re: PC Discussion - Gaming, Performance and Enthusiasts

The "Extreme/Enthusiast" platform has always used solder, but have a lower success rate with big overclocks.

quote:

---

Yes. Current build is based on a 3770k. I'm just itching to do a new build but I want a solid performance increase from it. Although I'd love to go out and just do a new build right now I want it to make (at least some) sense.

---

I am strongly considering making the jump to socket 2011-3 and sticking with the enthusiast platform (and upgrading CPU/mobo far less frequently).

Big issue is cost. The mobo/cpu combo is significantly pricier. There are no low-mid end options.

The enthusiast platform has 3 main options for consumer CPUs -- the lowest end usually matches the mainstream flagship i7 (3770k, 4770k, etc.) in both performance and cost (give or take 5%, depending on application), having the same number of cores with maybe a few extra perks (more l3 cache).

Second option is generally the preferred option -- extra physical cores, even more l2 and l3 cache, and price tag somewhere between $500 and $600 (e.g., 4930K).

Third option is the ridiculous X-branded CPU (e.g., 4960x). $1,000 for about a 5% gain over the second option.

However, Haswell-E is particularly interesting because their entry-level CPU (5820K) will have 6 cores instead of 4, 15MB L3, 3.3GHz base clock. Expected to cost 300-350. The next tier up is not much different in specs. Just a higher base clock (3.5Ghz). Pretty well matches the $1000 4960X in terms of specs, but likely to be the $500-600 option. The only 8-core i7 we'll see in Haswell-E is the 5960X, and I'm sure it will be $1,000 again.

The entry-level CPU is a much more attractive option this time, since the physical cores are the most important feature. The 200Mhz disparity is nothing. Wouldn't be surprised if both the 5930K and 5820K have similar frequency, voltage, and thermal walls in terms of overclocking, since they're obviously the same chip.

Looks like the focus is on making the flagship enthusiast CPU look more like a flagship, being the only i7 with 8 cores and therefore an actually attractive option for the wealthy extremists.

Still, even if you go with the entry-level CPU for $350, you're still spending $200 minimum on the motherboard (more realistically $250-300 on a newly released chipset if you want above-standard overclocking stability). Then there's the DDR4, which will also be brand new and therefore expensive. Take the price of a standard 2133MHz quad-channel DDR3 kit, and add 30-50% to that. So, if you make the jump to Haswell-E as an early adopter, it'll be around $800 for the 5820k, decent motherboard, and a 16GB quad-channel DDR4 kit. I think I'll wait a year.