Need advice. A go no go for launch...

[DocSigma]

I said I was waiting for Coffee Lake to drop before taking the plunge, and now that it has matured a bit, it's these two builds that I'm thinking about going with.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700K 3.7GHz 6-Core Processor ($349.99 @ Newegg)

CPU Cooler: Corsair - H115i PRO 55.4 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($139.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z370 AORUS Gaming 5 (rev. 1.0) ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($191.00 @ Newegg)

Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($356.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($119.95 @ Newegg)

Storage: Samsung - 860 Evo 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($279.99 @ Newegg)

Case: NZXT - S340 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Monitor: Asus - PG279Q ROG Swift 27.0" 2560x1440 165Hz Monitor ($741.59 @ Newegg)

Total: $2239.49

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-05-01 12:23 EDT-0400

 

and

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7GHz 8-Core Processor ($329.99 @ Newegg)

CPU Cooler: Corsair - H115i PRO 55.4 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($139.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: Gigabyte - X470 AORUS GAMING 5 WIFI ATX AM4 Motherboard ($182.14 @ Newegg)

Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($356.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Samsung - 960 EVO 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($119.95 @ Newegg)

Storage: Samsung - 860 Evo 1TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($279.99 @ Newegg)

Case: NZXT - S340 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Monitor: Asus - PG279Q ROG Swift 27.0" 2560x1440 165Hz Monitor ($741.59 @ Newegg)

Total: $2210.63

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-05-01 12:25 EDT-0400

 

I'm leaning more towards the Intel system for these reasons.

 

1: Two extra cores for the money on 12nm is nice, but being realistic with myself, I'm not running a server or regularly utilizing applications that require such a large number of cores. Mostly a gaming rig, and IPC's matter, especially in games that utilize a minimal number of cores, which most do.

 

2: A higher overclock ceiling than the 2700X. Having a decent VR platform is important, and while it's not just CPU dependent, raw MHZ seem to matter.

 

 

Reasons why i'm leaning towards the Ryzen platform:

 

1: More for the $30 or so lesser dollars: more cores on 12nm, bigger cache, more lanes.

2: 2k to 4k gaming: the 8700k outperforms the 2700x at lower resolutions, but I plan on going no lower than 1440p and the 2700x really closes the gap at higher resolutions.

 

The reasons why you don't see a vid card are because it's just too late in the cycle to buy a 1080ti worth over half the price of the computer - I think the new cards using HBM2 will be cheaper than the inflated GDDR5 cards now due to higher supply. I plan on using my current 970 and it's 4gb of vram until the new cards drop. Furthermore, I just got a brand new evga g850 psu, which ill use. My current monitor fizzled out, which is why you see the pricey monitor - Gsync is too important so why not get the IPS Asus ROC - since I will not be worrying about VR until the new vid cards drop anyways a decent monitor is important. I also have my current WD 7200rpm 1TB drive I may format and throw in there for additional storage.

 

Another concern of mine is the z370 chipset. Do I wait till Intel releases their z390 boards which should support Ice Lake/i9 and Coffee Lake?

 

I know I'm taking a hit on RAM prices, and can lessen the sting by just getting 16gb, but why not eliminate all uncertainties with regards to RAM and just get 32gb up front.

 

I chose the Aorus board because I run a Gigabyte x58 now that's been good to me so, why not; i'm not opposed to going with Asus if there is some advantage over the Aorus board. Also, they are both WiFi boards cause, unfortunately, it's either snake a tripwire of a cable all the way to my router or just go wireless without the need for throwing an expansion card in the case that disrupts airflow and generates heat - I still may cause I have a 400Mbs pipe that begs to be siphoned from something other than my streaming services and my Android phone.

 

Therefore:

 

1: 8700K or 2700X?

2: Mainly a gaming rig at =or> than 1440p and eventual plunge into VR when the new vid. cards are released between end of summer and maybe December.

3: Any reason other than RAM prices are high to wait on building now, considering I'm still on an x58 chipset thats 8 generations old running an i7-920 oc'd to 3.8ghz and 12gb of DDR3 1600? I'll always be waiting for the next best thing, but the reality of it is that there will always be something else just around the corner.

 

If I go 2700X I will eventually oc it to 4.2 and if I go with the 8700K, I will oc it to at least 4.9-5ghz, if my cooling is good enough.

 

Really sorry for the long post, but thanks and appreciation to anybody who steers me in a direction.

 

p.s. im not set on buying everything from newegg. I'll buy at the places with the best prices, so the final price will be a bit lower.

[Pilotasso]

You really cant go wrong with either.

 

The deciding factor might be something that is not evident in the specs. The Intel part is easier to overclock and has more options for RAM, while AMD is riskier (check if RAM part number is in the QVL of the motherboard). It's more of an old school hands on experience and lacks the automation the Intel platform offers. But It might be a bit more future proof than the Intel.

 

The deciding factor is this: how knowledgeable are you? If not a pro Go Intel. If thats not a problem for you go AMD. Just a tip. Currently ASUS and ASROCK boards are the best for the AMD chip for what I have been hearing.

 

The new Intel Octa core on Z390 is going to be a bad ass of a processor. If you can hold a trimester more I think that will be the biggest reward. Youll be siting pretty for the next 4 years or so at the least. Too bad I didnt do this myself, but then again I couldnt afford both a 1080Ti and an Intel octa core. At least I can change the processor later. :)

Edited May 1, 2018 by Pilotasso

[BeastyBaiter]

Both are very nice builds. I have the 8700k, out of the box it runs at 4.3 to 4.4 GHz while playing DCS. It is trivial to overclock to 4.7 GHz. Above that requires dramatically higher voltage (1.29v jumps to 1.35v). Even at the highly conservative 4.7GHz, it runs vr very well at high-ish detail and is absolutely gpu limited when playing at 1440P with a 1080 TI.

 

From reviews I've seen, the 2700X has a 4.2 GHz all core turbo when using sufficient cooling. IPC is equal between the two. It also requires a less extreme cooling solution compared to the 8700k. By most accounts, the included cooler is fine provided a well ventilated case.

 

As for which to get, I strongly suspect DCS will prefer the 8700k for clock speed alone. This is not relevant when playing on a 2d monitor as the game will be gpu limited. However, VR hits the cpu a little harder than the gpu. I don't think it would be a problem, but a heavily overclocked i7 is the safer bet.

 

As for waiting for a z390 board if doing intel, I see no point. Intel changes mobo's with every noteworthy release and so there isn't any cpu upgrading anyways. On the AMD side, current X470 and even X370 boards are expected to work with up through the 7nm Ryzen 3000 series expected next year. CPU upgrades are certainly an option with AMD.

[DocSigma]

I thought z390 was supposed to drop prior to the 9700k in a few months? I was thinking wait the few monts for the z390 - isn't it essentially what intel had planned but unfinished for the coffee lake release? - and pair it with an 8700K then I'll have the option once the 8 core i7 9700k drops to swap.

[Aluminum Donkey]

I said I was waiting for Coffee Lake to drop before taking the plunge, and now that it has matured a bit, it's these two builds that I'm thinking about going with.

 

 

Blah Blah Blah, Money Money Money, stuff stuff stuff.

 

Spend more money, get better stuff :)

 

If you don't know what you're doing, stick with Nvidia and Intel gear, and the more you spend the better your rig will perform.

 

If you *DO* know what you're doing, stick with Nvidia and Intel gear, and the more you spend the better your rig will perform :)

 

AMD? Better value--by quite a large margin.

 

Intel/Nvidia? Better performance. At a price premium. That's why it's premium. It's also why it sucks. So, go AMD--more bang for the buck!! Unless... you want better performance. You know, for more money. Oh man, what to do!

 

So, Intel/Nvidia. ;)

Unless you're a smart consumer---So, AMD ;)

Unless, you want better performance--So, Intel/Nvidia ;)

Unless...

 

Ah, F@#?!! it.

 

Not to be an arse, but after spending a third of a century (on and off) on PC gaming crap, it's ALWAYS been this way. Just buy the most expensive crap you can get, and then come on here to complain about stuttering and low framerates in VR or 4K, like everyone else--myself included. What matters is--did you spend more money!

 

Commence the whine-fest :)

 

Peace and happy warfare

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[Demon_]

It's a P̶̶o̶̶r̶k Porsche.

Edited May 5, 2018 by Demon_

[BitMaster]

Solely DCS ? = 8700k, you just cant beat that CPU now

 

anything else ? AMD 2700x, it's just the much better deal overall.

 

 

I'd go with AMD. This 8700k is nice but really has many hurdles to take for top performance & cooling.

[Gnadentod]

Solely DCS ? = 8700k, you just cant beat that CPU now

 

anything else ? AMD 2700x, it's just the much better deal overall. ...

 

Exactly this.

[Fishwagon]

If you happen to go Ryzen, I'd swap out the memory for GSkill FlareX memory which was specifically designed for Ryzen.