How much life is left on a gaming build running 4790K CPU?

[Zameus]

I'm getting ready to build a new high end gaming PC and future proof it so it lasts me at least 4yrs or so with a GTX series GPU, 16-32GB or RAM (DDR3). Through the course of those years, would I end up bottlenecking myself by not going with the 6700K CPU? I've been doing alot of reading and want a gaming system that I won't have to upgrade for several years. Am I future proof going with the 4790K? :\

 

[Ken g6]

A 4790K would last a long time. But if you want "future-proof", consider overclocking a 5820K.

 

[The Sauce]

I just ran an assessment on my overclocked 2500k and it benched not far behind a stock 6700k. Hard to believe, but I still don't have a reason to upgrade 5 years later. Gonna just upgrade my GPU again, making it the second GPU upgrade on this same platform. I think my first one was a Radeon 5850. So...I'd guess you 4790k would be perfectly fine for a while to come.

 

[daveybrat]

A 4790K would still last for at least a couple to several years of good gaming. You'll be upgrading your video card far ahead of any CPU upgrades over the coming years.

 

[Zameus]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards the 4790K after all the readying I've been doing the last few days. The extra $100+ doesn't justify the bit of more performance I'd get out of the 6700K, and I could be saving $$$ and put it towards the GTX 980 GPU. Decisions...decisions. Now to build something around the 4790K CPU

 

[AMDisTheBEST]

if people today can still run pc on a Pentium, there is no reason to worry.

 

[JimmiG]

It's going to last a long time. The next step is probably going to be 6 - 8 core CPUs going mainstream (8 "real" cores), which will make both the 4790K and 6700K outdated.

 

[dud]

Is it me or do most people focus too much about their CPU choices ... and not enough on their GPUs? The 4790 may last "longer" than the 2500K has but it will be your choice of GPU that lends itself more towards "future proofing" it.

Of course, this is all IMHO ...

 

[jdoggg12]

if people today can still run pc on a Pentium, there is no reason to worry.

There's a difference between running a computer and not bottle-necking the cpu.

 

[Dannar26]

From 2009 to late 2014 I gamed on a non-OC'd Core 2 Quad (at 2.4ghz), and an Nvidia GTX 260. This statement might make some of our fellow techies a bit sick to their stomachs, but not everybody is rocking 3 monitors at 1440p.

When I built my 4690k system, I gave the Core 2 system to my younger brother. He is using it to this day to play steam games. The only thing he switched out was the HSF, because the stock one stopped working. Everything else is pretty much as I left it...

So IMHO you have A LOT of life in your rig barring some unforeseen advance in graphene tech that allows us to see 30% increases again. Ride it out, and throw in a new GPU as needed.

Just my .02. I'm almost as at the "Virtual Larry" level when it comes to fondness of old/budget tech however. So my opinion will vary wildly from the guys running custom water cooled 3 way SLI 980 rigs (which I also happen to think are awesome).

 

[Zameus]

From 2009 to late 2014 I gamed on a non-OC'd Core 2 Quad (at 2.4ghz), and an Nvidia GTX 260. This statement might make some of our fellow techies a bit sick to their stomachs, but not everybody is rocking 3 monitors at 1440p.

When I built my 4690k system, I gave the Core 2 system to my younger brother. He is using it to this day to play steam games. The only thing he switched out was the HSF, because the stock one stopped working. Everything else is pretty much as I left it...

So IMHO you have A LOT of life in your rig barring some unforeseen advance in graphene tech that allows us to see 30% increases again. Ride it out, and throw in a new GPU as needed.

Just my .02. I'm almost as at the "Virtual Larry" level when it comes to fondness of old/budget tech however. So my opinion will vary wildly from the guys running custom water cooled 3 way SLI 980 rigs (which I also happen to think are awesome).

Dannar26, thank you for replying! I see now that I'll be good for a few good solid years while occasionally upgrading the GPU. Really like this community. Very helpful for guys like me who are green when it comes to hardware. Thanks all!

 

[StinkyPinky]

It will last 5 years. Also, stay with 16gb. That will last 5 years also. 99% of AAA games still notice no difference between 8 and 16.

Kind of a boring time to be a PC gamer hardware wise.

 

[Zameus]

It will last 5 years. Also, stay with 16gb. That will last 5 years also. 99% of AAA games still notice no difference between 8 and 16.

Kind of a boring time to be a PC gamer hardware wise.

16GB it is. Thank you StinkyPinky!

 

[JimmiG]

Is it me or do most people focus too much about their CPU choices ... and not enough on their GPUs? The 4790 may last "longer" than the 2500K has but it will be your choice of GPU that lends itself more towards "future proofing" it.

Of course, this is all IMHO ...

You can more easily upgrade to a faster GPU, while newer CPUs often require new mobos, sockets, RAM etc.
I originally built my 4770K system with a GTX 670, upgraded to a GTX 970 last year, and will probably upgrade at least once more before it's time to retire the CPU/mobo/DDR3 RAM.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Forget Devils canyon, get the 6700K