Is Intels i5-3570k worth it?

[DistortionGamer]

Hello, new to the forums and I have a question:

I'm considering upgrading my computer which is currently running with 8Gb of RAM, the GPU is a Radeon HD 6870 XFX, but my processor is an Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 2.50GHz, which I plan to replace with an i5-3570k.
I was wondering if the performance boost will justify 220 euros (+150 euros for the mobo I'll have to buy, currently I chose the AsRock Extreme 4, any other recommendations would be appreciated along the same price range).

 

[seumasbeathan]

I think the 3570k is a great choice You should be able to get it a bit cheaper though

 

[WillSK]

The 3570k is a great processor and comes highly recommended by the guys here. Especially for a gaming PC. As for a motherboard have a look at MSI's Z77 offering

 

[DistortionGamer]

Can you please specify which mobo?

 

[WillSK]

The msi gd45 gd55 gd65 and msi Mpower are all good z77 boards used by a fair few of the guys here. If I had the money I'd def buy an mpower for myself I think it's a great looking board and from what I've read performs pretty well too

 

[DistortionGamer]

Hmm.. Well, keep in mind I have no intentions of doing crossfire or Sli or any of those things.

 

[findthecomputerroom6]

The asrock zz7 extreme 4 is a really great motherboard.

 

[dragoonk]

The 3570k is a brilliant chip. You won't regret getting one.

 

[Flux]

I went from a q6600 to the 3570k & Mpower, and it is an excellent improvement, well worth it or you could wait for the haswell cpu's maybe.

 

[DistortionGamer]

I went from a q6600 to the 3570k & Mpower, and it is an excellent improvement, well worth it or you could wait for the haswell cpu's maybe.

Well, keep in mind I don't have a job so my money is very limited, I was thinking though, if a new generation of CPUs is coming out, then the current ones prices will drop, correct?

 

[Rastalovich]

.. if, for example, you're strapped for cash and are looking to get gaming improvements:

.. forget the cpu upgrade and get something higher than the 6870.

Getting the i5 will lead to a much better platform, mobo/cpu/memory, and cost you in the region of 400 euros. Benchmarks will be incredible in comparison to the 775 platform - great.

However, experience in gaming would be negligable. Whereas swapping the 6870 for... a 7970, just for example's sake, will give you a world of difference for similar monies.

I'd be tempted to ditch the 775 when it dies. As I say, if money is tight.

 

[DistortionGamer]

.. if, for example, you're strapped for cash and are looking to get gaming improvements:

.. forget the cpu upgrade and get something higher than the 6870.

Getting the i5 will lead to a much better platform, mobo/cpu/memory, and cost you in the region of 400 euros. Benchmarks will be incredible in comparison to the 775 platform - great.

However, experience in gaming would be negligable. Whereas swapping the 6870 for... a 7970, just for example's sake, will give you a world of difference for similar monies.

I'd be tempted to ditch the 775 when it dies. As I say, if money is tight.

Getting the CPU + Mobo will cost me 353,70€
Then down line (next year), I was thinking about upgrading the graphics card.
It's a shame though because the 6870 XFX is pretty recent, and on Benchmarks online it says it can run Battlefield 3 at my resulotion on Ultra at 40 fps (which for me is more than great). But, let's I do choose to change GPUs instead, what do you recommend? And if I get a better GPU, won't my current CPU just bottleneck it and make barely any difference?

 

[Rastalovich]

It's tricky to comment on how other people would have their builds setup, but personally, I'd have the 8300 running at around 3ghz and even with the memory bouncing around the 800 mark, I wouldn't expect it to hamper any card I put in the system. This very much assumes a decent mobo to work off of.

You're not going to get, atleast I wouldn't expect in any build I'd put together, any ""bottlenecking"" from anything above the likes of an E8x00 c2d. I do know tho that I took an E8400 to around 4ghz and whilst gaming was great, both cores screamed for dear life in Crysis 2 or summit. I don't like that personally.

Benchmarking - definitely the scores will by no means compare to an i5 build. But irl, it's different.

If you're not that strapped for cash, and have the memory to go with the 353 euro initial outlay, and can afford the graphic card update some time after - it is certainly the wiser choice.

I was merely thinking of the "must need to spend cash on" pov.

 

[DistortionGamer]

Ah ok man, thanks you've all been very helpful, I now have no doubts

 

[DistortionGamer]

Hmm, people have recommended the AsRock Z77 Pro 3 and MSI-Z77A-G43, saying both can OC the CPU quite well (up to 4.2 GHz). What are your thoughts on those mobos?

 

[WillSK]

Not the G43 the G45 unless that's just a typo. I have only read up on the msi boards so I can't speak for the asrock

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z77A-G45.html this one

 

[dragoonk]

I think any Z77 board will do just fine. Z77 is a very good and expensive chip. Most of the boards that come with it are high-end OC capable boards. I think you will be fine with either the MSI or the AsRock.

 

[staffy007]

go the extreme4 better power phase for better clocking and not much more than the pro 3 in price

 

[Christoi]

Hmm, people have recommended the AsRock Z77 Pro 3 and MSI-Z77A-G43, saying both can OC the CPU quite well (up to 4.2 GHz). What are your thoughts on those mobos?

It's possible, but it's not really ideal in my opinion.

When you throw in CPU overclocking however, do keep in mind that it can be notably more expensive, requiring also a higher-end motherboard that supports it, along with an aftermarket cooler. The added costs would total to be around 50 euros, which is questionable given the added costs.

Though what will you be using the system for? If it's only for gaming then it would probably be better to drop the CPU down to an i3 3220, i5 3470 or an FX-4300 and stretch for a better graphics card as Rastalovich said - games are mostly GPU-bottlenecked, so investing in a higher-end video card will yield a larger performance increase.

 

[DistortionGamer]

Ended up getting the MSI Z77A G45 along the i5 3570, since the k version ended being alot more expensive and since I actually needed to get new RAM, because I had DDR2 and needed DDR3 I couldn't afford it.
I am very pleased with the results though, the CPUs bottlenecking was ridiculous, I couldn't play Planetside 2 over 20 fps with everything on low during battles, I now max it out with no problems.
Thank you all for the help