3770k now or 4750k/4770k later...

[Stray Toaster]

First time posting here, been reading anandtech for a while.

I'm looking to upgrade from a Phenom II x3 720 to something faster to improve my Adobe CS6 (non-video) experience (and some gaming too). My computer is definitely showing its age.

I was about to pull the trigger on a 3770k, but I caught wind of the quickly approaching Haswell release, so figured I'd wait. But with talk of chipset issues, a slow rollout, and the preview from THG that just got published, I'm wondering if waiting is worth it.

The other issue being cost. Right now the 3770k is 230 at Microcenter. It took about 6 months from its release to drop from 290 to 230 at MC, so I assume Haswell would be similar. I can't decide if waiting a couple extra months and possibly spending an extra 60 bucks for a 15% speed bump is worth it.

 

[Sleepingforest]

Firstly, do you actually live near a Microcenter? That deal is in-store only, so that may affect your decision. Secondly, Microcenter pretty much always has a deal on whatever Intel i7 and i5 K CPUs; part of their strategy is to offer low cost CPUs to lure people to buy more in-store.

Anyway, you'd have to wait until at least June to see Haswell. Is it worth it to you?

 

[Stray Toaster]

Ah, yes, I am quite close to a microcenter.

I'm somewhat concerned if Haswell will actually be out in good numbers in June or if the reports of a slow roll-out and a chip set fix push that back closer to August. That would be another 5 months.

I've found myself agitated working with CS6 since I got it back in August. I could live with it longer, but pushing it out another half a year sounds... painful.

Ah, decisions...

 

[videogames101]

when haswell gets here you'll want it

but if you need an upgrade now, upgrade now - a 3770k will not disappoint.

 

[Idontcare]

Welcome to the forums Stray Toaster :thumbsup: (may the lurk be with you )

 

[Bman123]

Just buy the 3770K now and enjoy the upgrade

 

[j3SeCh6d]

I have an Ivy Bridge i5-3570K system that I built 6 months ago. It's great! OC @ 4.3ghz & with Samsung 830 raid 0, ram 2133mhz & radeon hd 7950, everything is seriously fast. I think, the key is having pci-e 3.0 bandwidth with at least 3 pci-e x16 slots.

GPU saturation is a long way off, maybe 7-10 years, if you have a motherboard & cpu capable of pci-e 3.0 bandwidth.

It is the SATA III ports that is now the bottleneck of a modern computer. Having 3 pcie-x16 slots is for future-proofing. You can have a SLI/CF with 2 gpu & a pci-e x16 SSD 4GB/s when they are affordable & if the need arises.

I'm set for 7-10 years with this build.

 

[escrow4]

The way tech is moving I seriously doubt you'd want to sit on a box for a minimum 7yrs.

To the OP, I'd wait. The new extensions are bound to come in useful for future software. If you have Ivy Bridge, don't bother. If you don't wait.

 

[j3SeCh6d]

To the OP, does your system has an SSD? If no, then upgrade to a tier-1 SSD first, then you can decide if you want Ivy Bridge, or Haswell, etc. It may even hold you long enough before the upgrade itch come back again.

 

[Yuriman]

I wonder if Haswell will provide any benefit to CS6 beyond a little IPC - it might not be any improvement for you until CS7 comes out and you'd have to buy that.

 

[inf64]

Just buy 3770K in microcenter and you are set for a few years. Even if 4770K offers something more than a smallish IPC increase in CS6,it will probably cost much more than 3770K when it hits the shelves and wouldn't warrant the price difference.

 

[Tsavo]

First time posting here, been reading anandtech for a while.

I'm looking to upgrade from a Phenom II x3 720 to something faster to improve my Adobe CS6 (non-video) experience (and some gaming too). My computer is definitely showing its age.

I was about to pull the trigger on a 3770k, but I caught wind of the quickly approaching Haswell release, so figured I'd wait. But with talk of chipset issues, a slow rollout, and the preview from THG that just got published, I'm wondering if waiting is worth it.

The other issue being cost. Right now the 3770k is 230 at Microcenter. It took about 6 months from its release to drop from 290 to 230 at MC, so I assume Haswell would be similar. I can't decide if waiting a couple extra months and possibly spending an extra 60 bucks for a 15% speed bump is worth it.

I'd just grab the 3770K now, but only at that price. Haswell brings some nice things to the table, but they aren't $100 nice...at least not on the desktop.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Get the 3770k now.

 

[fixbsod]

3770k now -- you can always be waiting and I really don't see anything brought to the table besides AVX. 3770k gives you PICE 3.0. Can always re-do the TIM and get another 10+% on the OC down the road.

 

[Hubb1e]

Get the 3770k now. Not only will the CPUs be a bit more expensive, but there will be an early adopters tax on the motherboards as well. Plus, most of the launch boards tend to be higher end boards with features that aren't required. Or, you can drop in a super cheap PhII 965 and get some extra performance for cheap now and wait a bit longer for Haswell to come down in price. If you sell your old gear the PhII route isn't a bad choice.

 

[guskline]

stray toaster: If you go 3770k you have to buy a 1155 mb. If you go Haswell 4770 you have to but a 1150 mb. Coming from a Phenom II x3-720 an Intel 3770k will floor you (see rig 1 below). No doubt Haswell will be a bit faster but the MicroCenter price is great for the 3770k. I know because that's where I picked up the 3770k for $230 plus tax ($243). I sold my 2500k which was on my Asus P8 Z67 V Pro/Gen3 mb and replaced it with a 3770k. Extremely fast.

Haswell will be out in @3 months but will be @$330 or more plus the 1150 mbs are likely to be a bit more than the 1155 mbs.

 

[UNhooked]

3770K and call it a day. Market is more mature for the 1155 socket. Performance between 3770K vs 4770K will not be that huge that you would notice anyways.

 

[Stray Toaster]

Thanks for the advice.

MC is running a MB+CPU special now on the i5 3570k, so might go that route. Either way, likely getting IB sooner than later (whenever the mother board I want is back in stock anyway)

 

[scannall]

I'd wait. June is very close, and the 1155 motherboards are at the end of their product cycle. It's much better to get in on the beginning of a cycle.