Should I take the plunge? i5-2500K for $205

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
Newegg is selling the i5-2500K for $204.99 (with promo code). Should I wait till summer when Ivy bridge will be in stock? I wonder since Intel commands the higher end of CPUs that they feel they don't have to lower prices because the competition is not really there?

I've been with AMD for so long that this will be my first Intel purchase since IBM PC days. This will be my fun computer for building a video library, playing games, programming XBMC add-ons, etc.

Oh and I'll need a mobo. So if a purchase it now, I guess it should be a Z68 (since I want to add a video card). Which one? I don't see just one standout.

If I wait till summer should it be a Z77? Jeebus, so many choices but nothing that screams buy me.

This wasn't the case when I bought a AMD Phenom II X6 1090T and a supporting motherboard with USB 3.0 on it just a about a year and a half ago. (It's connected to my TV and is the main jukebox for video and audio.) It was exactly the performance/price point that does exactly what I want.
 

jacktesterson

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
5,493
3
81
Just a FYI,

Tiger Direct is selling them for $199.99

My opinion, keep your 1090T and skip another Generation or even 2.

If you O/C that to 3.8 or higher, you're golden
 

superccs

Senior member
Dec 29, 2004
999
0
0
There's really little reason to (upgrade) from a ~3.8-4Ghz 1090T... Its a beast, and will continue to be a performer for another 1-2 years.
 

Destiny

Platinum Member
Jul 6, 2010
2,270
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0
I'm was in the same boat as you were... I had an AMD Phenom II 965 that did well for gaming and stuff that I upgraded 1.5 years ago too... this past week I ended upgrading to an i5-2550k (same as an i5-2500k but without the integrated GPU)...but I chose a z68 mother board with PCI Express 3.0 and that would support both the i5-2550k and the new Ivy Bridges so all I would need to do is swap CPU...
The main reason is because I did not want a CPU that would bottle new the GTX 680 I was going to get...The AMD Phenom II 965 was already bottlenecking my GTX 570, definately won't be able to handle a GTX 680!

Regardless, unless you are the type of person that spends money getting the #1 and #2 best GPU from Nvidia or AMD for gaming, there is really no point for you to upgrade at the momment - at the end of the day are you willing to shell out money for a few extra FPS? or Faster encoding for your videos...

But the performance was noticeable in gaming and better than my AMD Phenom II 965... also the i5s use less wattage and less heat than the my previous AMD CPU... the i5-2550k also encodes video faster too!
 

Destiny

Platinum Member
Jul 6, 2010
2,270
1
0
Also if you have a Micro Center near you... an i5-2500k is $179.99 and you get $50 off with a compatible Mobo bundle deal... The motherboards are almost the same price as NewEgg too!
 

blckgrffn

Diamond Member
May 1, 2003
9,522
3,896
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www.teamjuchems.com
@ Destiny -

Encoding times between a Thuban and a 2500k are probably going to be a wash.

Basically you might get some new features (USB3?) and some FPS in games combined w/lowered power usage all the time. ~50W of power 24/hours a day might save you $5 a month, on the high side.

Is that worth the time and trouble of finding a new home for your X6? That's your call :)
 

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
Thank you for all the comments. With nVidia just releasing their 2012 cards now, prices between the two will heat up in the next six months. (That is, once nVidia matches all the AMD 7000 cards.) That's another thing for me to consider.

I think I'm gonna wait...this weekend I'll probably spend the money on removing the bamboo from my back yard, instead.
 

The Wayfarer

Member
Aug 11, 2005
25
0
0
Remember that The Next Big Thing will always be right over the horizon. Presently, that's the Ivy you're eyeing, but when *that* is finally available, you'll be lusting after a new Gizmotron-6500Q which will be available in only three months...!

Pull the trigger. You know you want to. :)
 

Chiropteran

Diamond Member
Nov 14, 2003
9,811
110
106
Buy it from a Microcenter and save a fortune.

If you don't live near one, buy it from ebay from someone who bought it at Microcenter and listed to resell it. Or pay someone who lives near a Microcenter to buy it from Microcenter, and ship it to you. Or wait until you go on vacation or visit someone near a Microcenter, and buy it at Microcenter.

TL;DR- Buy it from Microcenter.
 

tweakboy

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2010
9,517
2
81
www.hammiestudios.com
Newegg is selling the i5-2500K for $204.99 (with promo code). Should I wait till summer when Ivy bridge will be in stock? I wonder since Intel commands the higher end of CPUs that they feel they don't have to lower prices because the competition is not really there?

I've been with AMD for so long that this will be my first Intel purchase since IBM PC days. This will be my fun computer for building a video library, playing games, programming XBMC add-ons, etc.

Oh and I'll need a mobo. So if a purchase it now, I guess it should be a Z68 (since I want to add a video card). Which one? I don't see just one standout.

If I wait till summer should it be a Z77? Jeebus, so many choices but nothing that screams buy me.

This wasn't the case when I bought a AMD Phenom II X6 1090T and a supporting motherboard with USB 3.0 on it just a about a year and a half ago. (It's connected to my TV and is the main jukebox for video and audio.) It was exactly the performance/price point that does exactly what I want.


For the love of God, do yourself a favore and spend 100 dollars more, You get 8 threads HT ,,,,,,,,,, the 2500k has only 4 threads. If you do video editing or audio production get the 2600k and you dont have to even OC it if you dont want to. If all you do is game and surf and do normal PC things then get the 2500k you wont need the other threads.... gl
 

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
11,144
32
91
Also if you have a Micro Center near you... an i5-2500k is $179.99 and you get $50 off with a compatible Mobo bundle deal... The motherboards are almost the same price as NewEgg too!

I'm driving by a microcenter in mid april. I hope to god that IVB will be out by then...

For the love of God, do yourself a favore and spend 100 dollars more, You get 8 threads HT ,,,,,,,,,, the 2500k has only 4 threads. If you do video editing or audio production get the 2600k and you dont have to even OC it if you dont want to. If all you do is game and surf and do normal PC things then get the 2500k you wont need the other threads.... gl

Do you ever actually think about what you write? What cpu are you currently using? Have you compared it to a 2500/2600k? I run SETI 24/7, and I came from an i7 920 rig, yet I've been enormously pleased with my upgrade to a 2500k. Power/noise/heat is unbelievably better with the 2500k. I was able to get much better thermals AND a much quieter rig with a $25 cooler instead of the $75 + one that I was using before, too. Oh, and I get much better ppd with the 2500k @ 4.5 than I did with the i7 920 @ 4.0.
 
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tweakboy

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2010
9,517
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81
www.hammiestudios.com
I'm driving by a microcenter in mid april. I hope to god that IVB will be out by then...



Do you ever actually think about what you write? What cpu are you currently using? Have you compared it to a 2500/2600k? I run SETI 24/7, and I came from an i7 920 rig, yet I've been enormously pleased with my upgrade to a 2500k. Power/noise/heat is unbelievably better with the 2500k. I was able to get much better thermals AND a much quieter rig with a $25 cooler instead of the $75 + one that I was using before, too. Oh, and I get much better ppd with the 2500k @ 4.5 than I did with the i7 920 @ 4.0.


Yes Brian you dont need the 4 extra threads. That 2500k dont mean jack if your using HT apps like PS premiere vegas,, Sonar X1d ,,, I bet you dont use none of those,, so your 2500k purchase is great. I said if you are using HT app then you will suffer, I stick with what I say,, and no I never think about what I write.
 
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d4a2n0k

Senior member
May 6, 2002
375
0
76
Yes Brian you dont need the 4 extra threads. That 2500k dont mean jack if your using HT apps like PS premiere vegas,, Sonar X1d ,,, I bet you dont use none of those,, so your 2500k purchase is great. I said if you are using HT app then you will suffer, I stick with what I say,, and no I never think about what I write, I just write to piss douchebags like you off....

Tweakboy on vacation in 3,2,1.....
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
19
81
Tweakboy, HyperThreading might gain you 10% in certain applications yet you pay 50% more for the CPU. The additional cache might gain you another 5%.
 

BD231

Lifer
Feb 26, 2001
10,568
138
106
I definitely like the results coming from a Phenom II at 3.8, however I got that $149 deal from microcenter on a 2550k and used an $80 dollar credit I had sitting around forever at new egg on this motherboard so it was extremely cheap. Minimum frames are up, performance in BF3 online is better, I can use my 2133 ram to its full capabilities and not a single blue screen overclocking. Just set it to 4.8 with some additional bios tweaks I jacked off youtube and she runs like a charm. I didn't need six cores and I'm actually getting better performance out of the i5 for what I do so it was a good switch.

I haven't used Intel since the P3 days and I was planing on going Ivy but the first look didn't really impress me so I went for the hot deal instead. I'd wait for Ivy if you can't get your 2500k for $150 or so, you'll get more for your money with the much improved iGPU performance.
 

jacktesterson

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
5,493
3
81
I'm was in the same boat as you were... I had an AMD Phenom II 965 that did well for gaming and stuff that I upgraded 1.5 years ago too... this past week I ended upgrading to an i5-2550k (same as an i5-2500k but without the integrated GPU)...but I chose a z68 mother board with PCI Express 3.0 and that would support both the i5-2550k and the new Ivy Bridges so all I would need to do is swap CPU...
The main reason is because I did not want a CPU that would bottle new the GTX 680 I was going to get...The AMD Phenom II 965 was already bottlenecking my GTX 570, definately won't be able to handle a GTX 680!

Regardless, unless you are the type of person that spends money getting the #1 and #2 best GPU from Nvidia or AMD for gaming, there is really no point for you to upgrade at the momment - at the end of the day are you willing to shell out money for a few extra FPS? or Faster encoding for your videos...

But the performance was noticeable in gaming and better than my AMD Phenom II 965... also the i5s use less wattage and less heat than the my previous AMD CPU... the i5-2550k also encodes video faster too!


Nice new system.

Would not trust it on that OCZ though.