When to upgrade?

[MrGuru]

Hi there,

I have a build from 2011 or so that has been great for the past five years, but over the last six months or so have been wondering if I should pull the trigger on an upgrade.

I'm currently running:

i7 2600k @ 4.6 ghz
16 GB 2133 mhz ddr3
ASUS P67 motherboard
Samsung 850 pro 256 GB SSD
2x EVGA 980ti in SLI
Windows 7 Ultimate
Dell U3011 @ 60 hz

I'd upgrade to:

i7 6700k
32 GB 3200 mhz ddr4
Asus Z-170 motherboard
EVO 212 cooler
Probably Windows 10

Optional: a Samsung 860 pro M.2 drive

I mainly play: Wow, Civ V/VI, Witcher 3, Diablo 3

Should I keep holding out?

Edit: I've also thought about some kind of 144 mhz monitor upgrade with a minimum 1600p, but probably 4k, but I don't think that's in my best interest, coming from a 1600p monitor - but I also have no experience with them.

 

[whm1974]

I would wait a few more years as your system is fine for now. Maybe add more storage as a 256 GB SSD is rather small for a gaming system.

 

[MrGuru]

^ great point. I think I'll snag at least another 512GB 850 PRO.

 

[mnewsham]

I don't know about YEARS, if you're actually using GTX 980Ti in SLI you're WAYYYY CPU bottlenecked and would have been CPU bottlenecked with just 1 GTX 980Ti.

6700k is a fine upgrade but if you can wait until January the 7700k is coming out.

 

[biostud]

Does any of your games play run unsatisfactory? If not don't upgrade.

Since you still have quite a powerful computer you should perhaps be waiting for some of these products before taking the plunge.
Z270+Kabylake
Vega or GTX 1080ti
Dp1.3/1.4 monitors
X299 skylake-x

 

[MrGuru]

Does any of your games play run unsatisfactory? If not don't upgrade.

Since you still have quite a powerful computer you should perhaps be waiting for some of these products before taking the plunge.
Z270+Kabylake
Vega or GTX 1080ti
Dp1.3/1.4 monitors
X299 skylake-x

Yeah, everything still runs great - I cap my FPS at just a bit over 60 in all my games, and the temps barely even move.

It's just an upgrade bug with no basis in reality at this point! I'll gladly wait a while longer.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[mnewsham]

Just keep in mind you're running $1200+ of GPUs from 2015 with a $300 CPU from 2011.

Your system is obviously imbalanced as hell. If none of your games are effected by it, then you have no reason to own SLI GTX 980Ti because you aren't using them to their potential, or you play a VERY strange array of games that simply don't use the CPU.

If it works for you, keep on doing it I guess. But I dont know how anyone can claim a 2600k isn't holding back GTX 980Ti in SLI, because it by far is your bottleneck.

Just as an example, GTA5 with a 4790k (two generations newer than your 2600k) paired with SLI GTX 980Ti against a 6700k(4 generations newer than your 2600k) with the same GPUs had 30-40fps difference. Just from the newer CPU.

Not all games use the CPU, but there are plenty that do and a 2600k is old hat.