Should I overclock a CPU?

[UWonTakeMeAlive]

Hey, guys. I've finally got the chance to build my own PC. I already have the money but now I'm worried that I might not be spending my money well...

See... this is the system I wanted to build from the begining:

 

• Intel Core i5-4690K
• Asus Strix GeForce GTX 980 4GB
• Kingston HyperX 8GB DDR3 RAM
• Gigabyte GA-Z97MX
• Noctua NH-U12S
• EVGA 600W B1

The rest are just extras...

 

But what I really wanted to ask is that is it worth it to spend more money on the K CPU and the Overclocking ready motherboard? I could save money if I decided to buy a non free CPU and a motherboard without OC potential. 

 

I'll be using my computer for gaming, of course, titles like BF4, Skyrim, Far Cry 4 and AAA titles on 1080p. I'll also be using it for college. I'm studying engineering and some of the programs I'll be using are AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla, and construction programs that sometimes requiere demandig hardware. With this said, is it worth it to buy the K CPU and overclock it or should I stay with the i5-4690?

 

Also, if someone has a system that can run the things that I've mentioned with kind of the same budget, it will be well apreciated .

[byalexandr]

No, you really want the overclocking. Even if you don't use it, you know you can if you wanted to. Trust me, I have had locked CPUs in the past and I regretted not getting the processor that was only $10 or $20 more just so I could OC.

[BrianS]

The i5 will do alright with the rendering programs. Overclocking isn't going to make up that on the lack of cores/hyperthreading. An x99 build would work much better with it though. There has been no difference shown in x99 builds and z97 builds in gaming so you are not losing anything on that front and you will run the rendering programs with ease. 

[Jlryan]

Right now that system will be fine without an overclock, but 5 years down the line, newer technology will be out, GPU's will be faster and you may need an overclock to compensate for that increase in performance to avoid bottlenecks.

 

That said though, you'd likely upgrade the platform around then anyway so it's up to you.

 

If you want to save money and spend it on something else, going with a non-k variant will still perform great without overclocking. With the added benefit of being cooler, quieter, and not consuming as much power.

 

Heck, I was using a dual core Celeron earlier today and barely noticed a difference between that and my i7 under normal tasks...

 

EDIT:

 

Actually, I'd look into the Xeon series, Quad core with HT, and not much more than an i5.

[OuchMyFaceyHole]

The i5 will do alright with the rendering programs. Overclocking isn't going to make up that on the lack of cores/hyperthreading. An x99 build would work much better with it though. There has been no difference shown in x99 builds and z97 builds in gaming so you are not losing anything on that front and you will run the rendering programs with ease. 

you know minus the higher cost

[Sauron]

The 980 doesn't offer good value. You should go for a 970 or r9 390, or step it up to a 980ti.

 

Overclocking is easy and offers nice performance boosts, and is worth in my opinion the extra 10-20 bucks. However, since you plan on using stuff like cad, you'd benefit more from hyperthreading: a xeon 1231 v3 would perform better than an i5 for these and cost more or less the same, but it doesn't need an expensive cooler or a z97 motherboard.

[LIGISTX]

Is overclocking "needed"... no. Is it nice... yes. It is really up to you. If you truly never plan to OC, than its probably not worth it, but if you ever feel like you may have wanted to, it really isn't that much more money.

[george the lemon]

yes, you would get better results from an overclock but depends on what you think you need and how you want to spend your money

[LIGISTX]

a xeon 1231 v3 would perform better than an i5 for these and cost more or less the same, but it doesn't need an expensive cooler or a z97 motherboard.

 

This

 

[OAcesync]

Hey, guys. I've finally got the chance to build my own PC. I already have the money but now I'm worried that I might not be spending my money well...

See... this is the system I wanted to build from the begining:

 

• Intel Core i5-4690K
• Asus Strix GeForce GTX 980 4GB
• Kingston HyperX 8GB DDR3 RAM
• Gigabyte GA-Z97MX
• Noctua NH-U12S
• EVGA 600W B1

The rest are just extras...

 

But what I really wanted to ask is that is it worth it to spend more money on the K CPU and the Overclocking ready motherboard? I could save money if I decided to buy a non free CPU and a motherboard without OC potential. 

 

I'll be using my computer for gaming, of course, titles like BF4, Skyrim, Far Cry 4 and AAA titles on 1080p. I'll also be using it for college. I'm studying engineering and some of the programs I'll be using are AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla, and construction programs that sometimes requiere demandig hardware. With this said, is it worth it to buy the K CPU and overclock it or should I stay with the i5-4690?

 

Also, if someone has a system that can run the things that I've mentioned with kind of the same budget, it will be well apreciated .

I would get a better PSU if you want to overclock but it would give a slight boost in gaming

[BrianS]

you know minus the higher cost

He never said this was a budget build. He is asking if he is spending his money correctly.

[incarnate]

Honestly you'd be better off with a xeon e3 1231 v3 and for gaming at 1080p a 970 or 390 would be much better performance for the money. As to whether overclocking is worth it, I would say no. The hyper threading of the xeon would be way more beneficial to your college work