6 Core or 8 Core CPU?

[xjame5]

I'm interested in buying an Alienware Area 51 r2 desktop computer and wanted to know if it's worth spending another $600 on upgrading the CPU from the i7-5930 6 core to the i7-5960 8 core?

I understand most games use less than 4 cores but I'm thinking more about down the road. I will also be adding dual custom 980 TIs, either the EVGAs or the Gigabyte G1s, and will be gaming on the Acer XB270HU 1440p 144hz GSync monitor...if that matters.

Also, please leave out the hate on Alienware and about how I can save so much money on building my own. I have the money. Leave me alone lol. I even used pcpartpicker.com and I'm not really spending that much more after I called Dell about a discount, which they knocked 700 off and added a yr of warranty for nothing. [emoji3]

[Tech_Dreamer]

8 core isn't gonna hurt, but 6 cores is good especially when the price difference is $600 between those

[minibois]

If you have the money, it's all the more reason not to get Alienware because you will limit yourself in upgrading because they use weird motherboard and weird cases..

Just make a parts list and let someone like NCIX make it for you..

[Elfuego]

Spend half as much, change it twice as often... If money is at all a worry for you. Plus this way you end up with 2 PCs

[Agent181]

I would just make my own pc and I bet you could make a way better system then the one you will pay for sure

[Taswell]

for that much money get somthing from digital storm , Puget or some other builder 

[PineappleHolidays]

I'm interested in buying an Alienware Area 51 r2 desktop computer and wanted to know if it's worth spending another $600 on upgrading the CPU from the i7-5930 6 core to the i7-5960 8 core?

I understand most games use less than 4 cores but I'm thinking more about down the road. I will also be adding dual custom 980 TIs, either the EVGAs or the Gigabyte G1s, and will be gaming on the Acer XB270HU 1440p 144hz GSync monitor...if that matters.

Also, please leave out the hate on Alienware and about how I can save so much money on building my own. I have the money. Leave me alone lol. I even used pcpartpicker.com and I'm not really spending that much more after I called Dell about a discount, which they knocked 700 off and added a yr of warranty for nothing. [emoji3]

Go for a different pc maker,

 

ncix, or many others

[Valkyrie Lenneth]

alienware is huge ripoff... it is fact

 

build ur own get same build for 1000-2000$ less

[typographie]

I'm interested in buying an Alienware Area 51 r2 desktop computer and wanted to know if it's worth spending another $600 on upgrading the CPU from the i7-5930 6 core to the i7-5960 8 core?

 

An i7-5960X is a workstation CPU for all practical purposes. It's core count doesn't make a meaningful difference in most games, and it's relatively low clock speed is actually kind of detrimental in many games. A 5930K itself is already a practically pointless gaming CPU unless you really need triple- or quad-SLI—which is something of a rookie mistake.

 

Get an i7-5820K, 6700K, or 4790K (depending on local pricing) for gaming. The Core i5 line is still the gaming sweet spot.

[xjame5]

Thank you to the very few that actually answered my question. I understand that I shouldn't have mentioned alienware but if you read my full post your should know that I don't want to hear the flack on Alienware. I don't feel it's necessary to explain my personal story about why I'm purchasing this particular desktop and so I won't. Again I added up the parts and I'm maybe spending $500 extra for this setup that I'm NOT building myself. What's wrong with that?? Anyways thanks to those who actually gave an eff about my question.

[ninjacake00]

Honestly it depends on what you're wanting to do with your pc.

If you just want to game then 4 cores should be a beast of a processor. The 4770k is still to this day a very powerful processor with an endless amount of possibilities for overclocking.

If you are streaming or recording then 6 cores should do just fine.

If you are rendering or editing or anything that is that cpu intensive then an 8 core processor like the 5960x will do amazing for literally anything you could ever want to do especially once you started messing around with overclocking.

Also another thing to consider is that AMD makes some great multi-core processors that won't have you paying out of your nose for a name but intel also has hyperthreading which AMD lacks.

[ShadowCaptain]

I'm interested in buying an Alienware Area 51 r2 desktop computer and wanted to know if it's worth spending another $600 on upgrading the CPU from the i7-5930 6 core to the i7-5960 8 core?

 

 

The extra cores will really only help in workstation grade applications / serious heavy tasks

 

 

For gaming and normal use there is literally no real benefit, I doubt it will help much in the future either,

[Pankaic]

To sum up everything that's been said already: it's not worth it, stick with the i7-5930k. I don't know your story or why you're buying this pc, but if you don't mind spending the extra $500 for the brand name, then go for it, I guess.

[othertomperson]

The problem with lots of cores in gaming is that they sit in their own little Catch-22. That is if a game dev has gone through the effort of making their game able to competently utilise six to eight CPU threads they have probably also gone through the effort of optimising the game so that it doesn't need to and would be just as happy running on an i3.

[Crowes]

8 core isn't gonna hurt, but 6 cores is good especially when the price difference is $600 between those

 

This. Alienware is all combed hair and no horsepower.

[xjame5]

Honestly it depends on what you're wanting to do with your pc.

If you just want to game then 4 cores should be a beast of a processor. The 4770k is still to this day a very powerful processor with an endless amount of possibilities for overclocking.

If you are streaming or recording then 6 cores should do just fine.

If you are rendering or editing or anything that is that cpu intensive then an 8 core processor like the 5960x will do amazing for literally anything you could ever want to do especially once you started messing around with overclocking.

Also another thing to consider is that AMD makes some great multi-core processors that won't have you paying out of your nose for a name but intel also has hyperthreading which AMD lacks.

Thank you for your detailed reply. That really helps me out a lot. Now this might be my last gaming rig so do you think 5-6 years from now the 8 core would come in handy for games/longevity of the system? Or would there be no difference at that time if I go with the 6 core now? I understand we don't know what the future holds per se but I'm also not sure how quickly technology is advancing in this particular area, if that makes any sense.

[xjame5]

Thank you guys for your replies as well. Really appreciate it.

[Avalen]

I personally don't think 8 vs 6 cores will benefit you particularly in gaming at all, even 5-6 years down the line. Go for the 5930 I'd say.

[infamous_last]

6 core will be fine for as long as the system attached to it could hope to be relevant in the future.

It also has a nice advantage in single core power over the 8 core, which is helpful for older less well developed games that rely on good old brute force to get the job done.

 

Put it this way, in 3-4 years time you'll be able to drop in higher end cpus due to the platform ageing and prices reducing.

Look at x58 now, guys are (like myself) are keeping old hardware alive by installing 2nd hand 6 core xeons which are going for peanuts.

[TheCaptain53]

Thank you to the very few that actually answered my question. I understand that I shouldn't have mentioned alienware but if you read my full post your should know that I don't want to hear the flack on Alienware. I don't feel it's necessary to explain my personal story about why I'm purchasing this particular desktop and so I won't. Again I added up the parts and I'm maybe spending $500 extra for this setup that I'm NOT building myself. What's wrong with that?? Anyways thanks to those who actually gave an eff about my question.

That does make it a slightly more compelling option, but you should also look at the specs for the parts most people don't consider. Namely the PSU.

I've just read their website and it says "Alienware 850W PSU" (more or less). Umm... What the hell is that?

When it comes to these high end builds, the cost side isn't so much of a concern (despite carrying a hefty premium), but the quality of components inside.

We all recommend building your own PC because it saves money, increases your knowledge and it's fun.

However, if that's not your bag, I'd save the money and go 5930.

[Nena Trinity]

6-core is perfect for DX12 since it likes 6 cores but I like 8-cores cause games like Cities Skyline and other CPU killer games uses up to 8 treads! :3

[FinestRyeBread]

Thank you to the very few that actually answered my question. I understand that I shouldn't have mentioned alienware but if you read my full post your should know that I don't want to hear the flack on Alienware. I don't feel it's necessary to explain my personal story about why I'm purchasing this particular desktop and so I won't. Again I added up the parts and I'm maybe spending $500 extra for this setup that I'm NOT building myself. What's wrong with that?? Anyways thanks to those who actually gave an eff about my question.

i would go for a 5930k since those 2 extras wouldn't really matter

[ExcitezR]

so your spending an extra $500 to get the same thing... 

 

[xjame5]

I'm asking to see if it's worth it down the road. Maybe you should learn to read the entire post before being an ass.

[xjame5]

6-core is perfect for DX12 since it likes 6 cores but I like 8-cores cause games like Cities Skyline and other CPU killer games uses up to 8 treads! :3

Good to know. Thanks for your input!