i5-6600k vs i7-6700

[ConiferousJelly]

So it all comes down to this, all my parts for my next rig are either already here or on there way, except for my CPU and CPU Cooler. I plan to grab a CPU from Micro Center, and my CPU cooler will vary on where I get it from.

 

Here is what I have so far:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: EVGA Z170 FTW ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  (Purchased For $139.99) 
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  (Purchased For $76.19) 
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Video Card  (Purchased For $473.00) 
Case: Anidees AI-Crystal ATX Mid Tower Case  (Purchased For $142.00) 
Power Supply: Corsair RMx 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  (Purchased For $90.00) 
Total: $921.18
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-07 01:31 EDT-0400

 

I now have $290 left for my CPU and CPU cooler, I already know that isn't enough, so I am working on getting an extra $50 and so I am budgeting $340.

 

I have 2 primary options, and one secondary that would take some work to do. 

 

I can either get this combo, an unlocked i5 with liquid cooling:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($227.00) 
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($116.00) 
Total: $343.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-07 01:33 EDT-0400

 

I can also get this combo, a locked i7 with air cooling:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($302.00) 
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($35.00) 
Total: $337.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-07 01:34 EDT-0400

 

My secondary option, which would be the most performance for even more money, an unlocked i7 with air cooling:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($333.72) 
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler  ($35.00) 
Total: $368.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-07 01:35 EDT-0400

 

What I ask you all is:

 

Is it worth it to go with the locked i7 and the air cooler on a Z170 board, or would the i5 with liquid cooling make more sense, why?

 

and

 

If I were to go with an i7, how much more performance would the 6700k give me over the 6700?

 

All the CPU prices are calculated with tax from micro center, as even with tax they beat out the prices of competitors with the added convenience of not having to wait for shipping. CPU cooler pricing is based off the two options, if I go with the liquid cooler I will have to pick it up from Best Buy or Micro Center (Depending if Micro center will price match it) and is calculated with tax, and if I go with the cheaper air cooler I will be able to order off Newegg and doesn't include tax because it is not added to the total.

 

I don't want to overclock because I wan't this CPU to have a greater lifespan, the only time i'll overclock is when performance is degrading due to age of the CPU.

 

Thanks Everyone,

ConiferousJelly

 

 

 

 

 

[pcshme33]

well if you are going to go with the locked cpu don't get a z170 motherboard because it would just be useless. I would get the 6600k and overclock it.

[Skiiwee29]

Since your not going to OC, save yourself some extra money, get the i7/h7 combo, and look at getting a B/H170 board instead. No need really for a Z board if your not going to OC. 

[FanBlade]

Since you won't oc now, get a it 6700k and run it

In the future when you want to oc you will have saved up enough for an aio

[ConiferousJelly]

1 minute ago, EnemySp0tt3d said:

well if you are going to go with the locked cpu don't get a z170 motherboard because it would just be useless. I would get the 6600k and overclock it.

Errrr overclocking, really don't wanna lol. Everything is ordered, the motherboard is already on its way because I got a snazzy deal on it

Just now, legacy99 said:

Since your not going to OC, save yourself some extra money, get the i7/h7 combo, and look at getting a B/H170 board instead. No need really for a Z board if your not going to OC. 

Already got the mobo and should be here on Wednesday, wish I would've assessed this option before then lol. This is probably the best option, will also give me the option to upgrade to a future gen if its on the same socket. Anyway I got a good deal on the mobo and it matches my color scheme.

Just now, FanBlade said:

Since you won't oc now, get a it 6700k and run it

In the future when you want to oc you will have saved up enough for an aio

I mean obviously I knew I was gonna be told that I should get the 6700k, and if I can swing it, definitely gonna do it. I'm just curious on the performance difference between the K and Non-K versions in case I can't do the 6700k.

[Skiiwee29]

Sounds good. The newer Kaby Lake is rumored to run on the same Socket much like the Haswell and Devils Canyon chips. 

[FanBlade]

Just now, ConiferousJelly said:

Errrr overclocking, really don't wanna lol. Everything is ordered, the motherboard is already on its way because I got a snazzy deal on it

Already got the mobo and should be here on Wednesday, wish I would've assessed this option before then lol. This is probably the best option, will also give me the option to upgrade to a future gen if its on the same socket. Anyway I got a good deal on the mobo and it matches my color scheme.

I mean obviously I knew I was gonna be told that I should get the 6700k, and if I can swing it, definitely gonna do it. I'm just curious on the performance difference between the K and Non-K versions in case I can't do the 6700k.

The difference is clock speed

Games and applications that require more clock speed will benefit from the k

[CostcoSamples]

Performance difference won't be very big.  For gaming you really wouldn't be able to tell the difference at all.  The extra clock speed might give you a little bit more longevity though, if you are planning to keep it for a long time.

[Cyracus]

26 minutes ago, ConiferousJelly said:

I don't want to overclock because I wan't this CPU to have a greater lifespan, the only time i'll overclock is when performance is degrading due to age of the CPU

linus tested age related performance degradation, granted on a gpu, but he found when comparing a very abused card to a brand new fresh from the box one that there wasn't really any difference between them. Just don't throw 1.6v at it or let it sit at 90º+ all the time and you'll be fine. As for the difference, rough estimate, there may be a ~15% improvement in some very cpu intensive from a 6700 to a OC'd 6700k

[ConiferousJelly]

16 minutes ago, legacy99 said:

Sounds good. The newer Kaby Lake is rumored to run on the same Socket much like the Haswell and Devils Canyon chips. 

Hoping that's the case, my other rig is using a Z170 mobo with an i5, hoping that I can upgrade to next-gen i7 and keep the mobo for a great performance gain  

14 minutes ago, FanBlade said:

The difference is clock speed

Games and applications that require more clock speed will benefit from the k

I get that, but couldn't turbo boost help make the performance gap in those cases smaller?

 

The 6700 clocks at 3.4 but turbos to 4.0, where the 6700k clocks at 4.0 and only turbos to 4.2, If I am not overclocking either CPU, when a program is stressing the CPU and the 6700 turbos to 4.0 and the 6700k turbos to 4.2, what difference does the .2 make?

Just now, CostcoSamples said:

Performance difference won't be very big.  For gaming you really wouldn't be able to tell the difference at all.  The extra clock speed might give you a little bit more longevity though, if you are planning to keep it for a long time.

I am mainly gonna be gaming but I also use the Adobe Creative Suite frequently so I think the i7 could help boost that. Like you said, I don't think the difference will be very substantial because turbo boost is a factor. Nonetheless, I will be trying to get the 6700k as it will be greater in the long run. Just making sure that if I can't I will still be fine with the 6700.

 

1 minute ago, Cyracus said:

linus tested age related performance degradation, granted on a gpu, but he found when comparing a very abused card to a brand new fresh from the box one that there wasn't really any difference between them. Just don't throw 1.6v at it or let it sit at 90º+ all the time and you'll be fine. As for the difference, rough estimate, there may be a ~15% improvement in some very cpu intensive from a 6700 to a OC'd 6700k

Interesting. Nah that's why even if I get the 6700 I will be getting the Cryorig H7, don't want my rig to be loud or let the CPU get too hot. I won't even be overclocking the 6700k until a while into its use so 15% improvement would be even smaller than it is.

[Skiiwee29]

honestly that 200mhz wont make a ton of difference, maybe a 2-5% difference at most. Since you have no plans to overclock, the 6700 is all you will need.

[FanBlade]

10 minutes ago, ConiferousJelly said:

Hoping that's the case, my other rig is using a Z170 mobo with an i5, hoping that I can upgrade to next-gen i7 and keep the mobo for a great performance gain  

I get that, but couldn't turbo boost help make the performance gap in those cases smaller?

 

The 6700 clocks at 3.4 but turbos to 4.0, where the 6700k clocks at 4.0 and only turbos to 4.2, If I am not overclocking either CPU, when a program is stressing the CPU and the 6700 turbos to 4.0 and the 6700k turbos to 4.2, what difference does the .2 make?

I am mainly gonna be gaming but I also use the Adobe Creative Suite frequently so I think the i7 could help boost that. Like you said, I don't think the difference will be very substantial because turbo boost is a factor. Nonetheless, I will be trying to get the 6700k as it will be greater in the long run. Just making sure that if I can't I will still be fine with the 6700.

 

Interesting. Nah that's why even if I get the 6700 I will be getting the Cryorig H7, don't want my rig to be loud or let the CPU get too hot. I won't even be overclocking the 6700k until a while into its use so 15% improvement would be even smaller than it is.

You mentioned that you will be overclocking when your system is older 

That's why I chose the k version

The oc should prolong the life for quite a long time

[ConiferousJelly]

1 hour ago, legacy99 said:

honestly that 200mhz wont make a ton of difference, maybe a 2-5% difference at most. Since you have no plans to overclock, the 6700 is all you will need.

Yeah, my decision has been made for the i7-6700 at least, gonna try to swing the i7-6700k because OVERKILL

1 hour ago, FanBlade said:

You mentioned that you will be overclocking when your system is older 

That's why I chose the k version

The oc should prolong the life for quite a long time

Yep, as I said gonna try to swing it because its top of the line and will last, thanks

[ace_cheaply]

The 6700K should only be 299 at microcenter.  That's what it is in Tustin, in California. I would get the 6700k for a 1070, in fact I did, lol. 

 

Here's a comparison

 

 

[ConiferousJelly]

Just now, ace_cheaply said:

The 6700K should only be 299 at microcenter.  That's what it is in Tustin, in California. I would get the 6700k for a 1070, in fact I did, lol. 

 

Here's a comparison

 

 

Yeah, Micro Center fluctuates in between $199.99 and $209.99 for the i5-6600k and $299.99 and $309.99 for the i7-6700k, they just don't seem to have any other stores lowering their prices so they wont lower them. Hopefully it drops soon but its kinda hard because their newsletters lock the prices for 3days and it seems that its still on that upper mark, going to be getting it sometime between Wednesday-Friday so hopefully it drops and it makes it easier to get the 6700k. 

[Mark77]

I went with an i7-2600 instead of an i7-2600k "back in the day" because I wanted to eventually put the chip on a board which supported Intel AMT, and I wanted to eventually use vt-d.  5 years later, I was able to find a server board (Supermicro X9SAE-V) dirt cheap and I converted the machine accordingly.

 

If you anticipate the chip ever being used as a server for this purpose, that might be a reason to buy the non-"k" SKU.  But of course, that would require a motherboard replacement (and you might want to look at the Xeons if you're anticipating that anyways...).

 

 

[ConiferousJelly]

Just now, Mark77 said:

I went with an i7-2600 instead of an i7-2600k "back in the day" because I wanted to eventually put the chip on a board which supported Intel AMT, and I wanted to eventually use vt-d.  5 years later, I was able to find a server board (Supermicro X9SAE-V) dirt cheap and I converted the machine accordingly.

 

If you anticipate the chip ever being used as a server for this purpose, that might be a reason to buy the non-"k" SKU.  But of course, that would require a motherboard replacement (and you might want to look at the Xeons if you're anticipating that anyways...).

 

 

I actually looked at the Xeon's, but at the time I started looking at options besides the i5, my motherboard was already on order and they aren't compatible. I actually would have preffered a Xeon anyway, basically a i7-6700 without integrated graphics that I have no need for. 

[Ichi]

6700k, it's better than 6700 even if you leave it at stock, with H7 I would expect you to hit 4.4~4.5GHz easily anyway.

[Nena Trinity]

i7 is better but i5 is the more value, I think your wallet should decide this one.

[Imakuni]

7 hours ago, EnemySp0tt3d said:

well if you are going to go with the locked cpu don't get a z170 motherboard because it would just be useless. I would get the 6600k and overclock it.

7 hours ago, legacy99 said:

Since your not going to OC, save yourself some extra money, get the i7/h7 combo, and look at getting a B/H170 board instead. No need really for a Z board if your not going to OC. 

For starters, he's got the board already.

 

Second, it's NOT useless. Z170 will allow him to use his 3200mhz RAM to it's fullest, which is going to provide a nice boost in performance.

6 hours ago, ConiferousJelly said:

The 6700 clocks at 3.4 but turbos to 4.0, where the 6700k clocks at 4.0 and only turbos to 4.2, If I am not overclocking either CPU, when a program is stressing the CPU and the 6700 turbos to 4.0 and the 6700k turbos to 4.2, what difference does the .2 make?

Turbo boost depends on core usage. For the 6700k, it turbos to 4.2/4.0/4.0/4.0 when there are 1/2/3/4 cores under load. Which is weird.... the 6700 (non-k) has a more well behaved curve of 4.0/3.9/3.8/3.7 under a 1/2/3/4 cores load.

 

That's 200mhz difference under single core and triple core loads, which really isn't what you'll normally see. Rather, leverage it by a full load on 4 cores, which would be 300mhz.

6 hours ago, legacy99 said:

honestly that 200mhz wont make a ton of difference, maybe a 2-5% difference at most.

See above.

[ConiferousJelly]

8 hours ago, Nena360 said:

i7 is better but i5 is the more value, I think your wallet should decide this one.

Wallet decided i7-6700 for sure, just gotta let it decide if it gets the K treatment

5 hours ago, Imakuni said:

For starters, he's got the board already.

 

Second, it's NOT useless. Z170 will allow him to use his 3200mhz RAM to it's fullest, which is going to provide a nice boost in performance.

Turbo boost depends on core usage. For the 6700k, it turbos to 4.2/4.0/4.0/4.0 when there are 1/2/3/4 cores under load. Which is weird.... the 6700 (non-k) has a more well behaved curve of 4.0/3.9/3.8/3.7 under a 1/2/3/4 cores load.

 

That's 200mhz difference under single core and triple core loads, which really isn't what you'll normally see. Rather, leverage it by a full load on 4 cores, which would be 300mhz.

See above.

"Second, it's NOT useless. Z170 will allow him to use his 3200mhz RAM to it's fullest, which is going to provide a nice boost in performance."

Didn't even think of that, I got the fast ram for more performance and wouldn't want to lose that. Plus like I said it may come in handy down the road with a next-gen CPU.

 

Thanks!

[ConiferousJelly]

UPDATE:

 

Cryorig H7 Cooler is on order from Newegg, now I just wait and see which i7 I'll get. Thanks everyone for the great help!

[Ichi]

11 hours ago, ConiferousJelly said:

UPDATE:

 

Cryorig H7 Cooler is on order from Newegg, now I just wait and see which i7 I'll get. Thanks everyone for the great help!

6700k, do it.

You got everything you need for it.

Give that board the cpu it deserves.

[ConiferousJelly]

52 minutes ago, Ichi said:

6700k, do it.

You got everything you need for it.

Give that board the cpu it deserves.

I am doing my very best and hope that it will work out