Time for a Serious SkyLake Upgrade

[PowerEngineer]

Now that Skylake prices have come down a bit...

It's been about seven years since my last build (around an AMD Phenom II X6 1055T), and I'm looking to make an upgrade that will keep me reasonably happy for another seven years. I do have a tendency to buy beyond my current needs in the name of future proofing.

The standard questions:

• PC will be used for: data analysis (lots of large Excel macros), light gaming, general home/business use.
• Budget is: ~$1000 for new parts.
• Buying parts from: USA; leaning toward getting everything from Newegg.
• Brand preference: (strong) Intel, (mild) Gigabyte
• Using current parts: noted in list below
• Overclocking: a mild one.
• Resolution: 1920x1080 now; 4k later
• When: May 2016
• Software: no additional software needed.

Here's the upgrade I've cobbled together:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($344.99 @ Newegg)
• CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X41 106.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Newegg)
• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD5 TH ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($210.91 @ Newegg)
• Memory: Corsair Dominator Platinum 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($229.99 @ Newegg)
• Storage: Intel 535 Series 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (Purchased For $180.00)
• Storage: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($155.99 @ Newegg)
• Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
• Storage: 2 x Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00) -- mirrored
• Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 460 768MB Video Card (Purchased For $0.00)
• Case: Thermaltake Xaser VI ATX Full Tower Case (Purchased For $0.00)
• Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA P2 850W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $115.00)
• Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS224-06 DVD/CD Writer (Purchased For $0.00)
• Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS224-06 DVD/CD Writer (Purchased For $0.00)
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM (64-bit) (Purchased For $0.00)
• Monitor: LG M2452D-PU 24.0" Monitor (Purchased For $0.00)

The bold items are yet to be bought; the underlined items are already bought; the normal font items are parts from my existing system.

My biggest concern is over the type and amount of memory. I'd like to understand the trade-offs between higher rated speeds (e.g DDR4 2400 versus DDR4 3400) and lower rated voltages (1.35V versus 1.2V) for a mild overclock. It seems that memory at higher speeds also have higher rated voltages

I'm also scratching my head over the amount and arrangement of memory. Leaning toward 32 GB now as a bit of "future proofing". Is more memory likely to affect the achievable overclock? Also wondering if two memory modules (e.g. 2x16 GB) is better (or worse) that four memory modules (e.g. 4x8 GB).

Your thoughts? Thanks!

 

[mnewsham]

Take a look at X99 platform and the i7-5820k. It's only $40 more than the i7-6700k, but comes with 2 more cores, almost double the L3 cache, and can OC to 4Ghz on air easily, and over 4.3Ghz on liquid cooling. Also, X99 motherboards are about the same cost as the Z170 board you already were looking at. So motherboard cost shouldnt change.

If your workflow could see a benefit from the 2 extra cores, that $40 may well be more than worth the cost to you, however if all you're doing is some light gaming and similar, then those 2 cores will do pretty much nothing for you. So look into what you plan on doing with this computer, if those two cores would be a benefit, think about X99 instead.


Besides that your upgrade looks fine. Either the 6700k or the 5820k will give you massive IPC improvements for single threaded performance, and multi-threaded performance over the 1055T.

 

[nerp]

If you're going for a 'mild' overclock, I'd suggest going with no overclock since the difference won't be noticable in everyday use. Power consumption and heat will be lower and you can save big costs. $200 for that motherboard is a bit much, for example.

I would not recommend going with an old platform and stick with Skylake. Get a cheaper board and use the $100 elsewhere.

For memory, 2x16 GB would be better for less stress on the memory controller. If you do overclock, this will help with stability in some cases.

 

[maddogchen]

you should go with 2x16 memory for skylake. lets you add more later too.

why go with the Samsung 850 EVO 500GB M.2-2280? You should go with the Samsung 950 pro m.2 for better performance and use that as your boot drive.

Only other thought is that you should cut costs somewhere to buy a second monitor. I love having a second monitor for data analysis. results on one monitor, program analyzing next data set on the other. Although if you are using just excel it probably won't help much.

 

[Yuriman]

If you're going for a 'mild' overclock, I'd suggest going with no overclock since the difference won't be noticable in everyday use. Power consumption and heat will be lower and you can save big costs. $200 for that motherboard is a bit much, for example.

I would not recommend going with an old platform and stick with Skylake. Get a cheaper board and use the $100 elsewhere.

For memory, 2x16 GB would be better for less stress on the memory controller. If you do overclock, this will help with stability in some cases.

This.

You might still choose to go with a Z170 board to use faster DDR4 RAM, but I expect an i7 6700 would be an excellent alternative to the 6700K.

 

[RU482]

Take a look at X99 platform and the i7-5820k. It's only $40 more than the i7-6700k, but comes with 2 more cores, almost double the L3 cache, and can OC to 4Ghz on air easily, and over 4.3Ghz on liquid cooling. Also, X99 motherboards are about the same cost as the Z170 board you already were looking at. So motherboard cost shouldnt change.

If your workflow could see a benefit from the 2 extra cores, that $40 may well be more than worth the cost to you, however if all you're doing is some light gaming and similar, then those 2 cores will do pretty much nothing for you. So look into what you plan on doing with this computer, if those two cores would be a benefit, think about X99 instead.


Besides that your upgrade looks fine. Either the 6700k or the 5820k will give you massive IPC improvements for single threaded performance, and multi-threaded performance over the 1055T.

Broadwell-E will be available in a little over a month!

 

[mnewsham]

Broadwell-E will be available in a little over a month!

Yeah i was gonna mention if he could wait a month or so Broadwell-E was coming, but I think it will be a bit more expensive than only $40 more than the 6700k.

 

[daveybrat]

Might i also suggest upgrading your video card from that GTX 460 768MB card to a newer one?

If you are only doing light gaming, i'd suggest looking for a good deal on a GTX 950 2GB card. They've been going for around $119-$129 AR lately.

That GTX 460 is getting quite long in the tooth.

 

[nerp]

Might i also suggest upgrading your video card from that GTX 460 768MB card to a newer one?

If you are only doing light gaming, i'd suggest looking for a good deal on a GTX 950 2GB card. They've been going for around $119-$129 AR lately.

That GTX 460 is getting quite long in the tooth.

Agreed. the 950 is great price/performance. It's also ideal if you're planning on driving multiple monitors. Intel is still struggling to achieve perfect stability with its Windows 10 skylake /HD530 graphics, especially with dual monitors and displayport.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Thank you for the feedback! :thumbsup:

I’ve been trying to follow the debate about Skylake versus the 5820k. My own experience with the X6 suggests to me that Excel doesn’t make all that much use of additional cores, and so Skylake seems better for me. But I’m still thinking about it…

Yes, it probably makes more sense for me to go with a non-K processor. That said, it would be a learning experience for me to attempt an overclock.

I’ll take another look at the 950 Pro. I remember others saying that the difference in real world performance over the 850 Evo was small.

Yes, the video card is very long in the tooth and will eventually be replaced. I want to be able to drive a 120 Hz 4k monitor of some sort in the future and expect to get a more suitable video card at that time. I will, however, that a look at the 950.

Any thoughts about better memory options?

Broadwell-E? Always something better if we wait a little longer. :\ I'll do some reading...

Thanks again!

 

[techfenix]

Hi,
Do anyone of you know if the Skylake will be included in the launch of the new Macbook Pro now this summer? I know I had a discussion with my friend and he talked about that Apple MOST likely will include it. Skylake are already included in other manufactures laptops, so I guess it is time. Thing is I am looking to buy a new computer and was checking ASUS laptops.. But still if the Macbook PRO model will include Skylake processor, maybe it is worth to wait and grab one.