Is the upgrade from 6600K to 7700K worthwhile?
Is the upgrade from 6600K to 7700K worthwhile?
Keep your funds safe, upgrade to a better GPU. Review my validations. My 2500k still handles everything my 6700k manages. The only reason I built a second machine was because of age and I wanted a larger tower with more features. I play a wide range from Skyrim, Fallout 4, Ark, Final Fantasy, Assassins Creed, etc.
a picture tells the story, you choose what's best for yourself in terms of wealth and influence.
The Paladin explains that appearances matter, but decisions should be based on what suits you best in terms of power and money. This will likely highlight certain numbers, but it’s important to look beyond just the specs. The 8700k features a 6-core processor, which should outperform the 7700k in CPU performance. This improvement is probably not significant enough to matter practically. Just as the size of a car's engine doesn’t dictate how many people can fit inside, the details here shouldn’t be taken at face value—seek real-world comparisons like game performance tests using these processors.
And if you conduct some research, this inquiry has already been addressed or resolved several times:
True. But just a few years back the debate would have been whether it was worth upgrading from an i5-3570k to an i7-4770k. That was a different era, and the i7 didn’t really improve performance in any games, so those discussions are now outdated. Personally, if I have the funds, it would be advantageous, mainly to expand compatibility across all titles. In the 3rd and 4th generation, the i5 was the top choice for gaming value—it was enough. Nowadays, the i7 is preferred. I wouldn’t suggest an i5 before the 8th generation unless you’re doing a low-budget restoration project. The limitations of a 4th generation CPU make it not worth the trade-off.
Karadjgne confirmed the discussion would have been about whether it was worth switching from an i5-3570k to an i7-4770k a few years back. However, that era was different, and the i7 didn’t offer any noticeable benefits in games, making current questions irrelevant. Personally, if I have funds available, it would be advantageous, mainly to expand gaming options across all titles. Back then, the i5 dominated in value for gamers; now the i7 takes its place. I wouldn’t suggest an i5 from before the 8th generation unless it’s just for a budget rebuild. The constraints of a 4-core processor are too great. Not entirely accurate, though. A 6600k handles all games smoothly, and I haven’t seen much use of I7 performance. For a 60fps goal, the drawbacks of a 4-thread CPU at 4.8ghz aren’t apparent in today’s titles. Sure, some games make use of extra threads, but not enough to justify the cost, especially since a 6600k would perform well in those games already. From a gaming standpoint, upgrading to a 7700k wouldn’t be wise if you already have a 6600k at 4.8ghz. If an upgrade is considered, it should be to an 8th generation model or better GPU.
With my current configuration, I maintain a minimum resolution of 3200x1800 and consistently hit at least 60fps. I’m using a 6600k 4.5ghz, 1080ti, and 16GB DDR4.
Don’t misunderstand, I’m open to upgrading. I’m already running a 1080ti in this setup, so spending on performance improvements is acceptable. So far, today’s games haven’t pushed me to upgrade my CPU.
Sure. The current gaming scene shows clear progress with models like BF1, GTA5, Witcher 3, PUGB, and Star Wars Battlefront 2. These improvements are noticeable when using an i7 or Ryzen compared to an i5. This pattern is expected to keep growing as quad-core processors continue losing ground to dual and quad configurations. While not every title will run on multiple threads, many remain single-threaded, but even upcoming versions of CS:GO are aiming for 8-thread optimization. With these high-end games, the level of graphical detail and design is pushing the boundaries. The latest Star Wars Battlefront 2 surpasses my 3770k / GTX970 specs, barely meeting minimum requirements at 1080p. Older models running at 6600k typically don’t pose problems, but upcoming releases or the following year will be different.
Karadjgne:
Precisely. The recent games such as BF1, GTA5, Witcher 3, PUBG, and Star Wars Battlefront 2 demonstrate clear advancements using an i7 or even a Ryzen compared to the i5. This pattern is expected to persist since quad-core processors typically lose ground similar to the dual/quad era. Although not every title will demand multiple threads, many will remain single-threaded. Even the upcoming version of CS:GO is considering 8-thread optimization. With these high-end AAA titles, the level of graphical detail and design necessitates pushing boundaries. Star Wars Battlefront 2 surpasses the capabilities of my 3770k / GTX970, barely meeting minimum requirements at 1080p. Older games on the 6600k usually pose no problems, but upcoming titles or those following will be different. Possibly so, but I own all the games you listed except PUBG and Battlefront 2 (I did play the beta at 60fps in 4K). All these games handled 60fps without trouble. My view stays the same: unless the developer targets high refresh rates or exceeds 60fps, an i7 isn't really justified for gaming. It's true that future titles may need more cores to sustain 60fps, but this is unlikely in a few years when most systems will likely run on 6-core i5s.
Lol, yeah, hairworks is brutal on an i5, as is physX and even grass.