Looking for a CPU upgrade

[Ronkato]

So I have about 600 EUR (700 USD) for a PC upgrade. I have a GTX 970, so i think it is too soon for a new GPU. However I am thinking about replacing my i7 2600K with i7 7700K. So i also need a motherboard and DDR4 RAM to go with it. Here are the parts list:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($308.89 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - M9i 48.4 CFM CPU Cooler  ($18.99 @ Newegg Marketplace)
Motherboard: MSI - Z270 GAMING PRO CARBON ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($166.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 Memory  ($139.74 @ NCIX US)
Total: $634.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-10 17:37 EDT-0400

 

I have an SSD and a HDD so I don't need those. But I am thinking about an M.2 drive in the future. This PC will be mostly used for gaming but i like to keep my options open. The reason for this upgrade is mainly future proofing and I have the funds available

 

What do you think? Is it a worthy upgrade? Any better suggestions? Maybe I missed some compatibility issues?

 

Feedback highly appreciated.

 

EDIT: One thing that I didn't think was relevant. With the leftover parts I am planning to buy cheap case, PSU, reuse some old hard drive and make an email/browsing machine for my mom. I know that an unlocked i7 is a bit overkill, but I already have it, so why not use it.

I felt the need to clarify since a few people suggested to not upgrade the ram and stick to DDR3 and buy a GPU instead.

Edited July 10, 2017 by Ronkato
Clarify

[Max_Settings]

Get a R7 1700

[Bananasplit_00]

id go for a I7 4790K so you can keep your RAM and cooler and then try to get a used 980TI or better

[Max_Settings]

1 minute ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

id go for a I7 4790K so you can keep your RAM and cooler and then try to get a used 980TI or better

NO don't do this, that's a lot of money to pay because you would still need a new board and you have upgrade path

[Linksys120n]

redacted for being dumb.

[Linksys120n]

1 minute ago, Max_Settings said:

NO don't do this, that's a lot of money to pay because you would still need a new board and you have upgrade path

It has the same socket right?

[Ronkato]

2 minutes ago, Max_Settings said:

Get a R7 1700

But why? The price is about the same. Single core performance is worse, but it has more cores. And as far as i know, most games benefit from raw clock more.

[Max_Settings]

Just now, Linksys120n said:

It has the same socket right?

Nope 2600K is LGA 1155, 4790k is LGA 1150

[Max_Settings]

1 minute ago, Ronkato said:

But why? The price is about the same. Single core performance is worse, but it has more cores. And as far as i know, most games benefit from raw clock more.

Because you said you wanted to keep your options open. Yes the 7700K will be a little faster in games, but maybe a 2% difference, and if you ever want to branch out into CPU intensive work, like video editing, 1700 will kill a 7700K

[III-Argon-III]

Jumping from the 2600k to the 7700k alone isn't worth the money when it comes to gaming performance. However stuff like DDR4, M.2 support etc. makes it worth while.

A Ryzen (R7 1700) build would be an alternative.

[Linksys120n]

1 minute ago, Max_Settings said:

Nope 2600K is LGA 1155, 4790k is LGA 1150

Just looked it up your right...

[Linksys120n]

an R7 1700 is overclockable to 4GHz and at those speeds it's within a 1% margin with the 7700k

[Bananasplit_00]

1 minute ago, Linksys120n said:

a 4790k will fit in your current set up and you can keep your current RAM and Mobo....

not the motherboard, the I7 2600K is LGA 1155 and not LGA 1150

 

2 minutes ago, Max_Settings said:

NO don't do this, that's a lot of money to pay because you would still need a new board and you have upgrade path

its about $250~$300 for the CPU and motherboard, and it gives him room for a massivly better GPU. i dont see why not. the I7 4790K is barely behind the I7 7700K once you overclock it, especially if you get a late batch chip. mine does 4.8GHz with barely any voltage increase and can probably get to 5GHz without a problem, which is about what a 7700K can do in terms of clocks and then you are just 5-10 % off in preformance because of IPC diffrences. IMO not haveing to pay for new RAM(easely $100) makes the I7 7700K a poor pick. for those $600 he can instead of just a CPU and RAM upgrade get an almost equivlent CPU and a much much better GPU like the R9 Fury or GTX 980TI aswell which will run cicles around the I7 7700K and 970 combo

 

2 minutes ago, Ronkato said:

But why? The price is about the same. Single core performance is worse, but it has more cores. And as far as i know, most games benefit from raw clock more.

they benefit from better IPS(Instructions Per Second) which is the IPC(Instructions Per Clock) * Frequency(4GHz or whatever) but basically more GHz=better for gameing when looking at the last thre generations of Intel and Ryzen. the I7 7700K is a better chip if you want to game basically.

[Ronkato]

14 minutes ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

for those $600 he can instead of just a CPU and RAM upgrade get an almost equivlent CPU and a much much better GPU like the R9 Fury or GTX 980TI aswell which will run cicles around the I7 7700K and 970 combo

Good point. But i have a plan in mind for the leftover CPU, MoBo, RAM from this upgrade (edited the post).

Also wouldn't it be a better long term investment to go for more recent technologies? If in a couple years I will buy a GTX 11..something, I will still have a pretty capable machine with M.2 slots and PCIe GEN 3.

[Linksys120n]

1 minute ago, Ronkato said:

Good point. But i have a plan in mind for the leftover CPU, MoBo, RAM from this upgrade (edited the post).

Also wouldn't it be a better long term investment to go for more recent technologies? If in a couple years I will buy a GTX 11..something, I will still have a pretty capable machine with M.2 slots and PCIe GEN 3.

True good point.... I guess the choice comes down to red or blue.... pepsi or coke?

[Bananasplit_00]

4 minutes ago, Ronkato said:

Good point. But i have a plan in mind for the leftover CPU, MoBo, RAM from this upgrade (edited the post).

Also wouldn't it be a better long term investment to go for more recent technologies? If in a couple years I will buy a GTX 11..something, I will still have a pretty capable machine with M.2 slots and PCIe GEN 3.

with the edit the I7 7700K makes the most sense here. if you are going to re use the motherboard, CPU and RAM for another machine then you dont get any benefit really from staying on DDR3. GTX 11xx should be out in about 6-8 months most likely.