YAY upgrade time!

[MasterChuck]

so last year i built this system:
CPU: FX-6300
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14
Motherboard: ASUS M5A99FX EVO R2.0
GPU: Sapphire HD7950 vapour-x
Case: Phantom 630
PSU: TX-850V2
RAM: Kingston ValueRAM KVR16N11/8 8GB 1600mhz
SSD: Samsung 840 evo 128gb
HDD: WD blue 1tb

Now I built with the intention of buying broadwell when it comes out. But back then it was slated for mid 2014 release and now it's slated for Q1 2015. But luckily for me devils canyon came to the rescue. My planned upgrade is now to move to the 4790k and the MSI Gaming 7 motherboard. I'll be buying through America this time and I'm not fussy on brands. Ideal budget is around the $500 mark. I'm not sure what's the best bang for a buck, I read maximum PCs roundup where they really loved the gaming 7 and didn't like the hero VII.

Any input would be appreciated, Thanks

 

[richaron]

Which components are you willing to re-use? What is the computer used for?
And more importantly; how, specifically, is your current system underperforming?

Your current motherboard is capable of CPU, GPU, and RAM upgrades which may alleviate your problems.
And if you're after performance you should probly add another stick of RAM (matching, to make dual channel) whether changing platforms or not.

That said, and depending on your use, an Intel CPU/mobo may be a worthwhile (if more expensive) upgrade.

 

[MasterChuck]

I'm reusing everything, I should've clarified my point, I'm only looking for a replacement motherboard and CPU. It's not important when I buy as It's not really under performing majorly. I want to move to an intel CPU for better single thread performance and better overclocks. My question is is the i7-4790K paired with the MSI Gaming 7 the best combo at that level? Should I wait for broadwell to see what the 'competition' is? I hope that helps.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Someone else could advise better on the motherboard, but the 4790k is the best you can do for a CPU now. Depending on over clocks, haswell E coming soon could be faster in a few games that use the extra cores, but will be more expensive, and require an expensive motherboard and DDR4. As best we know, broadwell on the desktop is about a year away, and will be limited to a few k models. Also sky lake should come out around that time, but who knows how either will perform.

I don't mean to offend you op, but a case like this is why I find it hard to recommend a gaming build with less than an i5. Considering the cost of an entire system, it only adds about 15% cost initially, and is much less likely to lead to the upgrade itch soon afterwards.

 

[DSF]

I just want to echo richaron's question.

You said you want better single thread performance but you also said it's not underperforming majorly. Can you be more specific and describe what applications your computer is having trouble running?

If the answer is "none" then it's best to wait.

 

[mfenn]

I just want to echo richaron's question.

You said you want better single thread performance but you also said it's not underperforming majorly. Can you be more specific and describe what applications your computer is having trouble running?

If the answer is "none" then it's best to wait.

Agree. Also, I'm wondering what the purpose of the i7 (vs i5) and the $180 motherboard are.

 

[chusteczka]

Just repeating what I have read here regarding Intel Core i5 vs. i7 but i7 does not provide much improvement over an i5 for gaming. Assuming you are seeking gaming improvement. Your purpose behind the need to upgrade has not been stated.

A single memory stick provides single channel memory, which is significantly slower than dual channel. Do you currently have one or two sticks of memory? There is little sense in upgrading if you will continue to have single channel memory.

 

[MasterChuck]

I'll address the areas I'm under performing in first. I mainly see lag in big fights in planetside 2 and when I'm driving a vehicle. I can't run unturned on max settings (I think that's a matter of CPU and RAM). I want to use the 4790k and the MSI Gaming 7 because mainly for the good overclocking performance and features. I haven't OC'd my current system yet because I haven't had any performance issues until now and I figured I would just do it when i got better parts.

Is your recommendation that i do non specific upgrades now (like RAM, more fans and storage) now and wait until next year for broardwell and/or skylake?

Edit: I haven't addressed i7 over i5 yet. It's also the computer I do most of my school work on. That entails everything from writing SAs all the way to doing some heavy photo and video editing. I've heard hyper-threading is only useful for that type of work. I'll also end up editing a lot of my own photos and videos in my spare time. It's still mainly a gaming rig but i want the best performance for those areas as well.

 

[mfenn]

SAs? I'll admit that I had to sound that one out. :awe:

If you're doing a lot of video editing, then the i7 4790K can make sense. Since you said that you can order from the US, I'd recommend picking up this i7 4790K + EVGA Z97 FTW combo for $430. It's a stacked motherboard with a ridiculous $80 combo discount until the end of the day.

 

[chusteczka]

SAs = essays, I didn't get that at first.

You will want dual channel memory, 2 or 4 RAM sticks.