CPUs

[CBStu]

I have started looking at PCs. I have had great experience w/ Dell so looking there. One thing I notice is that the 9th gen core i9 is really expensive. My 7 yr old Dell XPS has an i7 which was pretty much top end at the time so I keep thinking I should go to the top again. But each time I do their 'modify and buy' I am quickly over $2000 w/o a monitor. Sticking w/ an i7 saves $350 which could be used for more memory, next step up GPU or just not spent. So how important is the CPU and will there be a noticeable difference between an i7 and an i9?

[Rudel_chw]

... So how important is the CPU and will there be a noticeable difference between an i7 and an i9?

 

The Core i7 gets updated almost every year ... so you cant really compare an i7 from years past with current processors, most likely even an i5 will beat your old i7 :)

 

For DCS what's actually needed is a high performance core, so spending more onto an 8-core processor wont necessarily mean a higher performance on DCS, on this case, focus more on single core performance when comparing processors.

 

I like to use the passmark benchmark as it represents well the real performance of a processor and has been around a long time, allowing us to compare older with newer processors and of different brands and technologies.

 

So, for example an AMD Ryzen 3600X has a Single Core Passmark of 2900 and a multicore Passmark of 20500 as it has 6 cores. An Intel Core i7 9700K has a SC Passmark of 2800, and an i9-9900K has 2900 .. for DCS effects they offer very similar performance but vary widely in price because some have more cores than others.

 

Passmark's website is https://www.cpubenchmark.net/ so you can check there the processors that you are considering.

[BitMaster]

FYI, an overclocked i7/i9 (8700k/9900k/9600k ) @ 5G has about 3000 points in Passmark.

 

I would still go with a Ryzen 3000 and skip Intel for this time.

 

There is a recent thread about that where me and another fellow Pilot compare our CPU's, the Ryzen has lower clocks but smokes the Intel when both are in stock config. Only when you overclock Intel you get beyond 2800ish, round about that. When you compare value/performance, Ryzen is the better deal as it offers more cores for the same money or equal cores for less money, turn it the way you want it/need it.

 

I'd go with a Ryzen 3700x IF I HAD TO BUY NEW.

 

 

*found one of the threads::

default settings 3700x has same points as an all core overclock 5G 8700k/9900k... https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=252038

Edited October 25, 2019 by BitMaster