Amd equivalent to an I7 4790k

[Swandzo]

I wanted to buy a used i7 4790k for around 180$ but i did some research and mostly people recommend buying an amd cpu instead of an intel one. Which one is close to the performance of an i7 4970k but is under 200$ used or new.

[Zando_]

An R5 2400G or 3400G OCed to 4.5-4.8GHz, a clock they cannot hit lol. 

Basically their 6 cores are a bit better (except for the new 3000 series, which is a lot better), their 4c/8t chips have the same IPC and lower clocks though so they're not really as fast. 

For under $200 you can get an R5 3600 though, which is about equal with a stock i7 8700K, much faster than a 4790K. You have a budget for the new motherboard and RAM you'll need too? 

[Mira Yurizaki]

Probably a Ryzen 5 1600 or 2600. Judging by what they get from https://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/2360?vs=2462 and https://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/2362?vs=2462

[martward]

I'd get a 3600. There really is no point buying into a dead platform if your paying that amount of money. If you buy an am4 processor you're getting more performance and an upgrade path. 

[Slayer3032]

The previous generation Ryzen 5 2600x with 2 cores and 4 threads chopped off of it would be about the closest thing to a 4790k you could get. I've seen them around $100. Alternatively, it would also be half of a 2700x which can be found under your price range as well. So if you're buying a used Intel cpu in that performance range, if you're paying anything more than $80-100 for that level of performance. You're getting ripped off.

https://www.amazon.com/AMD-Ryzen-Processor-Wraith-Cooler/dp/B07B428V2L

 

Unless you have a really nice high end Z97 board with really nice high end DDR3 memory already, you're wasting money on a platform that isn't worth it.

[Mister Woof]

2 hours ago, martward said:

I'd get a 3600. There really is no point buying into a dead platform if your paying that amount of money. If you buy an am4 processor you're getting more performance and an upgrade path. 

Agree, but upgrade path as a feature is a bit overemphasized.

 

Most people coming here are asking for upgrades on hardware that is around 7-10 years old, so one would presume their spending habits are more in line with a 3-4 generation upgrade schedule.

 

Upgrade path was hammered into everyone's face during the days of Zen1.....and while there are definitely improvements between 1st and 3rd generation, most of the people here aren't in the position or even inclined to pursue these upgrades. A user who is on a 4th gen i5 has already skipped nearly 6 years and 3 generations of CPUs. Upgrade path is not helpful to this user.

 

Secondly, many B350/X370 boards were very dubious in quality and is this "feature" is kind of a paper feature only. Additionally, people have pushed fast RAM being necessary for Ryzen to the point of it being a meme.....and first generation Zen boards don't really support those speeds anyway. And 4th gen on a 300-series? Maybe. Might be. But probably not going to count on it working well enough to skip just recommending a user spend an extra $90 to just get it right the first time with the new boards, with all the new features they have and compatibility. 

 

So one, upgrade path isn't for these users to begin with, and two, upgrade path doesn't really even pan out in practice.

 

Almost every scenario would be better served with modern boards at the time of upgrade vs. buying low end now with intent to upgrade later.

 

This is of course all predicated on the concept of buy the best you can afford, and never but with intent on upgrading. Because usually that always ends up costing you more in the long run.

 

If never recommend a "starter CPU" like a 2200g or an i3 with the intent going into it to just replace it later. 

 

Upgrade path is probably limited to those enthusiasts who seek "the newest best thing", but even then ....those are the users who are more likely to want a new motherboard anyway.

 

The only "good" thing "upgrade path" does in my opinion is saturate the used market so people can buy up everyone's used parts, or to buy up closeouts.

 

But, that's me.

[orbitalbuzzsaw]

Ryzen 5 2600 should be easy enough to find at that price. A good performing CPU. Good upgrade path and motherboards should be relatively cheap

[CPUguy101]

5 hours ago, Zando Bob said:

An R5 2400G or 3400G OCed to 4.5-4.8GHz, a clock they cannot hit lol. 

Basically their 6 cores are a bit better (except for the new 3000 series, which is a lot better), their 4c/8t chips have the same IPC and lower clocks though so they're not really as fast. 

For under $200 you can get an R5 3600 though, which is about equal with a stock i7 8700K, much faster than a 4790K. You have a budget for the new motherboard and RAM you'll need too? 

4790K is a good 15% weaker in terms of IPC compared to Zen 2 and about even with Zen+ if not still a bit better. 

 

Who's to even say he had it OC? You can find the Ryzen 1600 for 90$ on ebay and a 2600 for 120$, i'll note in any modern title the 2600 would eat the 4790K at 5Ghz alive. Just doesn't have  the amount of cores for modern gaming 

 

 

[Animal901]

5 hours ago, Swandzo said:

I wanted to buy a used i7 4790k for around 180$ but i did some research and mostly people recommend buying an amd cpu instead of an intel one. Which one is close to the performance of an i7 4970k but is under 200$ used or new.

No, you shouldn't be thinking of making a 4790k build at this point.  unless the cpu and board fall into your lap. You should already have had that built for a few years already. Everyone is gonna shove you into the amd corner, and you probably should unless you're concerned about resale value. Amd will never have resale value.

[martward]

6 hours ago, Plutosaurus said:

.

I agree that upgrade path should never be the primary concern, however it can be a tie-breaker when considering two more or less equal systems. I this case I think OP can get a R5 2600 for cheaper or a R5 3600 for the same amount of money wit the added bonus that, at least for the 2600, there will be a relatively cheap upgrade available later on when needed without having to switch platform. 

[Princess Luna]

Well the locked i7 4770 is pretty much a R5 1500X

[Tan3l6]

3500X in price comparison maybe?