Hardware at an Awkward time

[AskMrJake]

So I've been considering upgrading to an i5 4690k (from an FX-6350) which was the gamers choice for a while, but now I'm seeing some system requirements preferring an i7. Also I have also considered adding another 970 to my rig for dual SLI. So I suppose my question to you, the LTT forums is: Should I go all out for i7 now, or would the i5 4690k still be a top dog gaming chip? Also, is dual SLI worth it on GTX 970's at this point since the card is a year old? I was considering just waiting until it starts struggling with running new titles at max, and waiting for the new generation of cards and getting the best one available at that point, rather than planning for building a dual SLI setup with two lesser cards. (Like GTX 970 vs GTX 980, but in new generation). Thanks guys.

[IncompetentProdigy]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117316&cm_re=Xeon_e3_1231-_-19-117-316-_-Product

Buy and enjoy.

[don_svetlio]

no and no - i5 4690K is enough
970 SLI is pointless with 3.5GB of VRAM

[Najuno]

I´d keep the single GTX970 as long as you stay in 1080p. The CPU is another story and it depends what you want to do. If it is only gaming you could get an i5 and call it a day. If you have multithreaded operations in your mind as well then the i7 is the right thing to buy.

But GPU wise I´d stick to what you have as long as you stay in 1080p. And have a look into a new gen GPUs next year.

[AskMrJake]

The only reason I ever considered an i7 was; When looking at the system requirements for Battlefront and Fallout, the recommended is an i7. It worried me a little bit, and wasn't sure if I should spend the extra cash if games are going to prefer hyper threading.

[Najuno]

The only reason I ever considered an i7 was; When looking at the system requirements for Battlefront and Fallout, the recommended is an i7. It worried me a little bit, and wasn't sure if I should spend the extra cash if games are going to prefer hyper threading.

 

These recommendations are ridiculous crap TBH.

 

http://media.gamersnexus.net/images/media/2015/game-bench/battlefront/battlefront-cpu-bench-1080-ultra.png

 

This link shows you exactly what I mean. There are some games out there that can use more than 4 cores i.e. Dragon Age : Inquisition but that´s a minorty right now. Unless you go for editing, converting, rendering or benchmarking 4 cores do the job just fine in terms of gaming. And the GPU of yours will be utilized 100% with an i5. I´ve tried my home server´s i5 4590 with my GTX980 and OCed it as far as it goes (1584MHz) and couldn´t see any bottlenecks other than the Physics score in 3D Mark was lower than with the 6 or 8 core CPU.

 

EDIT: The GPU used in the benchmark was a GTX980TI Reference.

[don_svetlio]

These recommendations are ridiculous crap TBH.

 

http://media.gamersnexus.net/images/media/2015/game-bench/battlefront/battlefront-cpu-bench-1080-ultra.png

 

This link shows you exactly what I mean. There are some games out there that can use more than 4 cores i.e. Dragon Age : Inquisition but that´s a minorty right now. Unless you go for editing, converting, rendering or benchmarking 4 cores do the job just fine in terms of gaming. And the GPU of yours will be utilized 100% with an i5. I´ve tried my home server´s i5 4590 with my GTX980 and OCed it as far as it goes (1584MHz) and couldn´t see any bottlenecks other than the Physics score in 3D Mark was lower than with the 6 or 8 core CPU.

 

EDIT: The GPU used in the benchmark was a GTX980TI Reference.

Even the FX chip is holding up more than okay

[Najuno]

Even the FX chip is holding up more than okay

I´d be bothered because it does bottleneck a bit but looking at the chart even the FX6350 should with the GTX970 produce more than enough FPS to have an enjoyable gaming expirience.

[AskMrJake]

Yeah my 6350 doesn't do bad at all

[don_svetlio]

I´d be bothered because it does bottleneck a bit but looking at the chart even the FX6350 should with the GTX970 produce more than enough FPS to have an enjoyable gaming expirience.

6350 lightly outperforms the i3 4130 in modern games so yeah