Where to go from i7-2600k?

neil_g

neil_g

neil_g

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Been running an i7-2600k (oc on air) based system for some time now and starting to think about upgrades. While still pretty capable it's under some pretty high load in Lightroom and Photoshop also gaming.

So I am starting to think of upgrades to try and get a bit more performance overhead and also so the whole thing runs a bit cooler, as it's at high load the thing is like a space heater..

Without spending too much (and being able to use the sale value of the current parts) I guess the best bang for buck over the 2600k is the 4th gen i7? Want to switch up from m-ATX to full ATX too.

Current spec:

i7-2600k
ASUS P8P67-M Pro
Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3 1600 (4x4gb)
EVGA 780ti SC ACX (Arctic Accelero IV)
 
the CPU is clocked to 4.6.

replacing just the GPU isn't going to help with Lightroom and Photoshop though.
 
The 2600k is a great CPU, I went from a 2600k to a 5960x which was for me a great move, but the 2600k is plenty good enough. Like already said the 980ti is a great card as is the new 1070/1080 so just adding one of them would do wonders. The 2600k should be fine for Photoshop and stuff, if you really must buy new gear then you would want to be looking at X99.
 
yeah like i say it works okay, but it runs 80-100% and chucks out a tonne of heat.

this time of year its a nightmare trying to keep it cool and you end up crashing a lot.
 
I have my old 2600k in my 2nd system still and I think it has an older Corsair H80 with 2 Gentle Typhoons and overclock at 4.8ghz similar to yours, but the temps are always really good. What CPU cooler do you have on that Neil?
 
Got a 2700k at 4.8ghz under a Corsair h100i and have no problems with heat or noise. I'd just slap some decent cooling on what you've got.

I'm a heavy Lightroom user and haven't found it slow enough to justify an upgrade, will be looking for at least 6 cores/12 threads next.
 
easily hits +80c under load (both CPU and GPU). currently plodding along at 20% cpu usage and 50c.

case cooling got 3x 12cm in and 1x 14cm out controlled by Aquaero in a Corsair 540. CPU cooler is a Noctua NH-U9B SE2 but can't go much bigger or it'll interfere with the Arctic GPU back plate/mounting hardware.
 
1.44 is high, I would want to be seeing that around the 1.3v mark for 24/7, try lowering the voltage and lowering the overclock a little and see if that helps. You are not using software to overclock are you? if so you need to change that.I run 1.32v for 4.8ghz on my old system, just checked it, my son plays on my old PC.
 
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i Run a i7 2600 and even at 100% load i rarely hit 60 degrees, your temps seem a bit high even for a 4.6 overclock.

Maybe you could try a new CPU cooler and a new GPU? What ram do you have?
 
AdamScott85 said:
1.44 is high, I would want to be seeing that around the 1.3v mark for 24/7, try lowering the voltage and lowering the overclock a little and see if that helps. You are not using software to overclock are you? if so you need to change that.I run 1.32v for 4.8ghz on my old system, just checked it, my son plays on my old PC.
Click to expand...

It'll be the bios that's managing the voltage, if I remember rightly. Followed a guide for this board way back and haven't changed anything for years.
 
Take your LLC down one notch and see if that does it. I have almost exactly the same board.

Or post some pics up of your bios settings and we can advise.
 
You're only going to see a small increase in performance going from a 2600k to the current gen i7.

Maybe one of the 6 core E series chips if you need more number crunching capability.

For gaming, I wouldn't bother changing a 2600k for another couple of years at least.
 
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