Advice on new build

[nyfirefly11]

Hey everyone,

It's been a while since I went simming, and I'm thinking about getting back into it and a new build. I have FSX and a bunch of addons, but I've been thinking about trying out P3Dv4, since it seems like it can take better advantage of more modern hardware.

I've had a number of builds over the years. For the last one, I bought new hardware in 2016 that I never put together, so it's still sitting in boxes:

CPU: i7 6700 (vanilla, not K)

Mobo: Gigabyte Z170X Gaming 7

GPU: Nvidia GTX 980 Ti 6GB

Power: EVGA 750W G2

RAM: G.Skill Tridentz DDR4-3200 2 x 16GB

+ a few Samsung SSDs (largest is 256GB) and a BenQ 32" 4K monitor

So...do I just build that since I already have it? Or, do I sell some components and upgrade a few for max performance? From what I've read on the forums:

CPU: best would be an i7-8700K, for best single thread performance, # of cores, and OCing (which would require a new mobo, though the RAM should still be OK) - looks like around a 40% improvement: http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-8700K-vs-Intel-Core-i7-6700/3937vs3515

GPU: 1070 or above? According to benchmarks, the 1070 would be better in some areas but maybe worse in others (and I'm not sure I'd see any huge wins): http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-980-Ti-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1070/3439vs3609

Would love your thoughts - thanks!

[pracines]

Since you are only "thinking about it", and you have 2016 hardware that you never put together, my thoughts are, wait until you (can) have a passion about it. Until then, feed the poor or something with the extra cash. :-)

[nyfirefly11]

Pracines - thanks for the reply - I like your advice a lot :) What I should've said in my OP was that I need to put together a desktop for non-FS reasons, and I will definitely install some FS. So I can use my current components, which I'd be happy with, or I could sell them and upgrade a few while they're still new in boxes. I've worked out what I could sell for and what I could buy upgrades for - for example, I could probably sell the 6700 and the mobo, get an 8700K and new mobo, for only an extra $150. But is that "worth it" for a better FS performance?

[pracines]

There are some of us including me who are waiting on the next gen of GPU's from NVidia. Soon.  

I did the build thing for years, but now I go with  http://jetlinesystems.com/

The service is beyond excellent and the PC's are custom built specifically to your flight sim and add-on needs.

CPU speed is paramount in the flight sim category, and Jetline has 5+ GHz PC's that are very worth it.

If nothing else call them up and get some advice on the latest tech - you will find that they know all about FSX, P3D, XP, Virtual Reality, all the add-ons, and the PC power specs required for an awesome experience. 

 

[nyfirefly11]

Thanks - I'll give them a call. I went back and looked at my components - turns out I actually have a 6700K @4.0 and 32GB of RAM, so that just may be good enough for now :)

[vortex681]

9 hours ago, nyfirefly11 said:

turns out I actually have a 6700K @4.0 and 32GB of RAM, so that just may be good enough for now :)

Just repeating parts of a response I gave in another forum here at Avsim:

The best CPU for P3D is probably the 8700k at present. However, although your 6700k may not have as many cores as the most recent CPUs that's not really as important with P3D which still benefits more from good single core performance - see http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/intel_core_i5_8600k_processor_review,26.html. With the clock speed normalised, the single core IPC of the 6700k is less than 3% different when compared to the 8700k.

The 6700k and 8700k both use fast DDR4 RAM (your RAM is 3200MHz and once past that speed you're into the law of diminishing returns) and the 8700k only comfortably overclocks slightly higher than the 6700k. Assuming you built your system and overclocked the 6700k, the alternative of upgrading to an 8xxxk system would mean paying out a significant amount of money for probably less than 10% more performance (only 3 or 4 FPS, on average). I'd be surprised if you'd even notice the difference.

You have the makings of a very capable system and I'd say stick with what you've got for now. You should easily be able to overclock your 6700k to 4.6 - 4.7GHz (but make sure you have a good cooler). There's always the temptation to upgrade to the latest hardware but, in this case, when you look at what you'd gain it's just not worth the cost/effort. Unless you know that you'd definitely need the extra cores, I'd build the system as it stands and maybe consider upgrading the CPU/motherboard when the next generation of processors come out later this year.

[Mikelab6]

My thinking is, your 6700K and GTX980Ti are enough to be happy with for P3D. I don't think upgrading for 8700K and 1080Ti and it's overpriced tag is a good idea right now. Use what you have until new generation parts be available. Most of simmers would be happy to have what you already have.

Mike

[martin-w]

Yep, agree with Vortex. I did have a 6700K system with the same graphics card, pretty much identical to yours, and I did uprgrade.... it was for fun though, because I could afford to. It wasn't necessary.

 

I say stick to what you have build your 6700K system and enjoy it.

 

 

[martin-w]

23 hours ago, vortex681 said:

 

 You should easily be able to overclock your 6700k to 4.6 - 4.7GHz (but make sure you have a good cooler). 

 

Don't forget he has the non k version though, so he can't overclock.

[Mikelab6]

On ‎3‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 5:00 AM, nyfirefly11 said:

 turns out I actually have a 6700K @4.0 and 32GB of RAM, so that just may be good enough for now :)

 

7 hours ago, martin-w said:

Don't forget he has the non k version though, so he can't overclock.

Yes he has the K version ... ;)

[martin-w]

Oh right, fair enough. K it is. :)

[nyfirefly11]

Thanks, everyone - that's helpful. Do you think a 212 EVO is a good enough cooler to overclock the 6700K, or would you recommend a Noctua or H80 (or similar)?

[vortex681]

2 hours ago, nyfirefly11 said:

Thanks, everyone - that's helpful. Do you think a 212 EVO is a good enough cooler to overclock the 6700K, or would you recommend a Noctua or H80 (or similar)?

If you want an air cooler, I'd go for the Noctua NH D15 or D15S (better RAM clearance). If you want an all-in-one liquid cooler (my preference), I'd suggest something with a bigger radiator than the H80 - the H100i, for example.

[nyfirefly11]

Thanks - that makes sense, and the AIO is probably a bit quieter too :)

[vortex681]

21 hours ago, nyfirefly11 said:

Thanks - that makes sense, and the AIO is probably a bit quieter too :)

It's probably not quite as quiet as a Noctua but it will give you the maximum cooling (although there's generally only a few degrees in it unless you have a big overclock). The thought of having something as big and heavy as the Noctua on my motherboard doesn't really appeal to me either, but that's just down to personal preference.