X99 vs z97

[Guest]

I'm currently in the process of upgrading my rig before I go off to college. I'll be studying engineering and would like this pc to get me through the next four years. I understand there is no such thing as truly future proof. I'll be using the Micro ATX (or possibly MITX if I go Z97) form factor so that complicates things a bit.

 

I have a microcenter really close by, so I can get an i7-4970k for $280 or an i7-5820k for $300. First thought is there's no reason not to go to x99.

On the motherboard side the Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 looks good at ~$130, but the x99 motherboards are much more expensive at around $250 for the Gigabyte GA-X99M-GAMING 5. If anybody has cheaper but still good motherboard recommendations for either platform in the MATX form factor I'm all ears. I've used solely Asus previously but have no problem looking at other brands.

If I do go X99 I'll also need DDR4 which will add at least $100 for 8GB to the cost, also I'll need to replace my water block which does not have LGA2011 support so that's at least another $60.

 

So in the end the Z97 platform will cost ~$420 and X99 will be about $200 more if I sell my current DDR3 RAM to pay for the new DDR4.

 

So will the X99 platform have a much noticeable difference in uses such as CAD or Software Development?

 

Thanks!

[Tedster]

I personally think you'd be better off with Z97 and saving for the time you have to next upgrade.

[Thebman712]

more cores will last you longer, you are making a 4 year investment, is a extra 200$ now going to be more later when you want more performance.

 

the extra two cores will help you like hell. also since its matx, you can add another gpu when you need it

[79wjd]

more cores will last you longer, you are making a 4 year investment, is a extra 200$ now going to be more later when you want more performance.

the extra two cores will help you like hell. also since its matx, you can add another gpu when you need it

while this is true, by the time the cores are really useful, hexacores could be on the mainstream platform....so it really depends what kind of cad work -- going with a 4790k and then upgrading to a hexacores on z370 might be better.

[Thebman712]

while this is true, by the time the cores are really useful, hexacores could be on the mainstream platform....so it really depends what kind of cad work -- going with a 4790k and then upgrading to a hexacores on z370 might be better.

well the thing is hes already doing cad, as a engineer

 

its only 200$ now

[Real_PhillBert]

well the thing is hes already doing cad, as a engineer

 

its only 200$ now

I made it through engineering school with an old AMD Phenom II X2. You really dont to any intensive cad work in engineering school, its more about the concepts.

 

I vote you save the money and go Z97.

[JoaoPRSousa]

If you have the money and want it to last 4 years, go with X99.

[Guest]

Thanks guys!

If it helps E.E. will most likely be my major, so that's mostly 2D cad, but I am also considering minoring in Mech E which is heavy 3D Cad.

[79wjd]

well the thing is hes already doing cad, as a engineer

its only 200$ now

I know, but it still depends what kind of cad work/time constraints/other....it's like video rendering, even if you can afford a 5960x it doesn't always make sense -- if say the person only makes a video or two a week, in which case a 4790k would still be able to render everything just fine in a timely enough manner.

[Guest]

Is there any info on whether or not Z97 will support the next generation of mainstream chips?

[79wjd]

Is there any info on whether or not Z97 will support the next generation of mainstream chips?

broadwell, yes; skylake, no.

But k wouldn't worry about either one as broadwell is barely faster (just a better igpu and efficiency) while skylake is a bigger improvement, but still not huge (probably).

[Geekazoid]

I made it through engineering school with an old AMD Phenom II X2. You really dont to any intensive cad work in engineering school, its more about the concepts.

 

I vote you save the money and go Z97.

The REAL PhillBert has spoken.

[Guest]

Alright Cool, and I assume X99 will be around for a while like X79 was?

[79wjd]

Alright Cool, and I assume X99 will be around for a while like X79 was?

no one knows. (Intel hasn't officially said anything -- and I don't believe anyone has actually said something for that matter)

[Sauron]

z97 would be the sensible choice. As you said, there's no such thing as futureproof. Besides, a 4790k is more than enough for most tasks, including CAD if you aren't a professional.

[Guest]

Just found out my block is in fact compatible with 2011, and I've also looked into the $230 EVGA X99M and it seems just as good as the Gigabyte, so that would bring the total cost to only about $120 more than Z97, that seems much more appealing to me, though I'm still not sure it's worth it.