More $$$ on CPU OR GPU?

[JLozares]

Hey, I was wondering if I should spend more of the money in my budget for a better cpu or gpu. (700$ build CAD)

I plan to originally get an i5-4690k with something like a gtx 950/960 (depending on price), but the more and more I look online on these "budget" builds they all seem to recommend the same thing. To spend more of a gpu rather than the cpu, it got me thinking am I better off with my original plan or something like i5-4460 and use the money I save on the cpu and the cooler(212 evo) then use that money to spend of an AMD card in between the 960 and 970 (money I would save not enough for 970)?

 

Which brings me to my second question, I obviously want to get the most performance I can get for my money but looking down the line and a couple years from now. Would the 4460 and its locked cpu and the better gpu be more outdated? Considering the 4690k has overclocking abilities to "future proof" its self. Im sure that the 4460 way would give me the best performance right now but a couple years down the line would it call me for an upgrade, especially with the new Skylake cpu's and the z170 and x99.

 

Do you think that the z170 and z99 stuff would be needed down the line making me chose the 4460 way if Im gonna upgrade the whole system anyway, or do you guys think that z170 and x99 wont be necessary right away and go for the 4690k route where i can overclock it and upgrade the gpu in a few years?

[ThatOneRussian]

get  a 390 with  a 4690k if you can save a bit of money

[Ddave]

It will depend on what you're using it for.

[ThatOneRussian]

More $$ on your GPU than your CPU for gaming. Generally speaking anyway

 

The 4460 + R9 380(X) is your best bet. It will offer better performance than the 4690K + 950

the 380x isnt out yet?

[JLozares]

It will depend on what you're using it for.

Mostly gaming

[JLozares]

get  a 390 with  a 4690k if you can save a bit of money

Would not be able to fit a 390 with  a 4690k.

[Ddave]

Mostly gaming

I don't have any suggestions on what to get but I would lean on centering your plans a bit on GPU.

[ThatOneRussian]

Would not be able to fit a 390 with  a 4690k.

https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-r9390p8256

http://www.ncix.com/detail/intel-core-i5-4690k-unlocked-c2-97889-1322.htm?affiliateid=7474144

these two parts it 40$ over budget

[JLozares]

https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-r9390p8256

http://www.ncix.com/detail/intel-core-i5-4690k-unlocked-c2-97889-1322.htm?affiliateid=7474144

these two parts it 40$ over budget

Would a 4690k with a Gigabyte Windforce r9 280x somewhat match up to that pair?

(found one locally for 150$, best bang for my buck imo)

[ThatOneRussian]

yeah it would 

[Misanthrope]

The 4460 will be more than enough for a lot longer than most of the cards that we're discussing here (meaning it might be obsolete eventually but the GPU will be obsolete first making that irrelevant)

 

I recommend a 290 (if you can find a good price and good card) or a 390 paired with a 4460. If you prefer to keep it Nvidia a 970

 

It should be possible on a 700USD budget: 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($47.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($42.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.50 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 390 8GB Video Card  ($313.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $738.32
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-22 00:38 EDT-0400