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Upgrade to 2700x or i7 8700?

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IcyRoadz

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Hi guys! I built my first build in January of 2017. My basic specs for my current build are:

PCPartPicker part list: https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/PMjLWX

CPU: Intel - Core i5-6600K 3.5 GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Scythe - BIG Shuriken 2 Rev. B 45.47 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus - Z170I PRO GAMING Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 16 GB (1 x 16 GB) DDR4-2400 Memory
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6 GB Mini Video Card
Case: Fractal Design - Node 202 HTPC Case w/450 W Power Supply

Of course, a few months after Ryzen came out and made me kick myself in the head with how shortsighted it was for me to build that build in Jan. However, I told myself I would hold onto my i5 and that it should be able to last me a while. Now it's 2019, from tests online and tests I've done at home the i5 6600k will bottleneck the RTX series and performs badly in games like Monster Hunter World and AC. So at this point I think it's time to upgrade my CPU at the very least, and maybe the GPU.

I tried looking on the used market for a i7 7700k, but they're all overpriced. I'm also Canadian which makes buying computer parts already more expensive than it needs to be. Right now, I'm trying to mostly see if I should save up money and then wait for the new AMD processors to drop, or if I should get an i7 8700k and call it a day.


BUDGET - For an upgrade to my CPU + GPU + MOBO, I don't want to go over $1500 CDN, but I also want something that's not going to get completely blown away in terms of core count/gaming performance for at least a while.

PURPOSE OF THE BUILD - I'm a Uni student. I play lots of AAA games, but a lot of the things I do are multitasking (i.e. having a game, heavy processing, tons of tabs open on firefox, musicbee and word open at the same time). So I'd say Gaming + Productivity, with the idea that I want to get into music production down the line.

ITEMS YOU NEED/ALREADY HAVE - I already have a CPU Cooler (if I stay with Intel), Memory (that I hope I don't have to upgrade), SSD + HDD, Case, PSU and peripherals.

OVERCLOCK OR NOT? - I don't care if I can't OC. I'm doing so right now with my 6600k and I don't really notice that much of a difference.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!


EDIT: Forgot to mention that the main games I play are stuff like Total War, Crusader Kings 2, Sims 3/4, Civilization, Dishonored, XCOM, Watch Dogs, Far Cry, AC, etc etc. So a lot of strategy, RPG and simulation games, and I think those games are supposed to be hard on your processor?
 
IcyRoadz said:
Of course, a few months after Ryzen came out and made me kick myself in the head with how shortsighted it was for me to build that build in Jan.
Click to expand...
Zen 2 is coming in a few months and it should be a significant improvement over Ryzen 2###.
 
Yep, definitely another one that'll suggest waiting.

Also, a 7700K is nothing more than a 6700K with a bump in clocks. You'll gain HT, but that won't help too much with overall performance. You'll see a significant boost in core/thread heavy games with the AMD setup over another quad core.
 
Ryzen is a Modular platform too.

If anything buy the cpu, mobo after 3000 is out, the ram and other parts should be fine for your needs, thrn sell your 6600 and the lga mobo
 
Zen 2/Ryzen 3000 Vote here as well. The 6600K is a solid CPU it will get you by 2-3 more months.
 
Wait for Zen 2.
 
Because of your limited budget, I'd say go with the 2700X if you can't afford the K version i7 8700
 
So Zen 2 = Ryzen 3?
It gets confusing when you're my age.
 
tbh a 7700k is a good option if you can find it cheap, e.g. ryzen 2600 price.
if not though then don't bother.

TheMadDutchDude said:
You'll gain HT, but that won't help too much with overall performance. You'll see a significant boost in core/thread heavy games with the AMD setup over another quad core.
Click to expand...
so threads help amd significantly but won't help intel?
 
Im playing on I-7 3770k, (4 cores/8 threads) i cant deside what to buy, if i go amd , i feel like im compromising the longevity of my pc. Every intel i had lasted for years and years.
No amd ever did that for me.
 
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Splinterdog said:
So Zen 2 = Ryzen 3?
It gets confusing when you're my age.
Click to expand...
Zen2= Ryzen 3000 Series CPU.
Ryzen 3= 1200, 1300X, 2200G, 2200U,2300U, 3200U
not confusing if you think one is architecture name and another one is Product name.
Zen = Ryzen 1000 Series CPU, Ryzen Threadripper 1000 Series, Ryzen 2000 Series APU, EPYC 7000 Series, Ryzen Embedded, EPYC Embedded
Zen+ = Ryzen 2000 Series CPU, Ryzen Threadripper 2000 Series, Ryzen 3000 Series APU
Zen2 = Ryzen 3000 Series CPU
 
I say upgrade your GFX now and determine if that solves your problem or if you need to go further.
At some point you become less CPU dependent and more GFX dependent.
Maybe something like a 2560x1440 144hz monitor and the GFX.
 
CPU upgrades rarely do much. Look at this chart and see that overall, the i5-7600K is only 11.1% slower than the i7-9900K, on a GTX 1080 Ti. Maybe add the second stick of RAM? This might help when you game with all those tabs open.
92c31apgjk.png
 
Wait for Matisse.

That's the codename for the upcoming 7 nm AMD Ryzen 3000 CPU. Just want to point it out since it's not being used much, even though it's pretty much the only name that's not easily mixed up with other names.
 
TheMadDutchDude said:
No, not in that sense. I meant that he can get more cores and threads for the same amount of money as a lesser option on the Intel side. Of course I don’t mean that AMD is better at threading (although they are, from my knowledge).
Click to expand...
true,but there's no equivalence between more cores and faster ipc.
7700K at 5GHz is still gonna beat 2600X hands down and in most cases 2700X and come out on top overall.
this is at stock
https://www.computerbase.de/2018-04/amd-ryzen-2000-test/4/

plus it can take +4000 memory no problem.

I know ryzen offers unprecedented thread/$ value but go easy,games still prioritize single core performance and probably always will.
 
Or will it be Ryzen 4000?

I wouldn't be surprised if AMD wants to distance the new CPU's from the upcoming/last generation 12 nm 3000G APU's.
 
Mats said:
Or will it be Ryzen 4000?

I wouldn't be surprised if AMD wants to distance the new CPU's from the upcoming/last generation 12 nm 3000G APU's.
Click to expand...

If anything, they'll use the 3xxx naming scheme to boost the sales of their 12nm 3000G APU's.
 
For gaming, i7 8700,Much faster in games and better upgrade path as of yet (until Ryzen 3000 can prove otherwise)
 
Chomiq said:
If anything, they'll use the 3xxx naming scheme to boost the sales of their 12nm 3000G APU's.
Click to expand...
exactly.

king of swag187 said:
For gaming, i7 8700,Much faster in games and better upgrade path as of yet (until Ryzen 3000 can prove otherwise)
Click to expand...
imo there's no need to pay the premium price for intel's i7 chips unless you're going for the best gaming performance available with an oc'd K-chip.
8600k/9600k oc can probably match that 8700 in gaming at lower price.
here 8700 non-K costs the same as 2700x and while it's gonna be faster than 2700x it still costs 25% more than 8600k/9600k which will easily catch up and even run faster in single-thread heavy games.
9600k + spend that extra 25% on faster ram is a much better option.
 
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They usually will assuming you can get em to 5ghz+, which should be easy enough. Used 8700K's are going for peanuts anyways, so they're a nice option as well.
 
Chomiq said:
If anything, they'll use the 3xxx naming scheme to boost the sales of their 12nm 3000G APU's.
Click to expand...
Still, lots of people seem confused about it, AMD messed it up when naming the first Ryzen APU's.
 
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