best Bang for buck intel CPU

[clok1966]

I'm running a 2500K (stock) and a 7990 (mistake, but i got it cheap) and Yes my games play fine, but Bonus time and tax time I got money to burn and have been thinking of a CPU upgrade. I don't see a need, but thought I would get some input. Im not buying some $1000 CPU, in fact doubt i would go over $400, any thing I should look at, should I just do some OC'ing on my 2500 (that was the plan originally, just never did it). I do all my gaming at 1900x1200 but have been toying with the idea of 3 monitors no that some cheaper 26" are in the $250 range. This is unlikely (3) but maybe.

 

[jji7skyline]

For gaming you should be fine with the 2500K for a while yet. It'd only be worth upgrading if you went with the 4790K but I don't think you'd really notice a difference, at least for gaming. The 7990 is probably running all your games at maximum settings already at 1200p so I doubt you'll want to upgrade that either. If you don't already have an SSD you could get one to make your computer a little more snappy and load games faster, etc.

In my opinion FullHD monitors any larger than 24" are not worth it. They cost more and you lose pixel density. You would be better off with getting one or three 27" 1440p monitors, depending on your budget. You'd need a GPU upgrade to run three 27" monitors on maximum settings though.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

I'd just overclock your 2500k and buy a new CPU when there is a good reason to. The i5-2500k has to be the best gaming CPU ever produced considering its longevity and legendary overclocking prowess for $225 when it came out.

 

[ehume]

If you haven't already done so, get an SSD.

 

[xthetenth]

I went from a 2500k to a 4790k, and honestly the step up in motherboard features I got were a much bigger jump. If it didn't free up the 2500k to replace a friend's Phenom II, I'd regret it. An SSD and/or better monitor would both be a big deal.

And I'd agree that if you're looking for bigger monitors 1440 is a serious jump. Personally I'd give 3440x1440 a look, I've got one and it's fantastic for work use, and while it doesn't have the same peripheral coverage it would still do a great job.

 

[Smoblikat]

I came in here to tell you the best perf/$ intel chip is the 2500K, but since you own that, just overclock it.

 

[clok1966]

I been starting a thread like this for a couple years and get the same answer so I think i will try some OCing. New GPU are on the horizon (are they not?) I may look at something there as this card is fine (and not the HELL it appeared to be by reading posts) but its a heat machine (and power hog) and i have lost 3 stock fans in a year.. i can live with the performance, but he cooling is just not good, all the stock fans dying, and lasting months, i kill this card because the stock cooling keeps dying I will be pissed. thanks again guys, see you all next year with this same thread.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I went from a 2500k to a 4790k, and honestly the step up in motherboard features I got were a much bigger jump. If it didn't free up the 2500k to replace a friend's Phenom II, I'd regret it. An SSD and/or better monitor would both be a big deal.

And I'd agree that if you're looking for bigger monitors 1440 is a serious jump. Personally I'd give 3440x1440 a look, I've got one and it's fantastic for work use, and while it doesn't have the same peripheral coverage it would still do a great job.

And Smoblikat:

I came in here to tell you the best perf/$ intel chip is the 2500K, but since you own that, just overclock it.

I'll second those motions. I was planning to build a 5820K system this year. I do this to "keep up" and because I enjoy it.

But for a long time, fond as I am of all my fellow forum members here, it just seems everybody (including me) has a compulsion to spend more money.

OP!! Overclock that 2500K, furchrissake! What motherboard and chipset are we talking about? Z68? Z77? Hope it's not a non-Z. You could even send me or others a PM to get advice, if any of us are familiar with your particular hardware. Perhaps even if we aren't . . .

 

[It's Not Lupus]

Buy a 212 cooler and do a 4.4-4.5 GHz OC.

 

[Headfoot]

Buy a 212 cooler and do a 4.4-4.5 GHz OC.

This. You can get easily almost 50% more out of your current chip

 

[SPBHM]

keep your 2500K, if you don't want to, don't go any lower than 4790K with the 5820K as another good option (but far more expensive platform)

 

[clok1966]

Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3 and I have a 212 cooler, I did some OCing when i got it. I think i was at 4.2 with no voltage changes, with no problems and never even tried more (this was 3 years ago i think) i had a HD fail and when I put it back together I turned the OC off and never got around to turning it back on. with 1900X1200 there is not much that ever taxed me. I was doing Xfire with 5870's and got the 7990. Sad to say i was just thinking of this as WoT is running about 50-60 FPS (max settings) and i see guys getting 90 so was.. eh.. "thinking" i guess.
If i have issues OC ing I will start a thread and ask for more advice, thanks again.