i5 instead of i7

[captain_adf 16]

In planning an upcoming build, I've begun to wonder whether I can get away with an i5-4670k instead of the standard recommendation for an i7-4770k.  Here are the basic differences between the two processors that may impact FSX performance:

 

1) i7 has hyperthreading available; but FSX doesn't make use of it and in fact many people prefer to turn it off in the BIOS.

2) i7 has 8MB of L3 cache vs. 6MB on the i5.  This will have some impact.

3) i7 is rated at 3.5 GHz (3.9 in Turbo boost mode) vs. 3.4 for the i5 (3.8 in Turbo boost).

4) There is a hypothesis, and probably an unprovable one, that the i7 cores are selected from higher quality wafers.  This explains why the stock clock speeds are rated 100 MHz higher, reflecting Intel's higher confidence in these chips.  In addition, it has been suggested (I can't recall where I saw this), that Intel wants the i7 to have lower return rates to make their premium higher-paying customers happy, so again they choose better wafers when assembling the i7 whereas the i5 doesn't get this special treatment.

 

#4 is difficult to quantify, but I think I can trust that the i5 is still a good proc.  Do these differences justify the extra $100 price for the i7?

 

[Bob Scott 7,719]

It appears you have a pretty good handle on the differences between the i7 and i5. Whether they're worth $100 to you can only be decided by...you.

 

Cheers

[SAAB340 28]

You'll be the only one that can say if it's worth the extra money.

You know the differences well.

Your #1 should be updated to FSX can make use of Hyperthreading to load ground textures faster, but it won't give me higher FPS.

Personally I'd never get an i5 for FSX for that reason alone, but my use case is high-res photo scenery at high LOD. Most people are perfectly happy with the textureloading an i5 provides.

[JimmiG 244]

The 4670K is an excellent CPU for the money, for current games and sims. Keep in mind that the next-gen consoles will have 8-core CPUs, which may result in PC games also taking advantage of more cores in the future. In that case, having HT and 8 virtual cores like the 4770K, may improve performance.

[JRHdez 0]

The 4670K is an excellent CPU for the money, for current games and sims. Keep in mind that the next-gen consoles will have 8-core CPUs, which may result in PC games also taking advantage of more cores in the future. In that case, having HT and 8 virtual cores like the 4770K, may improve performance.

Im undecided between the i5-4670k and the 3750k... They are the same price...