Best CPU to get (under $400)

[YavulTheTurtle]

Hey there! I'm currently looking to upgrade my computer/rebuild it (I say that because I am replacing many of the parts) and was wondering what CPU to get. I am willing to spend at maximum $400 but would prefer to spend less (If there is something slightly over $400 that is worth the extra money I would consider that). The PC would be mainly used for gaming. Also, I would be buying the motherboard based on the CPU so compatibility isn't a problem. Thank you so much!

[TheRandomness]

Or you could ask for a full build c;

What's the total budget?

[Megahurt]

IMO, best gaming cpu right now is the i7 6700k, single thread performance still seems to be most important, but if I was building something for myself right now, I would go for the i5 6600k.

[Samppa221]

6700k

[HKZeroFive]

When you say the PC will be mainly used for gaming, do you do any other work on the side?

[Fatelinha]

Since you mentioned no other information but the budget for the CPU I will tell you to buy the absolute best and mainstream right now. i7 6700k

[ZeusXI]

4 minutes ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

Hey there! I'm currently looking to upgrade my computer/rebuild it (I say that because I am replacing many of the parts) and was wondering what CPU to get. I am willing to spend at maximum $400 but would prefer to spend less (If there is something slightly over $400 that is worth the extra money I would consider that). The PC would be mainly used for gaming. Also, I would be buying the motherboard based on the CPU so compatibility isn't a problem. Thank you so much!

I7-4790k if your into overclocking for around 340$

i7-4790 if your not into over clocking for around 304$

and Xeon 1231v3 if your looking for an i7-4790 without the IGPU for around 254$

All 4 core, 8 thread

 

Or, if your interested in an E5-2690 from Deep Discount Servers for 330$ which has 8 core, 16 thread, 3Ghz (3.8Turbo)

 

But all is up to you

[YavulTheTurtle]

1 minute ago, TheRandomness said:

Or you could ask for a full build c;

What's the total budget?

The MAXIMUM budget is $1200 but I already have everything but liquid cooling, cpu, gpu, motherboard, and maybe an ssd (I already have a 2tb hdd). 

[YavulTheTurtle]

2 minutes ago, HKZeroFive said:

When you say the PC will be mainly used for gaming, do you do any other work on the side?

It will be mainly gaming, I do some basic work on the side like writing documents and things. Some light photoshop.

[ELSknutson]

For under 400 is the 5820k LGA2011v3 i7

[TheRandomness]

3 minutes ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

The MAXIMUM budget is $1200 but I already have everything but liquid cooling, cpu, gpu, motherboard, and maybe an ssd (I already have a 2tb hdd). 

i7-6700k and a really nice Z170 motherboard. Also, air cooling is usually better than liquid cooling if it isn't a custom loop. For example, the NH-D15 usually outperforms most 120mm and 240mm AiOs whilst being quieter, costing less and having less points of failure. An SSD is a must nowadays and what PSU did you buy?

[YavulTheTurtle]

1 minute ago, TheRandomness said:

i7-6700k and a really nice Z170 motherboard. Also, air cooling is usually better than liquid cooling if it isn't a custom loop. For example, the NH-D15 usually outperforms most 120mm and 240mm AiOs whilst being quieter, costing less and having less points of failure. An SSD is a must nowadays and what PSU did you buy?

Thanks and I have a LSI Ultra 750W ATX PSU 

[HKZeroFive]

1 minute ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

It will be mainly gaming, I do some basic work on the side like writing documents and things. Some light photoshop.

Then I've got to agree with the majority on the i7 6700K. Best gaming CPU out currently and the hyperthreading should help in your photoshop work.

[YavulTheTurtle]

1 minute ago, HKZeroFive said:

Then I've got to agree with the majority on the i7 6700K. Best gaming CPU out currently and the hyperthreading should help in your photoshop work.

 

 

5 minutes ago, ELSknutson said:

For under 400 is the 5820k LGA2011v3 i7

 

7 minutes ago, ZeusXI said:

I7-4790k if your into overclocking for around 340$

i7-4790 if your not into over clocking for around 304$

and Xeon 1231v3 if your looking for an i7-4790 without the IGPU for around 254$

All 4 core, 8 thread

 

Or, if your interested in an E5-2690 from Deep Discount Servers for 330$ which has 8 core, 16 thread, 3Ghz (3.8Turbo)

 

But all is up to you

 

7 minutes ago, Ellen_orangecloud said:

You can get an i7-6700K with that money or an LGA 1150 Xeon like the E3-1241v3. 
But if you're just gaming, you should be set with an i5-6600K.

 

 

8 minutes ago, Fatelinha said:

Since you mentioned no other information but the budget for the CPU I will tell you to buy the absolute best and mainstream right now. i7 6700k

 

9 minutes ago, Samppa221 said:

6700k

 

9 minutes ago, Megahurt said:

IMO, best gaming cpu right now is the i7 6700k, single thread performance still seems to be most important, but if I was building something for myself right now, I would go for the i5 6600k.

Thank you guys so much for your opinions. I was leaning towards the 6700k but now it seems like that is definitely what I'll do

[TheRandomness]

3 minutes ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

Thanks and I have a LSI Ultra 750W ATX PSU 

@STRMfrmXMN Halp pls

[ZeusXI]

1 minute ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you guys so much for your opinions. I was leaning towards the 6700k but now it seems like that is definitely what I'll do

Just saying though, the 4790k has a higher clock speed than the 6700k. it is newer yes, but your paying 70$ more for 0.2Ghz Less with the 6700k. The xeon Equivalent might be a better option to save some money, and put it somewhere else or save for future upgrade. The Xeon E3-1280v3 is the 6700k equivalent for a lot cheaper 

[YavulTheTurtle]

1 minute ago, ZeusXI said:

Just saying though, the 4790k has a higher clock speed than the 6700k. it is newer yes, but your paying 70$ more for 0.2Ghz Less with the 6700k. The xeon Equivalent might be a better option to save some money, and put it somewhere else or save for future upgrade. The Xeon E3-1280v3 is the 6700k equivalent for a lot cheaper 

See I looked at the 4790k but I came here to see what people recommended and it seems that the general consensus is that it is better to get the 6700k. 

[ZeusXI]

1 minute ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

See I looked at the 4790k but I came here to see what people recommended and it seems that the general consensus is that it is better to get the 6700k. 

It is negotiable, but its all up to you in the end

[SeanAngelo]

28 minutes ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

Hey there! I'm currently looking to upgrade my computer/rebuild it (I say that because I am replacing many of the parts) and was wondering what CPU to get. I am willing to spend at maximum $400 but would prefer to spend less (If there is something slightly over $400 that is worth the extra money I would consider that). The PC would be mainly used for gaming. Also, I would be buying the motherboard based on the CPU so compatibility isn't a problem. Thank you so much!

6700k

[ZeusXI]

11 minutes ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

See I looked at the 4790k but I came here to see what people recommended and it seems that the general consensus is that it is better to get the 6700k. 

 

[HKZeroFive]

1 hour ago, ZeusXI said:

Just saying though, the 4790k has a higher clock speed than the 6700k. it is newer yes, but your paying 70$ more for 0.2Ghz Less with the 6700k. The xeon Equivalent might be a better option to save some money, and put it somewhere else or save for future upgrade. The Xeon E3-1280v3 is the 6700k equivalent for a lot cheaper 

You can't compare the clockspeeds of different CPU architectures to determine relative performance, since Skylake overall has a higher IPC.

 

Also, the price difference between the i7 4790K and i7 6700K is $20 at most. The video you linked was made when Skylake just launched and prices were massively inflated (just like the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080).

[STRMfrmXMN]

3 hours ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

Thanks and I have a LSI Ultra 750W ATX PSU 

Sounds like it's time to replace the fireworks PSU you got there. Check out the PSUs listed in yellow in my dig.

[YavulTheTurtle]

14 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

Sounds like it's time to replace the fireworks PSU you got there. Check out the PSUs listed in yellow in my dig.

What do you mean by fireworks PSU? Also if you think I should replace it, why and which would you recommend?

[HKZeroFive]

9 hours ago, YavulTheTurtle said:

What do you mean by fireworks PSU? Also if you think I should replace it, why and which would you recommend?

He means that it's not completely impossible for the PSU to fizzle out and pop (hence, the fireworks). It's a PSU with low quality components and dodgy build quality, so it's something I wouldn't trust powering high end components such as a i7 6700K.

 

As for recommendations, take a look at the EVGA SuperNOVA G2. The wattage depends on what your specs are.

[ZeusXI]

12 hours ago, HKZeroFive said:

You can't compare the clockspeeds of different CPU architectures to determine relative performance, since Skylake overall has a higher IPC.

 

Also, the price difference between the i7 4790K and i7 6700K is $20 at most. The video you linked was made when Skylake just launched and prices were massively inflated (just like the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080).

currently the I7-4790k is at 330$ and the 6700k is at 390$