4790k vs 4690k

[MayorPotatoSalad]

Trying to decide between the i7 4790k and the i5 4690k. Both have four cores and are unlocked so cores and clock speed aren't issues. But the higher end has 8mb of cache (compared to 5mb) and hyperthreading. I understand hyperthreading to an extent but the idea of cache is lost to me. Tried Techqickie but couldn't find an answer there.

 

With futureproofing in mind, does the difference between the two justify its far higher price tag?

[Jade]

Depends. What do you plan to do with it? If you're going to be doing rendering / video work, or streaming, the 4790k is arguably worth it, but the 4690k can stream more than adequately with QuickSync.

[Butterfish]

If you don't do heavy media work, go with the i5. It will last you a lot of years.

[VolkA]

If you are doing lots of content creation / rendering / video thingy = i7 4790K.

 

Mainly gaming and doing little / none content creation / rendering / video thingy = i5 4690K.

[Geekazoid]

If you are on a budget and want the performance of an i7 + HT without the cost of the i7 4790K, then the Intel Xeon E3-1231/1241 V3 are good options, however, you do loose the iGPU + QuickSync and the ability to overclock, but if you don't mine loosing those then they're a considerably less expensive option. Just some food for thought.

[Faceman]

If you have the money, and spending an extra $100 on CPU won't reduce the quality of components anywhere else in your build, then yes, get the i7 with looking towards the future.  That is not to say the i5 won't last a long time, because it will.  It really depends on your build as a whole, if you have the capital to spare, then I do this an i7 is not a terrible purchase looking towards the future.