so he wants to move his 2500k build to replace the packed up one and build a new one, the old PC was the kids PC, his 2500K is his office PC, he is replacing his kids PC with the 2500K, so thus needs an office PC which he will occasionally game on, but primarily will be work, but wants the best price to performance ratio.

Just mentioning Price to Performance almost nullifies anything Intel has right now tbh, most people are recommending a Ryzen 1600 and your telling him he needs a new Coffeelake CPU? and Scougar is saying get a GPU? i think people have misread his initial question, seen people say "Get a Ryzen" and automatically pulled out the "intel is better" or "Upgrade your GPU For gaming" cards... all missing the point

TallPaul1878 · 10 Oct 2017 at 16:34

If you are happy waiting for the new Intel i5 chips to come in stock then that wouldn't be a bad move. The i5 8400 is getting rave reviews

Right now a Ryzen R5 1600 would be a great purchase too, that was considered the previous gen i5 killer and is what has forced Intel to respond in the first place.

Skidder · 10 Oct 2017 at 17:12

Do you still need K to overclock with intel or is that a thing of the past?

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 10 Oct 2017 at 17:15

Skidder said:
Do you still need K to overclock with intel or is that a thing of the past?

There was a "bug" which allowed you to get around needing a K series to overclock with Skylake but Intel has "fixed" that,so yes you still need a K series CPU to overclock.

Nelly · 10 Oct 2017 at 17:29

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
There was a "bug" which allowed you to get around needing a K series to overclock with Skylake but Intel has "fixed" that,so yes you still need a K series CPU to overclock.

I'm guessing this is just Asus with marketing crap?

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/PRIME-Z370-A/

Skidder said:
Sounds like good advice. thank you both. Haven't had AMD since an FX53 I think it was. That was a beast at the time.

Good chip, I had my AMD FX-53 clocked to FX-57 speeds. All the people moaning like peasants about CPU prices these days, that chip cost me around £500 back in 2003, lasted a good 4+ years though lol.

jigger · 10 Oct 2017 at 17:31

Nelly said:
I'm guessing this is just Asus with marketing crap?

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/PRIME-Z370-A/

Good chip, I had my AMD FX-53 clocked to FX-57 speeds. All the people moaning like peasants about CPU prices these days, that chip cost me around £500 back in 2003, lasted a good 4+ years though lol.

But 3700+

imginy · 10 Oct 2017 at 17:34

Skidder said:
Do you still need K to overclock with intel or is that a thing of the past?

You do but the new 6 core 8400 that just came out is plenty fast enough without overclocking and is £100 cheaper than the unlocked k one and comes with cooler.

jigger · 10 Oct 2017 at 17:35

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
There was a "bug" which allowed you to get around needing a K series to overclock with Skylake but Intel has "fixed" that,so yes you still need a K series CPU to overclock.

I managed to reintroduce the bug.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 10 Oct 2017 at 18:05

Nelly said:
I'm guessing this is just Asus with marketing crap?

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/PRIME-Z370-A/

BCLK overclocking was doable on a range of motherboards,hence places like OcUK offering Core i5 6400 bundles. However with Kaby Lake they cracked down on it - the few motherboards which can still do it require an external clock generator and that motherboard is £175.

However,have you noticed the lack of overclocked Core i5 8400 reviews,ie,anything really past 4GHZ.

So whats the point?? You might as well get a Core i5 8600K and a cheaper motherboard.

Plus we have no clue how well Intel is binning these,especially with the K series SKUs being so rare which would hint Intel is binning these CPUs for sale from the normal stock.

Have you noticed they only have tested a Core i7 8700K too??

Hence for all intents and purposes,the situation has not changed since Kaby Lake.