It’s like one of us is playing chess while the other is just digging holes in the dirt.
wiredotter14 said:You didn't listen to a single thing we said.
Tech moves fast, APIs change, and hyperthreading is killer.
Even now, an i5 isn't on the level of a Core i7, and those 8 threads aren't being fully utilized yet.
The point is, an i5 is already bottlenecking cards like the GTX 1070, and in 3, 4, or 5 years, that gap is only going to get wider.
So, grab the Core i7 now. When you upgrade in a few years, you won't have to swap the motherboard and CPU, which is an investment of roughly $1000.
He could grab a higher-quality PSU if it fits his budget, but there's really no need. In a few years, a 4K gaming rig will pull about as much power as this current 1080p setup does now.
And he doesn't even need a better case for a future upgrade; he could cram a GTX 1080 in here right now and have zero issues.
I listened to everything you and wiredotter14 had to say, but I only actually responded to your point—specifically the part where I think you're wrong about whether the Core i7 is worth it or not.
wiredotter14 said:You didn't listen to a single thing we said.
Tech moves fast, APIs change, and hyperthreading is killer.
Even now, an i5 isn't on the level of a Core i7, and those 8 threads aren't being fully utilized yet.
The point is, an i5 is already bottlenecking cards like the GTX 1070, and in 3, 4, or 5 years, that gap is only going to get wider.
So, grab the Core i7 now. When you upgrade in a few years, you won't have to swap the motherboard and CPU, which is an investment of roughly $1000.
He could grab a higher-quality PSU if it fits his budget, but there's really no need. In a few years, a 4K gaming rig will pull about as much power as this current 1080p setup does now.
And he doesn't even need a better case for a future upgrade; he could cram a GTX 1080 in here right now and have zero issues.
Look, I agree—an i5 isn't an i7, and it never was. Most games out there barely touch four cores, let alone eight. Sure, APIs evolve, but at the end of the day, it’s all down to the developers. It's up to them how they code and how much they actually bother to support multi-core setups. An API is just a tool; if devs are too lazy to use what's available, that's on them. That's how it's always been, and honestly, it's probably how it'll stay.
wiredotter14 said:You didn't listen to a single thing we said.
Tech moves fast, APIs change, and hyperthreading is killer.
Even now, an i5 isn't on the level of a Core i7, and those 8 threads aren't being fully utilized yet.
The point is, an i5 is already bottlenecking cards like the GTX 1070, and in 3, 4, or 5 years, that gap is only going to get wider.
So, grab the Core i7 now. When you upgrade in a few years, you won't have to swap the motherboard and CPU, which is an investment of roughly $1000.
He could grab a higher-quality PSU if it fits his budget, but there's really no need. In a few years, a 4K gaming rig will pull about as much power as this current 1080p setup does now.
And he doesn't even need a better case for a future upgrade; he could cram a GTX 1080 in here right now and have zero issues.
Saying an i5 is already bottlenecking a GTX 1070? I don't even know where to start with that... You probably aren't talking about Skylake, you mean a Lynnfield i5. For me, the window is usually one to three years. Anyone buying an i5 today won't need to swap out their entire platform just to upgrade a GPU in a few years. And when I say anyone, I’m not counting that 4% of people who absolutely have to hit 90+ FPS on Ultra settings at any resolution, no matter what.
Look, whether you grab a Skylake i5 or an i7 today, the only thing you’ll be swapping out in a few years is the GPU. Give it five years and you'll be forced to overhaul the entire rig anyway once things like DDR5, USB 4.0, or M.5 SSDs become the standard. If you think otherwise, more power to you.
wiredotter14 said:You didn't listen to a single thing we said.
Tech moves fast, APIs change, and hyperthreading is killer.
Even now, an i5 isn't on the level of a Core i7, and those 8 threads aren't being fully utilized yet.
The point is, an i5 is already bottlenecking cards like the GTX 1070, and in 3, 4, or 5 years, that gap is only going to get wider.
So, grab the Core i7 now. When you upgrade in a few years, you won't have to swap the motherboard and CPU, which is an investment of roughly $1000.
He could grab a higher-quality PSU if it fits his budget, but there's really no need. In a few years, a 4K gaming rig will pull about as much power as this current 1080p setup does now.
And he doesn't even need a better case for a future upgrade; he could cram a GTX 1080 in here right now and have zero issues.
I wouldn't bother upgrading to a higher-end power supply just for the efficiency rating alone. It’s really about everything else you get bundled in—the superior thermal management, the quieter operation, the better safety protections, and that solid five-year warranty.
wiredotter14 said:You didn't listen to a single thing we said.
Tech moves fast, APIs change, and hyperthreading is killer.
Even now, an i5 isn't on the level of a Core i7, and those 8 threads aren't being fully utilized yet.
The point is, an i5 is already bottlenecking cards like the GTX 1070, and in 3, 4, or 5 years, that gap is only going to get wider.
So, grab the Core i7 now. When you upgrade in a few years, you won't have to swap the motherboard and CPU, which is an investment of roughly $1000.
He could grab a higher-quality PSU if it fits his budget, but there's really no need. In a few years, a 4K gaming rig will pull about as much power as this current 1080p setup does now.
And he doesn't even need a better case for a future upgrade; he could cram a GTX 1080 in here right now and have zero issues.
Of course you don't need a better case just to upgrade. You can cram whatever you want into any old chassis if you really want to. If I'm spending... $3.25 I’m going to put my components into a high-end, well-built case made from premium materials—something solid, quiet, and with great airflow. Someone else can go ahead and stuff their parts into a cheap, flimsy tin box if that's how they want to live. $50 If he doesn't give a damn about temps or noise, then he might as well just stick it in a case made of... $0.50 If he wants everything to be glass and RGB, or if he wants his case to brew him coffee and whip up breakfast every morning...
I’m going to say this one more time, because you keep bringing up "your" high-end setup and telling the OP what would be better for them. Like I said from the jump...
I don't know what to tell you. It just is what it is. Just saying what I'd do.
I can't work with this. There's nothing here to rewrite. He got what he paid for, honestly. I'm not going to tell him exactly what to buy because I have zero clue what games he’s actually playing, what resolution he wants, or if he expects high FPS and maxed-out settings two or three years down the road. 🕺