Z97 or X99

[H4X3R]

I will have a budget of only 2500 euros (about 2800$ in terms of pc parts) as i am going to be 16 years old this may, and i cannot decide whether to get a 6 core or 4 core i7. I'll be editing video, gaming AND using it as a home (cloud) server with multiple hard drives. The 2500 euros includes ALL parts of the computer (monitor, mouse, etc.). Also, does anyone have an idea of when the gtx 800 series will be released (i ask this due to the recent issue with TSCM)? 
I am looking to game on a 2K monitor, so could someone recommend me a sub 450$ / 400 euro 2K monitor, preferabbly 120hz.

The main reason i have a hard time deciding is the fact that X99 will support DDR4 while Z97 will not as well as the fact that Z97, the mainstream platform, STILL won't have a 6 core option (i have based this assumption on recent leaks).

Also, does anyone know the price of DDR4 at launch? (i assume it will be about 200$ for a 16GB kit).

 

It would also be nice to have a pros and cons list of Z97 and X99. I am planning to keep this build for the next 5 - 6 years.

[ericlee30]

If you do alot of video editing, such as professionally , the X99, but if you do it more on your spare time and do more gaming the Z97 is the way to go.

[Shd0w2]

I bet it will be more than $200 for a 16gb kit of DDR4 considering a nice kit of DDR3 is $200 for 16gb

[Toxic Tom]

You are going to have a very long wait for the GTX 800 series, also, by 2K do you mean 1080p? Or perhaps you mean 2.5K?

[jezza39]

I bet it will be more than $200 for a 16gb kit of DDR4 considering a nice kit of DDR3 is $200 for 16gb

Yep, memory has skyrocketed + early adopter tax. Tbh, DDR4 is nothing special, slightly higher bandwidth (2133+) to go with higher latencies (11+) mean small improvement benefits for the large large majority of users.

 

If you do alot of video editing, such as professionally , the X99, but if you do it more on your spare time and do more gaming the Z97 is the way to go.

I would go so far to say that video editing is fine on an i7 Quad + HT, the %35 more performace gained will probably cost you an extra 100% (or double) so I really think that isn't worth it unless you do so professionally like you said and have extra cash to burn. Look how many people edit videos professionally on iMacs with i7-4770 (non K) and a 680MX GPU.

[H4X3R]

By 2K i mean 2560 x 1440 , so yes, 2.5K but it is mostly referred to as 2K.

I can find a "nice" 16GB kit for under $130 right now so i think 200$ is a pretty good estimate.

If i do decide to go with Z97, i will most likely get a 32GB kit as that will be the norm (or under the norm) in about 5 years time (i am assuming this) as the highest density DDR4 kit at time of release will be 16GB and will evetually be 32GB on 1 stick.

As some games and programs are already starting to utilize more than 4 cores i think it would be a good choice to go with a 6 core processor (more "future proofing")

 

 

 

I would go so far to say that video editing is fine on an i7 Quad + HT, the %35 more performace gained will probably cost you an extra 100% (or double) so I really think that isn't worth it unless you do so professionally like you said and have extra cash to burn. Look how many people edit videos professionally on iMacs with i7-4770 (non K) and a 680MX GPU.

 

The people who use iMacs have no clue as to how powerful an equivalently expensive PC can be.

I do agree with you that price : performance wise Z97 would be the better option, but i fear that 4 cores would be too little, even with hyperthreading, to last me 6 years.

 

Sources:

http://www.crucial.com/promo/DDR4.aspx

[WoodenMarker]

Neither are even available. Plan later.

It's probably also better to spend less, get what you need and upgrade more often later. 5-6 years is a long time to go without upgrades considering how quickly tech advances.

[-iSynthesis]

No reason to go X99 for gaming, if your doing heavy and i mean REALLY heavy video editing, go for X99 or any x socket for that matter

[-iSynthesis]

By 2K i mean 2560 x 1440 , so yes, 2.5K but it is mostly referred to as 2K.

I can find a "nice" 16GB kit for under $130 right now so i think 200$ is a pretty good estimate.

If i do decide to go with Z97, i will most likely get a 32GB kit as that will be the norm (or under the norm) in about 5 years time (i am assuming this) as the highest density DDR4 kit at time of release will be 16GB and will evetually be 32GB on 1 stick.

As some games and programs are already starting to utilize more than 4 cores i think it would be a good choice to go with a 6 core processor (more "future proofing")

 

 

The people who use iMacs have no clue as to how powerful an equivalently expensive PC can be.

I do agree with you that price : performance wise Z97 would be the better option, but i fear that 4 cores would be too little, even with hyperthreading, to last me 6 years.

 

Sources:

http://www.crucial.com/promo/DDR4.aspx

Well, 4 cores and 8 threads are incredibly powerfull. Even for rendering, you can use your gpu for that though. For gaming, 4 cores isnt even standart yet and many games can still be run by a dual core cpu.

[H4X3R]

Well, 4 cores and 8 threads are incredibly powerfull. Even for rendering, you can use your gpu for that though. For gaming, 4 cores isnt even standart yet and many games can still be run by a dual core cpu.

 

 

Due to the current replies which i have received i have decided to NOT get X99.

But now another question arises: Should i get haswell refresh or wait for broadwell? I know most of the pros of waiting (DDR4, perhaps pci e gen 4.0, more sata express?, perhaps a 6 core i7 broadwell variant?)

I will make a new post on this question.