Upgrade processor, get new computer or do nothing?

[Kalamata Kid]

Wow, glad you responded. It would be great f I get close to your performance with my partial upgrade.

I looked at the GA-X58A-UD3R (rev. 2.0) specs
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product ... 49&dl=1#ov
and it seem that the Intel Core i7-5820K and i7-5930K should work. But maybe not?
supports
•Supports the newest Intel Core i 7 processors in socket LGA1366 with QPI 6.4 GT/s
•Supports new generation Intel 32nm 6-core processors

Even though I built my current computer I have very little knowledge about this matters so additional help will be greatly appreciated.

No, the new Intel processors use socket LGA2011-v3 whereas your processor and motherboard have the LGA1366 socket. You wouldn't physically be able to seat a new processor onto your board. Also, your processor/socket are meant for the X58 chipset (deprecated) that your board uses, whereas LGA2011-v3 boards have either the X79 or X99 chipsets, which are compatible with today's processors.

Your information is extremely useful. The partial upgrade using the Intel Core i7-5820K (6 cores) it out.

So now here are three my options:

Use the UltimateOutsider specs for a computer. Keep my current hard drives and perhaps the GPU. $2000 estimated cost.

Look into using the 8 core Intel Core i7-5960X 8 core. I have to convince myself that I can stop eating for a year so I can afford it. Or convince myself that I will keep it for 8 years or it will make me so much money that the cost can be justified. $2500 estimated cost. To really consider this computer it must be super-fast or what is the point. How can I convince myself?

Keep the current computer. Upgrade to Windows 10 when released. Somewhere down the line perhaps update the GPU. Very economical and willow allow me to invest in more plugins and a multi-touch monitor.

[UltimateOutsider]

Look into using the 8 core Intel Core i7-5960X 8 core. I have to convince myself that I can stop eating for a year so I can afford it.

I chose the 5930k over the 5960x because even though the 5930k has fewer cores (6 instead of 8 ), it has a higher clock rate, and I think that would be most important for audio. (A lot of modern audio apps support multithreading, but 8 cores/16 threads is way beyond what I need to produce a track.)

The 5960x is also almost twice the price of the 5930k, but is only about 20% faster in benchmarks. Not as good a value, IMO.

You would also likely be able to save some money in the video card department. I went with a GeForce GTX-960 ($260) because I do like to play a game now and then. But you can get by doing audio stuff with virtually any PCIe card ever made, or onboard audio if your mobo includes it. My ASUS board doesn't have onboard video.

[Kalamata Kid]

Look into using the 8 core Intel Core i7-5960X 8 core. I have to convince myself that I can stop eating for a year so I can afford it.

I chose the 5930k over the 5960x because even though the 5930k has fewer cores (6 instead of 8 ), it has a higher clock rate, and I think that would be most important for audio. (A lot of modern audio apps support multithreading, but 8 cores/16 threads is way beyond what I need to produce a track.)

The 5960x is also almost twice the price of the 5930k, but is only about 20% faster in benchmarks. Not as good a value, IMO.

You would also likely be able to save some money in the video card department. I went with a GeForce GTX-960 ($260) because I do like to play a game now and then. But you can get by doing audio stuff with virtually any PCIe card ever made, or onboard audio if your mobo includes it. My ASUS board doesn't have onboard video.

UltimateOutsider,

The 5960k I read that it can/should be overclocked to 4.35khz. Do is want to spend the time to learn how to OC? Supposedly the software wakes this easy to do?

How about going to an AMD processor? As good as Intel for less? Good for digital audio and Photoshop?

some interesting 5930k bundles
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=59 ... otherboard

For now I am tending toward adopting you specs. Would you mind sharing the parts and price list by PM or post them here in this thread.

[UltimateOutsider]

The 5960k I read that it can/should be overclocked to 4.35khz. Do is want to spend the time to learn how to OC? Supposedly the software wakes this easy to do?

How about going to an AMD processor? As good as Intel for less? Good for digital audio and Photoshop?

For now I am tending toward adopting you specs. Would you mind sharing the parts and price list by PM or post them here in this thread.

I'm not into overclocking; that's a rabbit hole that I simply don't have the time to invest in. There is potentially so much trial-and-error (with the risk that the wrong tweak could destabilize your system and wreak havoc in your DSP reliability) that I just want a computer that's fast enough from the get-go with minimal adjustments.

I am never going to recommend anyone go AMD even if their CPUs were any good, because they're a no-good operation. I'm obviously biased, but maybe Tom's Hardware or Anandtech have more objective information on the matter.

I am writing up my build specs right now, actually. Should have it done in the next day or two. I don't have it in a format that can easily be copy/pasted yet.

[Uncle E]

The partial upgrade using the Intel Core i7-5820K (6 cores) it out.

The i7-5820K is out but other 6 cores like the Xeon X5675, Xeon X5690, and i7 980 might work. Newegg has the Xeon X5690 for $155:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product

[Kalamata Kid]

The partial upgrade using the Intel Core i7-5820K (6 cores) it out.

The i7-5820K is out but other 6 cores like the Xeon X5675, Xeon X5690, and i7 980 might work. Newegg has the Xeon X5690 for $155:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product

Still considering a partial upgrade.

How about Intel Xeon W3690 @ 3.47GHz, 6 core processor for $190
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... acat=58058
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cp ... Hz&id=1275
AS I look at ebay it seem that there are variations of the W3690. Is this correct?

The Xeon W3690 it seems is not as fast as the Core i7-5820K @ 3.30GHz but if I read the specs correctly it is the fastest processor I found that I can use and still keep my current mother board (GA-X58A-UD3R (rev. 2.0) and RAM (CORSAIR XMS3 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800))

I used cpu-upgrade.com to see which processor will work with my motherboard
http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Gigabyte/ ... _2.0).html

Alternate choice which seems to be as fast as the W3690 is the i7-990X but it is very expensive.
Compared http://ark.intel.com/compare/52585,52586,50086

Does this make sense. What am I overlooking?

[Ciberithm]

The Haswell i7 4790K will outperform the W3690. It costs a bit more, but you get USB3, SATA3, a processor that supports 1600MHz memory, PCIe v3, and a lot of other things that have been introduced since 2010. The downsides are the processor is $100 more, and you will only be using 4 sticks of RAM.

What is your budget for this project? If you only have $200 to spend, the W3690 may be your best choice, but for just over $500, you get a newer motherboard with 16GB of RAM. If you overclock the 4790K, then add another $50 for a good CPU cooler. Many modern motherboards have options for easy overclocking - just set them to "performance" mode and the 4790K should run at 4.5GHz or above.

[Kalamata Kid]

The Haswell i7 4790K will outperform the W3690. It costs a bit more, but you get USB3, SATA3, a processor that supports 1600MHz memory, PCIe v3, and a lot of other things that have been introduced since 2010. The downsides are the processor is $100 more, and you will only be using 4 sticks of RAM.

What is your budget for this project? If you only have $200 to spend, the W3690 may be your best choice, but for just over $500, you get a newer motherboard with 16GB of RAM. If you overclock the 4790K, then add another $50 for a good CPU cooler. Many modern motherboards have options for easy overclocking - just set them to "performance" mode and the 4790K should run at 4.5GHz or above.

I already have every feature that you mentioned in my current motherboard GA-X58A-UD3R (rev. 2.0)
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product ... 0-%20ov#ov

My budget is from $ zero to $1500 +. The more I spend the more exponentially by expectations become.

I am still considering adopting UltimateOutsider’s specs using the 5930k processor. $2000+.

If I can get about double the speed using the W3690 for $190 I will likely go this route. Use my current mobo. $ zero.

I still need to confirm about the Intel Xeon W3690
Will it work with Windows 10?
How much faster is the W3690 6 core over the current Intel Core i7-950 4 core.
I confirmed that the current Ram DDR3 1600 will work ok.
The GA-X58A-UD3R (rev. 2.0) supports Intel Core i 7 in socket LGA1366 with QPI 6.4 GT/s. Hmmm QPI 6.4 GT/s?
Will I need to do anything to the BIOS?
Can I just pluck it in place and will work with my current setup?

If all ok this will save me a bunch of dollars! Now buy more plugins!

[UltimateOutsider]

For what it's worth I did finish the write-up on my i7-5930K system. Part 1 contains the part list and some hardware setup notes. Part 2 goes into drivers, OS and BIOS configuration, and has some benchmark results, compared to my old DAW computer.

Good luck with whatever route you take, KK.

[Kalamata Kid]

UltimateOutsider.

I know these reports are very time consuming so I commend you for the length and details on computer building and tutorials etc. You must have been a writer in a previous life-time.

Wish I had bumped into your site when building my #2 Intel Core i7-950 music PC. I told myself that I would never build a computer again but knowing your specs I may consider it as it will save me much time in research. So now I can see that is a real possibility. Will have to make a decision soon

[Kalamata Kid]

If someone could chime in and help me with the partial upgrade option, I will be very grateful.

The Xeon W3690 ($190) which I am eyeing, it seems is not as fast as the Core i7-5820K @ 3.30GHz but if I read the specs correctly it is the fastest processor I found that I can use and still keep my current mother board (GA-X58A-UD3R (rev. 2.0) and RAM (CORSAIR XMS3 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)) If not the W3690 processor which other processor is recommended that will work on the current mobo?

If I can get about double the speed using the W3690 6 core VS the current Intel Core i7-950 4 core I will likely go this route. The alternative is to keep my current computer as is and just upgrade to Windows 10. The other is to adopt UltimateOutsider’s specs for about $2500.

I still need to confirm about the Intel Xeon W3690:

How much faster is the W3690 6 core over the current Intel Core i7-950 4 core.

Will it work with Windows 10?

Will it work with the current:
Cooler: Scythe SCMG-2100 Sleeve CPU Cooler (Mugen 2 Rev. B)
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready
I confirmed that the current Ram DDR3 1600 will work ok.

AS I look at ebay it seem that there are variations of the W3690. Is this correct?
Edit: it was the SLBW2 description and that some listings say for Mac.

Can I just pluck the new W3690 in place and will work with my current mobo setup?

[Kalamata Kid]

Did some online research on i7-950 vs W3690. With my limited experience reading benchmarks I would say upgrading to the W3650 will give me at best a 50% increase in speed. I am tempted to spend the $190 but if it was doubling the speed I would instantly pool the trigger.

Any comments?

Anyone in a similar situation may want to check out these links.
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id- ... w3690.html
http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/96/Int ... W3690.html
http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Xeon-W369 ... ore-i7-950
http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/In ... m9677vs617

[Uncle E]

50% sounds about right.

[Kalamata Kid]

Do I hear 60%?

The higher the percent the more likely
I will upgrade using the W3960 processor.
The lower the percent the more likely I will
keep my music computer as is or adopt
UltimateOutsider's i7-5930K specs.

[Kalamata Kid]

And the winner IS ...............
drum roll please

(do not upgrade my current computer,
upgrade using the W3960 processor or
adopt UltimateOutsider's i7-5930K specs)