Overclock 2600K or Upgrade?
Overclock 2600K or Upgrade?
consider getting an affordable cooler such as the cryorig h7 and boosting the 2600k to 4.4-4.6ghz. sandy bridge handles higher temperatures and voltages better than the newer models, and overclocking feels smooth.
when both processors run at 4.5ghz, a 2600k+980ti will perform significantly better than a 6700k+980. combining a 980ti with a 6700k will likely maintain an edge, though it’s not just about higher FPS.
in most intense graphical games, performance differences are minimal, though you might notice slight gains around 15% in peak frames in some areas. this isn’t significant if you’re already above 90fps or on a 60hz screen. the highest possible gain could reach up to 10%, which can be noticeable.
if I were you, I’d opt for overclocking and wait until you can afford a newer chipset. what makes a 6700k appealing is its additional features like NVMe and support for a 2500mb SSD, plus skylake’s compatibility with Alpine Ridge 4K, while kaby lake offers HDMI 2.0, HDCP 2.2, and native H265 support for future-proof 4K playback.
I've been using my 2500k between 4 - 4.8ghz for more than five years now.
It's clearly nothing out of the ordinary. I replaced my old GTX570 with a single GTX 970 and have been very satisfied.
Perhaps there will be a reason to upgrade to whatever comes after Kaby Lake, but who knows. Until then, I won't be thinking about a CPU upgrade unless this PC stops working.
No, you don't have to purchase a Skylake-based CPU to run modern games, including demanding titles like Witcher 3. Achieving 4.5 GHZ by adjusting vcore and CPU multiplyer settings doesn't require disabling certain components unless you're targeting extremely high overclocking. Just ensure you use a good graphics card paired with your Skylake processor; Nvidia Pascal is an excellent option. Keep core voltage under 1.4V to protect the CPU's lifespan, maintain temperatures below 80°C if possible, and avoid overclocking the BCLK settings to preserve performance.
On a GTX960, you likely won’t need to upgrade your system for another three years. If you monitor your CPU usage while gaming, you might discover it never reaches 90% or higher, making overclocking unnecessary—though it’s still quite enjoyable.
Hi,
I'm running an Intel Core i5 2500K overclocked to 4.8 Ghz, which has performed perfectly for over five years now. After upgrading to an ASUS GTX 970, there was a clear improvement in my gaming experience with titles like Everquest 2, Diablo 3 and Rift. I also use a terabyte Samsung Pro 840 and a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for audio. The motherboard is an ASUS P8P67 with 8 Gb RAM. This setup has been reliable for a long time. A few years ago, I changed the case and power supply mainly for looks. I believe I was fortunate to get a 2500K that allowed me to sustain 4.8 Ghz, but I've also considered whether switching to a Skylake 6700K would help. It seems most people don't see much benefit there. I'm still hoping for a 980 Ti but otherwise have no strong reasons to upgrade. I was interested in Windows 10 briefly and installed it on my gaming laptop, but it didn't meet expectations. I prefer sticking with the Windows 7 on my desktop. Sometimes newer isn't always better.