5960X vs. 5820K for video editing

[Lloyd]

I'm planning a PC build for my editing workstation and naturally chose the 5960X because ALL DEM CORES and I'm finding quite a few people are choosing the 5820K for use in video editing machines as opposed to the two higher models. Is it a price/performance choice? A simple budgetary constriction?

 

Considering the massive potential cost saving, could anyone give me an idea of the kind of performance reductions I can expect with using the 5820K (6 Cores/28 threads) as opposed to the 5960X (8 Cores/40 threads).

 

Thanks,

 

Lloyd

[ThatOneRussian]

Or you can wait for the new 6950X chips

[sushisharkjl]

6 minutes ago, Lloyd said:

I'm planning a PC build for my editing workstation and naturally chose the 5960X because ALL DEM CORES and I'm finding quite a few people are choosing the 5820K for use in video editing machines as opposed to the two higher models. Is it a price/performance choice? A simple budgetary constriction?

 

Considering the massive potential cost saving, could anyone give me an idea of the kind of performance reductions I can expect with using the 5820K (6 Cores/28 threads) as opposed to the 5960X (8 Cores/40 threads).

 

Thanks,

 

Lloyd

Expect a noticeable but not life-threatening decrease in multithreaded apps due to the core reduction, which is somewhat compensated by the 5820k's 10% increase in clock speed.

 

If you're going to run a stupid amount of PCIe cards then logically you should expect a decrease in that speed, but unless you're going to run three 16x GPUs then I wouldn't worry too much.

 

Or could wait for Broadwell-E and get DAT 10 CORE GOODNESS M8

[Glenwing]

9 minutes ago, Lloyd said:

I'm planning a PC build for my editing workstation and naturally chose the 5960X because ALL DEM CORES and I'm finding quite a few people are choosing the 5820K for use in video editing machines as opposed to the two higher models. Is it a price/performance choice? A simple budgetary constriction?

 

Considering the massive potential cost saving, could anyone give me an idea of the kind of performance reductions I can expect with using the 5820K (6 Cores/28 threads) as opposed to the 5960X (8 Cores/40 threads).

 

Thanks,

 

Lloyd

5820K will be about 80% the performance of the 5960X if both are left at stock frequency.

 

Also, it's 6 cores/12 threads vs. 8 cores/16 threads. 28/40 is the number of PCI Express lanes provided by that CPU.

[TidaLWaveZ]

From what I've seen, render times aren't significantly shortened between the 5820k and 5960x, but that's just one aspect. I'm sure the whole process runs a little smoother while working, but I think my 5820k does the job to well for me to justify the 5960x for myself at least.

[Paralectic]

1 minute ago, Glenwing said:

5820K will be about 80% the performance of the 5960X if both are left at stock frequency.

 

Also, it's 6 cores/12 threads vs. 8 cores/16 threads. 28/40 is the number of PCI Express lanes provided by that CPU.

So correct me if I'm wrong, a 5960x makes only sense when going three way SLI and a 5820K for two way SLI, if both system's intentions are video editing/modelling?

Unless you have a limitless budget.

[trag1c]

If you're considering a 5960x I would personally look into one of the 10 core Xeon E5v3 instead since its about the same price.

[Lloyd]

1 minute ago, Glenwing said:

5820K will be about 80% the performance of the 5960X if both are left at stock frequency.

 

Also, it's 6 cores/12 threads vs. 8 cores/16 threads. 28/40 is the number of PCI Express lanes provided by that CPU.

Doh, I meant that, my bad!

[Glenwing]

2 minutes ago, Paralectic said:

So correct me if I'm wrong, a 5960x makes only sense when going three way SLI and a 5820K for two way SLI, if both system's intentions are video editing/modelling?

Unless you have a limitless budget.

The 5820K can do x8/x8/x8 which is fine for 3-way SLI, but it depends on how the motherboard is wired whether this is possible or not. If you can get a board with this configuration on a 28-lane CPU I don't see any problem with using the 5820K for 3-way SLI.

[Lloyd]

I'm guessing then the 5820K will handle 4K workflows pretty smoothly as well?

[Matty2hatty]

I would get a 10 core Xeon if it fit your budget

[Lloyd]

1 minute ago, CUDA_Cores said:

Do you mind buying used parts? Because you can build a dual sandy bridge-EP Xeon E5-2970 system on ebay that will absolutely destroy a single 5960X for video editing. If you do not buying used CPUs (these are server CPUs that have been babied all their lives) you can get a killer dual-xeon system on the cheap. 

2x8 core CPU for $75 each

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=e5+2670&rt=nc&LH_BIN=1

mobo for $310

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182967

64GB of ECC registered memory for $120

http://www.ebay.com/itm/64GB-Lot-8x-8GB-HP-500205-071-Samsung-Memory-DDR3-1333-PC3-10600R-Reg-Server-RAM-/331775820216?hash=item4d3f6141b8:g:wg4AAOSw~OVWvLEp

Building an older but still capable dual-xeon system like this will absolutely destroy a single 5960x. If speed is a necessity this is a fantastic deal. You can get a mobo+CPU+RAM+CPU cooler all for uunder the cost of a single 5960X all while crushing a 5960x in benchmarks. I highly recommend you do that. 

That's some really good advice!

 

I'll certainly have to look into this, the i7-870 I'm running right now was picked up from eBay, albeit allegedly unboxed and new, so I've had at least one success with getting stuff that way.

 

I guess I'll just have to make a judgement call regarding the potential risks involved in using used components, particularly as this would be my main workstation.

[DunePilot]

1 hour ago, Lloyd said:

I'm planning a PC build for my editing workstation and naturally chose the 5960X because ALL DEM CORES and I'm finding quite a few people are choosing the 5820K for use in video editing machines as opposed to the two higher models. Is it a price/performance choice? A simple budgetary constriction?

 

Considering the massive potential cost saving, could anyone give me an idea of the kind of performance reductions I can expect with using the 5820K (6 Cores/28 threads) as opposed to the 5960X (8 Cores/40 threads).

 

Thanks,

 

Lloyd

If the 5960X would be cutting into the GPU or monitor budget then I would go with the 5820k, excellent chip that will suite you well. One thing to also consider is the 6960X which will probably be around that same $1000 price point, maybe slightly more that will be a 10 core 20 thread... basically it will dethrone the 5960X and take it's place for the hybrid gaming/workstation builds. So you could get the 5820k as a placeholder until then and then resale it for a slight discount on ebay if you choose to pick up the 6960X.