Best Processor Under $500

[skulkingghost]

I am looking for the best processor under $500. I do a ton of heavy graphic design and high-definition video editing work, as well as 3D gaming. Currently my setup is below, is it time to move to a new processor, or should I wait?

i7-920 @4GHZ
12gb DDR3-1600 ram. (6 sticks of 2gb)
GTX-680

 

[Ferzerp]

I'd wait.

In fact, other than a different multiplier, I'm running the same proc at the same speed with the same volume and speed of memory with the same video card (well, 2 after I install the second this weekend). Mine is a 930 instead of a 920.

 

[RavenSEAL]

i7 3930K

 

[Smoblikat]

i7 3930K

Not under 500$. I would go for an I7 2600K, or better yet. The 3820, but that doesnt overclock.

 

[alyarb]

Currently you have a 4-core, 8-threaded processor at a rather high clock.

The only way you will be happy in both single and multithreaded environments is to move to a 6-core, 12-threaded chip and then overclock that. Unfortunately the barrier to that is $580, not $500.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Not under 500$. I would go for an I7 2600K, or better yet. The 3820, but that doesnt overclock.

If you're gonna spend $500 on a processor, you can spend $50 more to get a 3930K.

 

[Tempered81]

2700K if you're overclocking

3770K if you are not.

 

[FalseChristian]

Hyperthreading is just a marketing gimmick at the moment. Games don't even use 4 cores yet.

Get an i5 2500K and use the saved dollars for something else like a SSD. My i5 2500K overclocked to 4.5GHz has doubled performance with the same GPUs.

 

[Joseph F]

Hyperthreading is just a marketing gimmick at the moment. Games don't even use 4 cores yet.

Get an i5 2500K and use the saved dollars for something else like a SSD. My i5 2500K overclocked to 4.5GHz has doubled performance with the same GPUs.

Have you ever heard of Video editing, CAD, DC, VMs or Ray-tracing?
Gaming isn't the sole purpose of a high-end PC.

 

[chimaxi83]

Hyperthreading is just a marketing gimmick at the moment. Games don't even use 4 cores yet.

Get an i5 2500K and use the saved dollars for something else like a SSD. My i5 2500K overclocked to 4.5GHz has doubled performance with the same GPUs.

Strange, since the OP explicitly said "I do a ton of heavy graphic design and high-definition video editing work, as well as 3D gaming."

Hyperthreading has its place. It's not in gaming, no, but based on OP needs, he can make use of it.

i7-3930K is an even $500 at Microcenter, if you live near one. You'd of course have to factor in extra money for an X79 board and more RAM to really make use of the new platform.

 

[Dave3000]

As someone else said here, if you have a MC near you I suggest an i7 3930k because it's on sale at MC for $500. An i7 3930k is much better than an i7 2700k in apps that use more than 4 cores.

Games don't even use 4 cores yet.

Most don't, but Flight Simulator X does make use of more than 4 cores, but only for improving texture rendering time and load times, not frame rate. I know because I have an i7 3930k and run it in 4-core and 6-core mode and did a comparisant in this game and it's only like a 20-25% difference between 4-core and 6-core mode in loading a flight. However, hyperthreading didn't seem to do anything in this game. Also XPlane 10 is suppose to take advantage of as many cores as available in the system according to the manufacturer's website, but I have yet to see that as I got the same frame rate in 4-core and 6-core mode in my i7 3930k, however I had AI Aircraft traffic turned off in this game and was not moving the aircraft.

 

[gevorg]

another vote for 3930K, especially since you'll be able to use quad channel and up to 64GB of memory which comes handy in "heavy graphic design and high-definition video editing work"

 

[bunnyfubbles]

an i7 3930K can be had for $499 from a B&M Microcenter, however that doesn't include tax or the motherboard that you'd need to go with it. When its all said and done chances are you're going to be spending at least ~$750 to complete the upgrade

that being said, something like the i7 980 would always be an option as a drop-in upgrade, and regularly goes for ~$580 on the likes of Amazon and Newegg.

 

[Dave3000]

I noticed that the OP has an X58 motherboard which means that most likely it supports the first generation Core i7 6-core processors. In that case if your board supports an i7-980, I recommend that if you don't mind have a little slower performance (around 12-15%) than an i7 3930k but want to save a good deal of money. X58 is still a solid performing chipset for today and an i7-980 is a solid performing chip.

 

[Don Karnage]

3750k

 

[Arachnotronic]

Buy a used i7 980 from ebay, and sell me your i7 920

 

[Gikaseixas]

Buy a used i7 980 from ebay, and sell me your i7 920

Best advice so far. OP you have a mobo that supports this bad boy.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Best advice so far. OP you have a mobo that supports this bad boy.

+1

 

[Arkaign]

Best advice so far. OP you have a mobo that supports this bad boy.

Yep, and he has plenty of PCI-e slots for things like USB 3.0 if he wants. X58 was really good, still is.

 

[Don Karnage]

980X is perfect but you'll never find one for under 500 bucks and its not worth the 650-750 people want for them

 

[aaksheytalwar]

3930k is a lot better than 980x. Get either 3930k for a med-high upgrade or 3770k for a low-med upgrade.

 

[tweakboy]

People going from Sandy 2600k to a Ivy or anything in 2012 is a waiste of money.

YOU WILL SEE NO DIFFERENCE. Get a SSD instead, no need for 500 cpu this isnt 1998 .. grab the 2600k ,,For shure, and doesnt have to do with gaming,, you haveh 8 thread HT aps 64bit like Premiere, Vegas, Photoshop,, those are just couple apps that support HT 64bit ....You havent even used your current processor to its peak. I bet it never goes to 100 percent load..... like everyone with a quad. Only way for 100 percent usage is benchmarks and the difference is not seen, you might see your video rednering take 3 min faster or something. Just not worth it, if you have a quad to buy something else.. The quad is great,, nice video card,,,,,,, your set.

 

[Smartazz]

Sounds like your needs would really benefit from the 6 core SB-E. They're a tad over $500, but they'd save a ton of time over something like a 2700K/3770K in graphic design and video editing. However, with X79, you'd figure at least another $50 for motherboard.

 

[grkM3]

buy an es 2011 off ebay and save 300 bucks

If you want to upgrade make it worth it,you can grab an 8 core monster xeon lga2011 on ebay for 700 bucks.

that chip retail is 3500

 

[Grooveriding]

3930K is the best proc for your needs if it can be had for $500 as someone else indicated.