Upgrade System now?

[HardstyleHorse]

Hello guys,

 

So Let me first tell you, which system I'm currently "rocking":

 

- Cooler Master HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Big-Tower

 

- Corsair CMX8GX3M4A1600C9, 4x2GB, DDR3-1600

 

- Intel SSD 510 Series 120GB, SATA-3

 

- Intel DP67BGB3, Intel P67 B3, LGA1155

 

- Intel Core i7 2600K BOX, 3.4GHz, LGA 1155

 

- ZOTAC GTX-580 AMP! 1.5GB DDR5

 

I'm using this system now since three years and the question is: Should I upgrade already or wait till the end of the year, when Broadwell series comes out? 

 

Thanks for your help!

 

        - HardstyleHorse

[MegaDave91]

Broadwell is not coming out at the end of the year; it was delayed until next year this time.

[The Crazed Child]

That is a very good system regardless of the fact that it is Sandy Bridge based (2010).

Intel hasn't made a massive leap in processing power for a few years since AMD hasn't done anything groundbreaking, therefore making Intel lazy and uninnovative. See what Broadwell brings when it comes out, but upgrade your graphics card first. I still have an i7 2600 (non-K) and it's still a beast of a processor.

[H4X3R]

Wait for broadwell or skylake next year. The 2600K is still a very strong CPU.

[TheDigitalRealm]

I honestly don't think you need to upgrade your CPU, with a good Z77 motherboard and a decent CPU cooler that should easily reach 4.8 GHz with a safe voltage. If I were you I'd upgrade your GPU to whatever makes sense for you, and possibly pick up a good Z77 motherboard if you can find one. 

[SymphonyX7]

No need to upgrade, the difference between the Core i7-2600K and Core i7-4770K when gaming on high settings (where it's not CPU bound) is very, very small.

Check this article out. It compares the gaming performance of the i7-2600K, i7-3770K and i7-4770K, both stock and overclocked: http://www.ocaholic.ch/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1164&page=13
 

[HardstyleHorse]

Thank you for the answers! 

 

So the thing is, that I've never overclocked yet. Are there any simple Tutorials which you would recommend? Also if I do OC, do I need a watercooler for my CPU or does the be quiet! Dark Rock Advanced C1 still satisfy? 

 

And for which graphic card should I go for.. the Zotac GTX 780 AMP! seems alright, doesn't it? 

[SymphonyX7]

Thank you for the answers! 

 

So the thing is, that I've never overclocked yet. Are there any simple Tutorials which you would recommend? Also if I do OC, do I need a watercooler for my CPU or does the be quiet! Dark Rock Advanced C1 still satisfy? 

 

And for which graphic card should I go for.. the Zotac GTX 780 AMP! seems alright, doesn't it? 

The performance difference between a stock i7-2600K and an overclocked i7-4770K at 4.5 Ghz in gaming at high settings is 2.7%. It's not worth the hassle. The overclock would only be worth it if you have CPU intensive productivity apps. But in the event you overclock, your current CPU cooler is good enough to OC to 4.5 Ghz stable (depending on ambient temps and your CPU's affinity to OCing). Cooling on Sandy Bridge is much easier compared to Haswell.

As for graphics cards, go for at least an R9 290 ($399) or anything more expensive from either AMD or Nvidia. Your CPU won't bottleneck.

[HardstyleHorse]

The performance difference between a stock i7-2600K and an overclocked i7-4770K at 4.5 Ghz in gaming at high settings is 2.7%. It's not worth the hassle. The overclock would only be worth it if you have CPU intensive productivity apps. But in the event you overclock, your current CPU cooler is good enough to OC to 4.5 Ghz stable (depending on ambient temps and your CPU's affinity to OCing). Cooling on Sandy Bridge is much easier compared to Haswell.

As for graphics cards, go for at least an R9 290 ($399) or anything more expensive from either AMD or Nvidia. Your CPU won't bottleneck.

 

Alright, so you would recommend me to wait with the new Mainboard & CPU till next year around this time and for now just go with a new GPU? Also I think for my needs I don't need to OC my CPU. 

[SymphonyX7]

Alright, so you would recommend me to wait with the new Mainboard & CPU till next year around this time and for now just go with a new GPU? Also I think for my needs I don't need to OC my CPU. 

Don't get a new motherboard and CPU now. It'll be a waste unless you really need additional CPU performance. For gaming, the difference is very minimal and you will actually get more out of your i7-2600K compared to an i7-4770K in an apples-to-apples overclock because it's such a pain in the ass to overclock Haswell due to heat issues. Haswell might consume less power, but it produces more heat.

The best you could do is buy a new GPU. Personally, I wouldn't spend anything higher than a $399 R9 290 unless I'm playing at much higher resolutions. The $550 R9 290X and $700 GTX 780 Ti aren't significantly faster than the $400 R9 290. The money saved could be put towards your upgrade next year when Broadwell and the new GPUs from AMD and Nvidia are finally out.

[HardstyleHorse]

Don't get a new motherboard and CPU now. It'll be a waste unless you really need additional CPU performance. For gaming, the difference is very minimal and you will actually get more out of your i7-2600K compared to an i7-4770K in an apples-to-apples overclock because it's such a pain in the ass to overclock Haswell due to heat issues. Haswell might consume less power, but it produces more heat.

The best you could do is buy a new GPU. Personally, I wouldn't spend anything higher than a $399 R9 290 unless I'm playing at much higher resolutions. The $550 R9 290X and $700 GTX 780 Ti aren't significantly faster than the $400 R9 290. The money saved could be put towards your upgrade next year when Broadwell and the new GPUs from AMD and Nvidia are finally out.

 

As I'm not planning of upgrading my screen I surely will not go above an $400 investment. Apparantly, I've always used nVidia and was always very happy - also with the driver that they come with. So I would rather look for a GeForce than an AMD

[SymphonyX7]

As I'm not planning of upgrading my screen I surely will not go above an $400 investment. Apparantly, I've always used nVidia and was always very happy - also with the driver that they come with. So I would rather look for a GeForce than an AMD

Suit yourself, if you can't afford a GTX 780, you'll choke on a GTX 770 2 GB very soon. Just saying. Then again, you might upgrade anyway next year, so you can probably get by with the GTX 770, just barely, with everything turned up.

Blind loyalty benefits no one but the companies themselves. Buy from whoever offers the best value at the moment. And the R9 290 represents the best value at the moment. It's the new G92b (aka 8800 GT, 9800 GT and GTS 250).