Gaming & Workstation in one

[TheWhiteKnyt]

My current setup:

• 8700k
• 1080ti
• 32GB, 3200
• PCIe SSD for boot & programs
• Sata SSD for working files & games

This is fantastic setup for gaming. I use a 1440 ultrawide at a fairly solid 100fps. There are some cpu intensive games out there it can struggle with a bit though. My CAD & rendering work is where it definitely suffers. The GPU is just fine (my cad software prefers GTX), though the cpu needs help. I’m moving the pc into a rack case and changing out the current itx mobo for atx as I need additional pcie slots to add a capture card for work purposes. Since I’m buying a new mobo I want to consider if it’s worth switching platforms entirely.

 

A couple of notes:

• The capture card is 2.0 X4 so Ryzen and obviously TP would handle this without sacrificing GPU lanes. That said, I’ve seen the X8 vs X16 benchmarks so I’m not really concerned about this.
• I would really hate to sacrifice what’s currently a great gaming experience, but I’d be happy to trade a small loss for an improvement in work tasks.
• I will be over clocking 

 

So here’s the things I’m considering and my current understanding. Costs include what I would expect to pay out the door after selling current gear and buying required supporting gear:

• 1920x (~$325) seems like big workstation gain and big gaming loss for something that will also require replacing my current dual channel ram and lower my speed from 3200 to 2666.
• 1950x (~$500) bigger workstation gain, bigger gaming loss, more $$ 
• 2700x (~$150) decent workstation gain, small gaming loss. Not much $$ after selling my current cpu (used 8700k sells for same as a new 2700x)
• 9900k (~$350) solid gains all around, more so as workstation. 
• 8700k (~$125) just keep what I’ve got and get a new

One note on the 2700x, the third gen R7’s look killer so I could easily upgrade and keep its mobo. The 3850x’s leaked specs show twice the core/thread count and basically the same clock as the 9900k, but for the same price. 16/32 and 4.3 base, 5.1 turbo for under $500 sounds like my dream cpu. Then again if I did go with a 9900k now and it fit the bill, I wouldn’t see a reason to upgrade when those launch. 

 

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

 

 

 

[SupaKomputa]

GPU only used 8x max, there's no GPU that utilized full x16 yet.

So it will run well if there's only x8.

That x4 card will run just fine on your system, no need to upgrade.

8700k is still fantastic.

[GoldenLag]

Threadripper 1950x. just for that Zen 2/Zen 3(2+) upgrade path. 

 

while you have some gaming loss it is still a very capable CPU for gaming. 

[Cereal5]

Just wait for Zen 2 to come out. You can get your 16 cores on mainstream if you really want it then.

[SupaKomputa]

49 minutes ago, GoldenLag said:

Threadripper 1950x. just for that Zen 2/Zen 3(2+) upgrade path. 

 

while you have some gaming loss it is still a very capable CPU for gaming. 

I won't get a threadripper right now, Zen 2 chips may eclipse it.

Just wait and see.

[GoldenLag]

40 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

I won't get a threadripper right now, Zen 2 chips may eclipse it.

Just wait and see.

Indeed, though Zen 2 chips in TR will eclipse that again