Once Windows 10 is released I want to move from an AMD platform to an Intel one. My current specs are to the left. I will be keeping all my storage, as well as the sound card and GPU. Maybe the Mem (DDR3) too if its supported, but Im OK with upgrading that too. I'd like to ask for suggestions specifically for what Intel CPU/Socket is reasonably 'future-proof', though I realize that doesnt mean the same thing for Intel as it has for AMD (two socket changes in about five years). The Intel landscape is quite confusing in comparison. Once I know what CPU/Socket I need I can do the rest. Budget is about $500, though that is flexible with good reason. I use my machine mostly for gaming, so huge multi-threading probably isnt necessary.
It looks like this is the only real contender in my price range. Intel Core i5-4670K Haswell Quad-Core 3.4GHz LGA 1150 84W Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics BX80646I54670K Does it even make sense for me to upgrade?
Yeah you can keep the memory and run @ 2133mhz For future proofing, the best option would be Z170 LGA1151 Skylake cpus (Q3 2015), atm its only Z97 chipset, X99 looks more future proof, but here you would have to get new DDR4 too. e.g Z97 Cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117369 mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132412 total 499.99$ Imho i7 is worth it with 8threads, newer games can and will use more then 4 threads for sure:nerd:, 4core is now getting minimum like dual core was back in 2006.. X99 cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117402 mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130796 ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148860 total 775 or 690$ and get another 8gb later for proper quad channel http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148864
The i5-4690K should be like $10 more and will OC better. If you are waiting until Windows 10 to make the purchase, Broadwell CPUs should be out. They use the same socket as the Haswells (Intel uses the same socket for 2 generations then makes a new one) and will allow you to keep your DDR3 if you choose or move to DDR4 (depending on your choice in mobo). However Skylake may be out by then if Intel sticks to their timeline. In which case that may be the better option. But you will have no choice but to get DDR4 memory at that point.
Hmm... Tempting combo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128752 ETA: Bleh. Mem drives it up to $800. That is in the wife aggro zone.
Yeah those Haswell-Es only support DDR4 and the motherboards are not cheap. Try something like this: i7-4790k -$340 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117369 ASRock Z97 - $130 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157501 That puts you at $470 and lets you reuse your RAM. Not sure if you have a cooler, but I would recommend this: CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO - $35 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...sp=Cat-Fans-PC-Cooling_1-_-Pillars-_-212EVO_1
I have a closed loop water cooler in my rig now. Forget the exact model, but its probably compatible.
I'm more of a fan of MSI's mobos if anything, sure I've been all over the map... Foxconn, ASUS, Gigabyte, but it just seems to me that MSI seems to be a contender. MSI Z97-Gaming 5 ($148): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...cm_re=msi_gaming_5_z97-_-13-130-770-_-Product Intel i7-4790K ($330): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...9&cm_re=Intel_i7_4790k-_-19-117-369-_-Product Total $478, which is rather doable, I'd say.