New PC - Intel CPU Help.

[stórm]

Hi everyone,

 

I am doing a part list on PcPartPicker for my new PC and I am just wondering is it true that when building a gaming PC that you are much better off getting i5 over i7 in terms of value for performance?

 

If that is true then would getting an i7 instead of i5 mean I don't have to upgrade for longer than if I were to have an i5?

 

Thanks!

Stórm.

[VG Docs]

-snipe-

For gaming it really depends on the games you'll be playing. You could very well use that money to spend on a better graphics card instead.

If money isn't an issue, then yeah - the 4790k is probably the best and easiest way to go. 

However, for more budgeted builds, you have to do some sacrificing, usually in the CPU. Like I said though, it does depend on the games.

MMORPGs for example, are CPU hogs. Also keep in mind other software you may use, like video editors. If you're a huge MMORPG player and a video editor, then it's usually more beneficial to get a high end (i5 or i7) CPU paired with a mid range video card. However, for most other games (Most AAA titles you see out there), you'll gain more of a benefit from having a mid range or lower end CPU with a higher end GPU. 

However, answering your specific questions:

 

1. Assuming you have the cash, then yes - you're definitely better off getting an i5 or i7 for gaming in the long run (You also don't have to worry about your performance choking over time for the most part).

2. i7 will be better than an i5, however it's not as cost effective. Over time, an i5 will still be a beast for a long time. An i7 will last a bit longer, but probably not by a large amount. 

[Sakkura]

If that is true then would getting an i7 instead of i5 mean I don't have to upgrade for longer than if I were to have an i5?

 

That really depends on how games will be coded in the future, and how much of an impact the CPU optimizations of DirectX 12 (as well as Vulkan and Mantle) will have. It might last longer, or it might be a trivial difference like it is today.