Deciding between 990x and 2600K

[MrDudeMan]

I know the topic of this thread may be a little odd. I am looking to upgrade my computer (E8500, GTX260, 4GB, etc.) and I'm not not sure which platform I should use.

I get an employee discount and there are some deals right now on CPU+SSD packages. I can get an i7-990x Extreme + 160GB 320 series SSD for $619 or an i7-2600k + 160GB 320 series SSD for $378.

I'm not all that interested in OCing as I use this computer for my home business (and some gaming), so I'm interested in reliability as well as speed. I do like the on-die GPU as I run 4 monitors and don't really want to get 2 discrete cards, but that is really the only notable benefit of the Sandy Bridge platform for me.

Given this situation, what would you do?

 

[Kingkazma]

2600k for sure, the 990x would only give advantages if you do things like autocad, and heavy multithreaded work, which i dont think you do, but if you do, maybe the 990x will make sense but by all means, get the 2600k

 

[MrDudeMan]

2600k for sure, the 990x would only give advantages if you do things like autocad, and heavy multithreaded work, which i dont think you do, but if you do, maybe the 990x will make sense but by all means, get the 2600k

I do a fair amount of Solidworks design (sorry forgot to mention this). Ideally, I'd like to get a Quadro and try to game on it, but that's because I only play WoW these days and I was hoping a Quadro could handle that.

Admittedly, I am leaning toward the 2600k, but I thought I should ask. I don't think I can really justify the 990x considering the fact that I would have to get another graphics card.

 

[stahlhart]

Get the 990x and the 320, resell the 990x at a profit, and put the proceeds towards the 2600 and the 320. Then RAID0 the 320s.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Get the 990x and the 320, resell them new at a profit, and put the proceeds towards the 2600.

I hope you realize that's unethical. I'm not doing that.

 

[stahlhart]

Then I'd go with the 2600K and save money on the overall build.

 

[aphelion02]

Can you wait for SB-express?

 

[MrDudeMan]

Can you wait for SB-express?

To be perfectly honest I don't know anything about it. Why do you suggest waiting?

 

[ViRGE]

To be perfectly honest I don't know anything about it. Why do you suggest waiting?

SNB-E (LGA 2011) is the workstation version of SNB. It will be the true replacement for 990X/X58 (LGA 1366). Basically it will be a hex-core SNB part. However it's not due until Q4 of this year, which basically means another 6-8 months.

 

[MrDudeMan]

SNB-E (LGA 2011) is the workstation version of SNB. It will be the true replacement for 990X/X58 (LGA 1366). Basically it will be a hex-core SNB part. However it's not due until Q4 of this year, which basically means another 6-8 months.

Ah ok, thanks. I've been wanting to upgrade for the last 4 months and can't wait anymore. Now if only someone would make a good Z68 motherboard. I don't like any of the options on Newegg.

 

[muskie32]

A 990x overclocked would crush a 2600k. But if you are not planning on overclocking, just get the 2600K.

 

[Puppies04]

A 990x overclocked would crush a 2600k. But if you are not planning on overclocking, just get the 2600K.

Thanks just going to update my dictionary with your new definition as "crush" now apparently means faster in some situations but slower in others.

EDIT. Here you go MrDudeMan. http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core-i7-2600k-990x.html If you cant be bothered to read the whole thing just check the last page

 

[Davidh373]

Thanks just going to update my dictionary with your new definition as "crush" now apparently means faster in some situations but slower in others.

and only for a measly extra $300!!! lol

Honestly, get the 2600k. You will save a lot of money, and honestly, if you do Autocad and Solidworks, you're probably only looking at rendering still frames. The only place the 990x would benefit you is rendering. Modeling, gaming and most everything else it will be slower.

The new Quadro cards have DX11 drivers as well as the pro OpenGL. I would actually put the extra $ into a nice quadro. I like the 4000 right now

 

[Puppies04]

and only for a measly extra $300!!! lol

Honestly, get the 2600k. You will save a lot of money, and honestly, if you do Autocad and Solidworks, you're probably only looking at rendering still frames. The only place the 990x would benefit you is rendering, modeling and gaming and most everything else it will be slower.

The new Quadro cards have DX11 drivers as well as the pro OpenGL. I would actually put the extra $ into a nice quadro. I like the 4000 right now

Got to disagree on the gaming comment, 2600k wins on that aswell unless you are talking about installing MEGA gpu setups or the handful of games that take full advantage of the extra 2 cores

 

[Davidh373]

Got to disagree on the gaming comment, 2600k wins on that aswell unless you are talking about installing MEGA gpu setups or the handful of games that take full advantage of the extra 2 cores

I said the only thing that would be faster would be rendering. Everything else will be slower. I can see how that was mistaken though. Fixed now.

 

[Puppies04]

Sorry david completly misread that

 

[MrDudeMan]

Thanks for the input everyone. I really appreciate all of the comments.

I decided on the 2600k, 8gb, and the Asrock Z68 Extreme. You have no idea how much I want to go crazy and get all the best components for my computer, but the fact of the matter is I really only have time to do work on it and SLI doesn't really help me write code or design circuits...

Maybe when my kids are a little older and I have more free time I will become an enthusiast again. Anyway, thanks again for the help.