i5-2400 vs i7-2600 for gaming?

[Blue_Max]

I have one of those nice opportunities to snag an i7-2600 chip on the cheap, $100 Canadian (like $70 US?)

This could upgrade my current i5-2400 which could then replace my boy's i3-2130 - though he's not feeling any special need for speed.

Gaming is the top priority... though I should also get back to Folding@Home.

Fallout4 is one of those rare games that show a big improvement with an i7, but with DX12 around the corner, maybe there's more to come?

Maybe I should do it for resale value alone...

Your thoughts?

 

[Ken g6]

Sounds like a good deal to me, if only to upgrade the i3.

But the ticket for F@H is graphics cards. A <$100 750Ti is much better than any reasonably-priced CPU I know of.

 

[SPBHM]

for that amount of money the 2600 will be a great CPU, and it should have an advantage in gaming, higher clock and HT... sounds good.

 

[jana519]

There's about 5% difference, gaming wise, between an i5-2400 and an i7-2600. However the i5-2400 will perform better in newer AAA titles (like FO4) than the i3-2120, so for that reason it's worth it. But I mean for $70 there's literally no reason not to upgrade. The 8 threads can be used in a variety of home applications.

 

[dbcooper1]

With the right board, you can also likely get the 2600 as high as 4.2GHz.

 

[zlejedi]

Assuming you have oc mobo (P or Z) it would be solid jump even in single threaded stuff.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

With the right board, you can also likely get the 2600 as high as 4.2GHz.

Yes . . . the "K" seems missing from the OP's description. Why shouldn't he be able to find a "K" chip for about the same $100 outlay?

There can't be THAT MANY folks like me, holding on to a six-year-old processor.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Yes . . . the "K" seems missing from the OP's description. Why shouldn't he be able to find a "K" chip for about the same $100 outlay?

There can't be THAT MANY folks like me, holding on to a six-year-old processor.

2600ks go for about $170 on Ebay.

 

[Blue_Max]

No overclocking chip OR board... pure stock only.

 

[Sheep221]

Yes . . . the "K" seems missing from the OP's description. Why shouldn't he be able to find a "K" chip for about the same $100 outlay?

There can't be THAT MANY folks like me, holding on to a six-year-old processor.

there are many folks like you still rocking 6 yr old i7-2600