Upgrading System: Stay with Haswell or go Skylake?

[Omis]

Current system:
CPU: i3-4150
MOBO: GA-H97-D3H
RAM: 8gb (4x2) Kingston DDR3 1600mhz
GPU: r9 270x
PSU: CM v650

I built this just for playing CS:GO and Dota 2 couple of years ago not thinking about upgrading since I don't play AAA games. Then came Battlefield 1 and the enjoyment of streaming while playing.

Now I'm getting a GTX1070 this month and planning to get an i7 4790k CPU and another pair of RAM to make it 16gb on December but keeping the same MOBO until maybe next year.

Currently playing on a 24" 1080p 60Hz monitor, but planning to buy a 27" 1080p >75Hz or 1440p 27" >60Hz monitor in the future.

I need your opinion on whether to buy the i7 4790k or go get an i5 6600k. I will basically spend for a new CPU, MOBO and RAM whether I stay on Haswell system or not.

If I go Haswell route, I could potentially take advantage of the HT and spend for the upgrade slowly, but after that, there's no other upgrade to do and will force me to buy a whole new system in the future. While Skylake gives me better upgrade options in the future, I have to pay for the parts at once.

I believe price and performance aren't that much of a difference between them and that both I could use for the next 3 years or so.

Thoughts and suggestions?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Wait for Kaby Lake i7-7700K in Jan. 2017. 4.2Ghz stock. Also, Kaby Lake has integrated HEVC encode / decode in the iGPU, which could be useful for streaming. (QuickSync 4.0?)

 

[coercitiv]

Watch this video, then wait and get i5 7600k or a non-oc i7 with cheaper chipset when Kaby Lake arrives. If you're unfamiliar with Kaby Lake, it's an update to Skylake scheduled for Q1 2017. It won't bring architectural improvements but will come with better clocks, both stock and oc.

If you can't wait for Q1 2017, go Skylake.

 

[pcslookout]

Thanks guys that really helped a lot!

 

[AtenRa]

I will suggest you go to a 6-core system for BF1 and when you will upgrade the Monitor go for 144Hz.

Either go for current Intel Broadwell-E or wait for 6-8 core ZEN/Skylake-E in 2017.

Cheaper way is to get a used Core i7 Haswell 4790K (4GHz) if you can find any.

 

[cytg111]

If the haswell is a drop-in replacement I think the 4790 is a nobrainer.. I think a 4790 + 1070 is the *best* cost effective way to play on ultra

 

[Omis]

Wait for Kaby Lake i7-7700K in Jan. 2017. 4.2Ghz stock. Also, Kaby Lake has integrated HEVC encode / decode in the iGPU, which could be useful for streaming. (QuickSync 4.0?)

Watch this video, then wait and get i5 7600k or a non-oc i7 with cheaper chipset when Kaby Lake arrives. If you're unfamiliar with Kaby Lake, it's an update to Skylake scheduled for Q1 2017. It won't bring architectural improvements but will come with better clocks, both stock and oc.

If you can't wait for Q1 2017, go Skylake.

There are some factors that could draw me back from getting Kaby Lake.

I live in a place where PC parts aren't that accessible especially to new releases and shipping is an issue as well. If we get the items, prices will be higher than normal as there are limited stocks.

Now if I go crazy and decided to go Kaby Lake route, how do you think will an GTX 1070 perform on an i3-4150 system for atleast 3 months?

 

[Arachnotronic]

Why is everyone avoiding the obvious upgrade path? OP, 4790K is faster than 6600K and 7600K.

Buy a 4790K, plug it into your existing system, and enjoy.

 

[coercitiv]

Now if I go crazy and decided to go Kaby Lake route, how do you think will an GTX 1070 perform on an i3-4150 system for atleast 3 months?

Here's a BF 1 CPU benchmark running on 1080.

This doesn't tell you the whole story, however it should give you an idea on what to expect based on what FPS range you're already seeing with your current GPU.

Why is everyone avoiding the obvious upgrade path? OP, 4790K is faster than 6600K and 7600K.

Buy a 4790K, plug it into your existing system, and enjoy.

The OP would still need to upgrade RAM (both speed and quantity) to match the Skylake configuration. The only component that could stay in place is the MOBO.

The obvious upgrade is going new GPU only, and choose CPU upgrade later.

 

[Omis]

Why is everyone avoiding the obvious upgrade path? OP, 4790K is faster than 6600K and 7600K.
Buy a 4790K, plug it into your existing system, and enjoy.

The OP would still need to upgrade RAM (both speed and quantity) to match the Skylake configuration. The only component that could stay in place is the MOBO.

The obvious upgrade is going new GPU only, and choose CPU upgrade later.

I think he meant go with 4790k (Haswell) upgrade than getting 6600k (Skylake) or 7600k(Kaby Lake).

 

[coercitiv]

I think he meant go with 4790k (Haswell) upgrade than getting 6600k (Skylake) or 7600k(Kaby Lake).

I know what he meant, but there are many variables that add together towards getting gaming performance similar to what we see in review benchmarks.

Consider the following possible scenario:

You get 4790k now, then a bit later you decide to upgrade RAM, then a bit later realize you could be overclocking the entire system and change the mainboard. It's all fine and dandy until you draw the line and see you have invested almost the same $$$ to get an overclocked Haswell rather than get an overclocked Skylake or a stock clocked Kaby Lake that is most likely faster than the old gen system.

This is why from my point of view (and take this as a combination of objective and subjective criteria) I would rather:
a) upgrade GPU, see how it performs and then make a choice towards a CPU upgrade later - whether it's i5 or i7, Haswell, Skylake or Kaby is less important as long as performance is better weighed towards your needs.
b) upgrade GPU and CPU now by getting Skylake, take a sure loss through buying a new mainboard but make sure you don't undershoot.

 

[Headfoot]

Either drop in the 4790k and don't change your motherboard and RAM, or go Kabylake in January. Don't change your motherboard and stay on Haswell, at that point you might as well update.

 

[cytg111]

haswell->skylake/kabylake makes zero sense to me.
If you're on a haswell platform now then the next thing you should be eyeing is a 6 core coffeelake in 18.

 

[superstition]

Personally, I'd wait until Q1 and do a total system replacement. That's when Zen and Vega are supposed to be out. If those products are competitive then the market situation will be better. Right now we have overpriced CPUs and GPUs because of AMD's lack of high-end products.

 

[Omis]

a) upgrade GPU, see how it performs and then make a choice towards a CPU upgrade later - whether it's i5 or i7, Haswell, Skylake or Kaby is less important as long as performance is better weighed towards your needs.

Solid advice. I'd go with this and decide later which CPU to get.

The benchmark graph you show'd me also gave me an idea on what FPS I would probably getting on an i3 4150 and 1070 for now.

If I feel that there is a need to upgrade before Kaby Lake comes, I might pull the trigger.

Thank you.

 

[PliotronX]

Cheaper way is to get a used Core i7 Haswell 4790K (4GHz) if you can find any.

That would would work if prices were lower than they are but used haswells and DC are going for nearly as much as skylake equivalent models. Completely screwing the strategy of buying into a platform with a less expensive proc and waiting for prices to naturally fall which they have not. I can get as much or more for my haswells as I paid for them in 2013 which doesn't make sense at all. The new strategy is to sell your Intel for as much as you bought it for and do a whole platform change.