CPU Question

[FireFox]

In the next 2 or 3 months I'm going to be getting a replacement CPU for my computer, the Core i3 is a little beast but I need/want something with a little more power and the two CPU's I have in mind is the Core i5-2500K or the Xeon E3-1230. I'm leaning onto the Xeon more because it is practically a Core i7 for a lot less (well depending on the day) but someone said it was stupid because they are meant for servers and bla bla bla.

 

I know they are the same just more rigerous testing (also he is a fucking moron) but would it actually be a wise move to go for a Xeon since I'm not bothered about OC'ing and want to retain my platform a little longer until Z107 is released with Skylake.

 

I found a Core i5-2500K for a little over £110 on eBay and the Xeon was around £160.

[Entropy]

No reason to go with the Xeon, if the i5 is cheaper. You're not going to notice much of a difference between the two, in games.

[AlwaysFSX]

No reason to go with the Xeon, if the i5 is cheaper. You're not going to notice much of a difference between the two, in games.

Xeon is essentially the same price, no reason to not buy it.

[FireFox]

Xeon is essentially the same price, no reason to not buy it.

 

I know that games aren't very good at utilising HT but I kind of want it and the cheapest Core i7-2600K I've seen is still £200 on eBay compared with the slightly slower clocked E3-1230 at £160 or so.

[flibberdipper]

If they're close to the same price (like $30 or something) get the Xeon.

[Syntaxvgm]

Xeon is essentially the same price, no reason to not buy it.

The xeon offers lower clock rates generally, and are not really overclockable. 

Now if that's not a concern, get a least a 2.5ghz xeon and you should be good to go. 

Id suggest an i7-920 instead though. Really cheap on ebay and OCs to 3.7-4.0ghz. Like 45$. Bam. Right there. 

[Enderman]

A xeon will make no difference in gaming...

If anything it will perform worse because of lover clock speeds and less overclocking.

The 2500k is a great CPU.

[skullbringer]

If they were the same price, Id say go for the Xeon, as it is just an i7, but cheaper and non-oc'able. But whether those extra 4 logical cores are worth 50 bucks, you need to decide for yourself.

[AlwaysFSX]

The xeon offers lower clock rates generally, and are not really overclockable. 

Now if that's not a concern, get a least a 2.5ghz xeon and you should be good to go. 

Id suggest an i7-920 instead though. Really cheap on ebay and OCs to 3.7-4.0ghz.

920 requires boats that aren't sold anymore. Xeons are clocked high enough to do the job great for games.

[FireFox]

The xeon offers lower clock rates generally, and are not really overclockable. 

Now if that's not a concern, get a least a 2.5ghz xeon and you should be good to go. 

Id suggest an i7-920 instead though. Really cheap on ebay and OCs to 3.7-4.0ghz. Like 45$. Bam. Right there. 

 

Would be nice but my board is LGA 1155 not LGA 1366

[Syntaxvgm]

Would be nice but my board is LGA 1155 not LGA 1366

oh already have a board? Well yah a xeon would work. but you'll still pay 150-180$ for it. VS a 2600k which is 225$ minimum, yah that'll save money. 

For 200$ is http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-i7-2600-3-4-GHz-Quad-Core-CM8062300834302-Processor-/271524782068?pt=CPUs&hash=item3f38235ff4

non overclockable, but 3.4ghz

[deviant88]

If you overclock get the 2500k obviously, else both should perform as good.

 

Im not expert but doesnt server platform require server memory? also both 2500k and xeon are kinda old 2011'ish will you even find motherboard for those.

Honestly £50 more for the xeon is not worth it.You didnt say what workloads you will be using so i vote 2500k with overclock at £110 best choice.

 

You say you want till skylake but we dont know when skylake will come on 14nm 1-2-3 years? if so for gaming and general computin the i5 2500k will last you long time since games dont really use more cpu power it stagnated past few years,only for professional apps you might need better cpu.

 

You should specifiy what you apps do you use or just gaming and multimedia stuff if you dont use stuff like video encoding/adobe aftereffects then i5 2500k best choice by far...

[Syntaxvgm]

If you overclock get the 2500k obviously, else both should perform as good.

 

Im not expert but doesnt server platform require server memory? also both 2500k and xeon are kinda old 2011'ish will you even find motherboard for those.

Honestly £50 more for the xeon is not worth it.You didnt say what workloads you will be using so i vote 2500k with overclock at £110 best choice.

 

You say you want till skylake but we dont know when skylake will come on 14nm 1-2-3 years? if so for gaming and general computin the i5 2500k will last you long time since games dont really use more cpu power it stagnated past few years,only for professional apps you might need better cpu.

 

You should specifiy what you apps do you use or just gaming and multimedia stuff if you dont use stuff like video encoding/adobe aftereffects then i5 2500k best choice by far...

That's entirely board dependent. If the board supports non ecc memory, you are go to go. 

And an i5 is no longer a good choice unless it saves a ton of money. More than 4 threads is becoming more common. 

[FireFox]

If you overclock get the 2500k obviously, else both should perform as good.

 

Im not expert but doesnt server platform require server memory? also both 2500k and xeon are kinda old 2011'ish will you even find motherboard for those.

Honestly £50 more for the xeon is not worth it.You didnt say what workloads you will be using so i vote 2500k with overclock at £110 best choice.

 

You say you want till skylake but we dont know when skylake will come on 14nm 1-2-3 years? if so for gaming and general computin the i5 2500k will last you long time since games dont really use more cpu power it stagnated past few years,only for professional apps you might need better cpu.

 

You should specifiy what you apps do you use or just gaming and multimedia stuff if you dont use stuff like video encoding/adobe aftereffects then i5 2500k best choice by far...

 

I've just come across another Core i5-2500K for £105 so to be honest I;ll probably go for that along with a half decent cooler. It is rumoured that Skylake is coming at sometime late next year unless it changes again.

 

To be honest, apart from playing BF3 my CPU isn't even being a problem but it is time for a little more horsepower

[deviant88]

I've just come across another Core i5-2500K for £105 so to be honest I;ll probably go for that along with a half decent cooler. It is rumoured that Skylake is coming at sometime late next year unless it changes again.

 

To be honest, apart from playing BF3 my CPU isn't even being a problem but it is time for a little more horsepower

 

In that case just get the 2500k, overclocking it will close any gap if any between it and the xeon's hyperthread which only gives advantage in few scenarios,since you want to upgrade in a year or 2 the cheapest makes sense here.

[FireFox]

In that case just get the 2500k, overclocking it will close any gap if any between it and the xeon's hyperthread which only gives advantage in few scenarios,since you want to upgrade in a year or 2 the cheapest makes sense here.

 

Yea agreed, the same guy also said I should look into a newer board but I have had no issues with my current board and Z68 is still pretty decent imo

[harrynowl]

I'd get an i5 2500K and overclock that beast

 

Xeons are all fine and good but for £50 difference you'll be very happy with an i5.