Building a new PC and I need CPU help badly please!

[Smorkin_Panda]

I have been browsing around these forums for the last few hours just reading through threads both old and new and really couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.

A little background. I used to have a PC, it was great, I enjoyed using it and it made sense. Then I was gifted a iMac about five-ish years ago. It was nice due to everything syncing in my house (iMac, iPhone, iPad, etc.). Then I decided that I wanted to get back into gaming and I wanted to share these games on Twitch. I could do this on my iMac but it just didn't do it as well as what I saw PC's doing. So, the answer? Build a PC! The problem, I have been out of the PC loop for the last five years and I came back to confusion.

So when I was a PC guy I was building a new PC every few years and getting pretty close to the best every time I would upgrade (i.e. if I saw the best processor at $1000 I would try and find the CPU that would make the most sense, usually around 300-400 dollars that was not quite the newest and best). So what do I buy!?!

What do I do on my computer you ask? Here is a list;

Game (a lot of games, from Hearthstone to WoW to The Witcher, etc.)
Stream via Twitch
Video Editting
Photoshop
Capture video from other devices (such as my XBOX 1)

I think that about sums up anything that might take a significant amount of CPU power. So where does that leave me? I was looking around Newegg and saw 10000 CPU's all with 10000 numbers and letter that I am sure mean something to you guys who are way more educated on the subject than myself. I really don't want to pay 1000 dollars for a new CPU, I would love hitting the 300-400 dollar range (maybe a bit more if the benefit is there. I would like to go Intel (hopefully this doesn't make too many enemies). Finally, in the past I have had GREAT success with EVGA so most of my other components will come from them (not sure if that matters at all).

Anyways sorry for the wall of text for my first post, I appreciate any help that any of you guys can give me. Thank you in advance!

 

[Flapdrol1337]

Intel will supposedly launch the broadwell cpu's in 1 or 2 weeks. Might want to wait for that?

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, it sounds like you need an i7.

If you want to save some cash, a higher end i5 will do for you.

You do not want an i3.

There are some new Intel chips coming, as said above.

If you can wait a little while, you can either get the latest chip, or you will be able to get a better price on the current line up.

If you want to go with AMD, I think you want an FX-8320 at minimum.

 

[VirtualLarry]

OP, do you have a Microcenter nearby? You can get some nice 5820K / X99 mobo combos.

I think that you really want an X99 rig, if you want to stream PC games with Twitch.

 

[Smorkin_Panda]

VirtualLarry, super conveniently I am moving up to Denver at the end of this week and I will have a Microcenter nearby heh. Not to stray too far off topic, but can places like Microcenter (B&M stores so to speak) compete with online prices?

I will also definitely wait the couple of weeks to see what happens to prices when those new chipsets come out. Always up to wait a little bit for things like that.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Microcenter often has the best available pricing on CPUs and CPU+motherboard combos. The other stuff is hit-or-miss. But if you are looking for a sweetheart of a deal on a CPU, Microcenter is the place to go.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Microcenter has great cpu/mb bundles, but they are in-store only, so you will be in business when you move to Denver.

Personally, I would not wait for Broadwell for the desktop. There will only be a couple of Iris Pro (bigger gpu plus e-dram) models for the desktop. They are supposedly overclockable, but are focused toward igpu and will probably be expensive because of the e-dram. The only chip I would wait for is Skylake, which is supposed to be out toward the end of the summer. We are hopeful for a 10 to 15% ipc gain, but nothing earthshaking. Otherwise go with the 4790k or as someone else said, hex core 5820k.

 

[happy medium]

I also say go for the x99/5820k deal at Microcenter. You can't beat it.
You can a good motherboard/cpu ,and ram for about 650/700$.

 

[Flapdrol1337]

OP, do you have a Microcenter nearby? You can get some nice 5820K / X99 mobo combos.

I think that you really want an X99 rig, if you want to stream PC games with Twitch.

Can't you also stream with the encoders built in to all modern graphics cards? I thought you could even do it with the intel igp.

 

[Smorkin_Panda]

Can't you also stream with the encoders built in to all modern graphics cards? I thought you could even do it with the intel igp.

The problem that I have found at least on my iMac is that the systems generally are not optimized for things like this and so the stream get's very laggy when running everything you want to run (i.e. having video of myself broadcast in the corner, running the game and running the broadcasting software, etc.).

And thanks guys, 700 for the cpu/mobo/ram sounds like my kind of deal lol.

 

[superstition]

I have been browsing around these forums for the last few hours just reading through threads both old and new and really couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.

A little background. I used to have a PC, it was great, I enjoyed using it and it made sense. Then I was gifted a iMac about five-ish years ago. It was nice due to everything syncing in my house (iMac, iPhone, iPad, etc.). Then I decided that I wanted to get back into gaming and I wanted to share these games on Twitch. I could do this on my iMac but it just didn't do it as well as what I saw PC's doing. So, the answer? Build a PC! The problem, I have been out of the PC loop for the last five years and I came back to confusion.

So when I was a PC guy I was building a new PC every few years and getting pretty close to the best every time I would upgrade (i.e. if I saw the best processor at $1000 I would try and find the CPU that would make the most sense, usually around 300-400 dollars that was not quite the newest and best). So what do I buy!?!

What do I do on my computer you ask? Here is a list;

Game (a lot of games, from Hearthstone to WoW to The Witcher, etc.)
Stream via Twitch
Video Editting
Photoshop
Capture video from other devices (such as my XBOX 1)

I think that about sums up anything that might take a significant amount of CPU power. So where does that leave me? I was looking around Newegg and saw 10000 CPU's all with 10000 numbers and letter that I am sure mean something to you guys who are way more educated on the subject than myself. I really don't want to pay 1000 dollars for a new CPU, I would love hitting the 300-400 dollar range (maybe a bit more if the benefit is there. I would like to go Intel (hopefully this doesn't make too many enemies). Finally, in the past I have had GREAT success with EVGA so most of my other components will come from them (not sure if that matters at all).

Anyways sorry for the wall of text for my first post, I appreciate any help that any of you guys can give me. Thank you in advance!

An Intel (other than the anniversary Pentium which is thread-starved) will outperform AMD in gaming generally but with your very low budget you may want to get AMD instead, especially if you have a access to a Microcenter.

8320E CPU (overclockable to 4.3 GHz with low voltage, can set BIOS to one core per module to enable higher GHz with lesser cooling than full-fat chip, also — for higher single-thread performance)
Gigabyte UD3P 2.0 ATX motherboard, 8 phase power, VRM heatsink
combo price with tax: $160.50

alternatively:

Intel i3-4170 3.7 GHz CPU
MSI Z97 PC Mate ATX motherboard, VRM heatsink, Z97 chipset may be compatible with upcoming chip releases
combo price with tax: $214

difference = $53 you can put toward a better GPU
drawback for AMD is that the motherboard socket is end of life
drawback for Intel is that the chip can't be overclocked and is just a dual core (although 4 threads should be enough for your budget's gaming settings)

You will need at least an EVO cooler for the AMD, although I don't suggest using a stock cooler for an Intel setup either, so that point is moot.

The AMD uses more power so it's important to have a decent PSU. A platinum Antec EarthWatts after rebate was like $55 at Newegg.

Then add in your GPU. For your slim budget it will probably be a 750 Ti on sale because you still need to buy a case, an SSD, and the PSU. The 750 Ti should make the choice of an AMD chip much less of a factor because you will be GPU bound in games. So you won't have to overclock too much and raise up heat, power, voltage. My 8320E runs at 4.2 GHz with around 1.28 volts which isn't much.

If you can swing it, though, you're better off getting a 290 on sale. It uses a lot more power, though, so you'll need to make sure your PSU can handle both it and your CPU.


Edit: I skimmed and thought your budget for the entire PC was around $400. If you're talking about spending $300-400 for the CPU alone then get an Intel. In that price range I'd get a 5920K myself, but the 4970K is also a good choice.

 

[tweakboy]

For video editing you need cores ..

 

[Smorkin_Panda]

OK guys, it is time.

So looking at Microcenter and the options look like;

the i7-5820, the i5-4690k or the i7-4790k

the mother boards that go with them are (in order); the MSI X99S LGA 2011-3 ATX, the MSI Z97-Gaming 5 LGA 1150 ATX, or the ASUS Z97-Pro Wi-Fi LGA 1150 ATX

They are priced at (in order again); $460, $305, or $520.

Are the price increases warranted? Am I going to get value out of the $305 and end up with something that will handle what I mentioned in my OP in terms of what I am going to use it? Or should I get something bigger and better?

I know you said the 5920k or the 4970k but I don't see those CPU's as available. I really used to like my MSI motherboard which is the reason I selected the above choices. Is that bad or good?

If you guys want to suggest some other options for the other parts that would be super awesome . I'd love to know all of my options for something with water cooling.

Ultimately if I could be under $1000 with everything for the PC itself (this doesn't include mouse, keyboard or monitor) that would be great. If I need to increase my budget and it is worth increasing it for what I want to do please just let me know, I am not opposed, I just figured I should TRY to set a limit lol.

Thank you for the already great information and thank you in advance for more!

 

[stockwiz]

If I was building now I'd do a 5820K build especially with a microcenter nearby. I'd overclock it to around 4.2-4.4 GHZ and be happy for years. 6 cores/12 threads is the future. If I was not going to buy a hex core part, I would not buy any of the processors out there with Skylake's 6600K and 6700K parts only 2-3 months away... and it being summer and all in the northern hemisphere, I'd simply wait for them and build with a new architecture/die shrink.

You should not need to watercool unless you are delidding the processors and pushing them to the limit. The 5820K has a soldered IHS, but the rest do not, they use thermal compound in between the processor and the IHS, including skylake's new parts. I use high end air on my 2600K build.

 

[HWTactics]

Have you ever considered buying an actual workstation PC that can be used for gaming if you're trading gaming and workstation loads? One of these for example. This specific one includes a Windows 7 Pro COA so you would need still need to add your own HDD/SSD and GPU, like a barebones system. It's also a 6-core processor and about 90% of the performance of the 5820K, with a 600W power supply and two 6-pin PCI-E power connectors, and off-the-charts reliability.

Quite a departure from what you're planning, but if your end goal is high performance and you're not dead set on building everything yourself, this would save a lot of money.

 

[RaistlinZ]

OK guys, it is time.

So looking at Microcenter and the options look like;

the i7-5820, the i5-4690k or the i7-4790k

the mother boards that go with them are (in order); the MSI X99S LGA 2011-3 ATX, the MSI Z97-Gaming 5 LGA 1150 ATX, or the ASUS Z97-Pro Wi-Fi LGA 1150 ATX

They are priced at (in order again); $460, $305, or $520.

Are the price increases warranted? Am I going to get value out of the $305 and end up with something that will handle what I mentioned in my OP in terms of what I am going to use it? Or should I get something bigger and better?

I know you said the 5920k or the 4970k but I don't see those CPU's as available. I really used to like my MSI motherboard which is the reason I selected the above choices. Is that bad or good?

If you guys want to suggest some other options for the other parts that would be super awesome . I'd love to know all of my options for something with water cooling.

Ultimately if I could be under $1000 with everything for the PC itself (this doesn't include mouse, keyboard or monitor) that would be great. If I need to increase my budget and it is worth increasing it for what I want to do please just let me know, I am not opposed, I just figured I should TRY to set a limit lol.

Thank you for the already great information and thank you in advance for more!

The 5820K deal is the one you want. In the long run, you'll appreciate having the additional cores for the kind of work you'll be doing.

Also, there is no 5920K or 4970K. Whoever put that made a typo.