I consider myself relatively knowledgable when it comes to IT and home-computers.

 

Yesterday my computer seems to give in, like completely. I can very rarely boot, BIOS doesn't work with memory XMP settings, there are no overclocking-options for the CPU any more (they are completely missing), if I put anything more than a keyboard/mouse OR network-cable, the screen doesn't come up (no, it's no the GPU since it's working at times), BIOS flashback works only partially (I have to flash it 2-3 times), CMOS reset and battery-out brings no help, sometimes working with only one RAM, slot doesn't matter etc.

I reckon that the mainboard died, and possibly CPU has some damage and quite sure one RAM has a problem.

 

So, time to replace the bugger. The only problem is the timing, which is very bad. It is not a month until the release of the Skylake in USA, however the big question how long until it arrives in Europe. And 2nd, would it really pay off to wait, considering it will surely be more expensive than 4790K. Performance differences aren't stellar, and I question how big the difference will be in gaming computers (incl. FSX and P3D).

 

I am considering the change from full ATX and big tower to mid-tower and micro-ATX, something like ASUS Gene VII and 4790K. I am using watercooling and SSDs exclusively, and only my pump is in the case, everything else is outside, so the heat should be least of my problems, as I plan to put in two Noctua fans, 1x 140mm front and 1x 120mm back.

 

The idea is to build the smallest possible and the most powerful possible single GPU computer for a reasonable amount of money.

 

Also consider I am from Europe, so...

 

The questions are:

Considering the price of the Skylake (probably higher than 4790K), the imminent release (however the question is, how imminent in Europe...) and the price of other components which are also going to be more expensive, would it even pay off to go Skylake or should I just go with 4790K?

 

The thing that really pains me is that all CPUs, 3770K, 4770K and 4790K are not *really* faster than 2600K, and I feel like buying the same CPU, especially when it comes to FSX. It's not even that the 4790K overclocks more, so the highest possible OC is probably 4.8GHz, which is basically the same as I had my 2600K running.

The new benchmarks on the Skylake also don't show much more than 5%+, which is also very disappointing.

 

So what's your take on this?

 

If you can get the 2600K again, at least then you don't need to replace the mobo, but if you upgrade to the i74790K then a new mobo is also required. 

Yes, however I think the mainboard is mainly dead, and possibly CPU and RAM. However, the fact that CPU and RAM don't play well, goes to kinda show that mainboard might be the main cause. However I can't buy a new mobo (eg. Gene VII) and stay compatible with the Skylake... only 4790K. That would probably be the first step, to see if the problem is solved.

In theory, the 4790's should  drop in price before the Skylake is released. That's my plan too in about 8 weeks. I have an i5 2500K which I plan to upgrade to i7 4790K

I'll see how it pans out. 

 

Jude 

So it wouldn't even be that stupid of an idea to get the mainboard now, so I possibly get a working system, since Gene VII will support 2600K afaik. And then when all prices drop, get the rest. Replacing my 2600K wouldn't even be that stupid, since OCed to 4.6, 4790K should basically outperform the 2600K at 4.8. Not to mention the PCIEX3 and faster RAM. It should altogether be faster than the current setup.

 

Still the question is open what will Skylake do to the FSX/P3D...if anything.

I'd see if you can get a cheap i3 or i5 cpu to tide you over for a few weeks

That's a good question actually. I was using a 3770 and generally was ok.

Waiting for skylake I realised that it will really shine only with new memory which as always I'm sure will be pretty expensive in the beginning. Mobos will be more expensive for a bit and most likely BIOS issues for a while since it's a new product. CPU alone won't be much of a difference anyway.

 

Since my 3770 was in his 3rd year while being OCed to 4.2 on air I figured I'm gonna change it.

Got the devil's canyon @4.5 on air (high 60s to mid 70 celsius on high load) with my mem @1600 and I'm happy.

Next 2-3 years price of devils won't go down much if we look at current trends. Just look at the price of haswell or the older 3770. They are only marginally cheaper at least here in Poland.

Well, well. Look here, I managed to fix the computer. It was actually the board, specifically the BIOS. It went corrupt and no flashback has been able to fix it. Only if I managed to boot into windows, executing the AMIFLASH and flashing the last bios with the option program all blocks on did I manage to revive the board. Now it's working like before, and I could swear it is more stable in the USB-area.

Anyway, just wanted to share the "solution" to my problem.

Glad you got it sorted Simon.