3960x for $780 vs 3930k for $550

[dh22r]

Folks:

I've read a lot of postings how the 3930k is a better value versus the 3960x for the $400+ premium. Fry's in my area is selling the 3960x at $775 -- lower than the usual $1000+ of Amazon or Newegg.

Is the 3960x a better choice when it's only $230 more than the 3930k for the extra cache and small tick in base speed?

My planned MB is the Rampage IV Extreme with 4x4GB 2133 RAM. Any opinions appreciated.

Thanks

dh22r

 

[Cru]

Depends on what you are doing.
Why not a 4930k btw?

 

[maniac]

tbh depends on what you plan to do with it.

personally I wouldn't know what to do with what the 3960x has to offer

 

[jamesriley94]

The 3960X is so expensive because Intel put 8 cores into it, and then disable the two worst cores of the processor so it isn't hindered in clocks.

In reality, the only difference is the 3mb cache in performance.

Go for the 3930k - or the 4930k

 

[NeverBackDown]

The 3960X is so expensive because Intel put 8 cores into it, and then disable the two worst cores of the processor so it isn't hindered in clocks.

In reality, the only difference is the 3mb cache in performance.

Go for the 3930k - or the 4930k

+1
Ivy will be able to keep up with a 3960x anyway for cheaper.

 

[Cru]

+1
Haswell will be able to keep up with a 3960x anyway for cheaper.

4930k is ivy

 

[NeverBackDown]

4930k is ivy

Ya Whoops lol
Edit: fixed last post

 

[Cru]

Umm.. I know?

well you said "go for 4930k" and "haswell"

 

[NeverBackDown]

well you said "go for 4930k" and "haswell"

I said Ivy will be able to keep up with a 3960x. Nothing about 4930k, and i used haswell instead of ivy but i fixed that.

 

[Cru]

I said Ivy will be able to keep up with a 3960x. Nothing about 4930k, and i used haswell instead of ivy but i fixed that.

yes please edit everything to make yourself look better instead of admitting a mistake. rofl

 

[Kaapstad]

I use a 3930k, 3960X and 3970X

Out of the three of them the 3930k beats the other two easy.

With these CPUs it's all down to the silicon lottery.

Also if I run them all at the same clock speed the performance is identical.

OP go for whatever you can pickup cheapest.

 

[Vlada011]

If you use comp for gaming primary than 4930K is better option than 3960 or 3960X.
With PCI-E Interface 3.0 definitely best option even for gamers who choose between high end Haswell or X79 even X versions.

 

[Kaapstad]

If you use comp for gaming primary than 4930K is better option than 3960 or 3960X.
With PCI-E Interface 3.0 definitely best option even for gamers who choose between high end Haswell or X79 even X versions.

Best setup for a single or two cards would be a 4770k

For multi GPUs (3 or 4) high clockspeed is more important than efficiency. I would rather use a high clocking SB-E than a lower clocking IB-E to avoid bottlenecking.

 

[Willock]

Best setup for a single or two cards would be a 4770k

For multi GPUs (3 or 4) high clockspeed is more important than efficiency. I would rather use a high clocking SB-E than a lower clocking IB-E to avoid bottlenecking.

Is CPU bottlenecking even a thing anymore?

 

[dh22r]

Thanks all for their suggestions/comments. I've decided on the 4930K with the RIVE black edition (if/when it comes out).

dh22r

 

[NeverBackDown]

Is CPU bottlenecking even a thing anymore?

Yes. Try running 4 titans on an i3 CPU

Welcome OP

 

[Kaapstad]

Yes. Try running 4 titans on an i3 CPU

Welcome OP

It's bad enough on a 3930k @5.0ghz

 

[NeverBackDown]

It's bad enough on a 3930k @5.0ghz

Point taken lol

 

[Vlada011]

Why is 4770K best for one or two cards, because he is faster 3-4% in single application. That's invisible, but in multi 4930K is not 5% faster, he is 30% faster maybe. I'm strongly convinced for anything above 550-600$/e investment X79 and 4930K is better choice. I mean on any combination with Maximus 6 Extreme, similar boards and 4770K, Rampage 4 Extreme or Formula or some other X79 is better.
Why someone to leave Quad Channel and 2 cores for 180-220$ difference. WHY???
Because it's more than need. I want overkill first.
And because with 4930K I have feeling to save money if OC and I can look in 3960X performance, thats 400$ saved. Because of that expensive motherboard have sense, because of that expensive cooler make sense.
With 4770K I can't do that.
Example in CINEBENCH 4770K in single application is some 160fps and 4930K some 150fps, but in multi one is 1200 and other 800.
And what is with 4770k people pay coolers enough for 4960X on 5.0GHz, and air is cold and CPU work on 80-90C. That's not better choice, only under 400$.
Who don't have enough money but still have for some Hero, Gene, 4770K and some 50-60$ for RAM. Than OK. But everything high end Haswell is mistake.