I know that this would be a point of discussion for many ( like for myself ) and would be raised again and again, so we might as well have single thread for it.
My own thoughts on it
So what does I7 2600k has over I5 2500k?
The primary differences b/w these cpu is hyper threading, 100MHz higher clock and 2 mb more cache in I7 2600k and it demands a 5.5k premium for the same.
Several reviews have already shown that there is no difference for gaming. At the same time these reviews also show a considerable diff in synthetic tests that cannot be explained by just the clock diff.
Its clear that for gaming alone there is absolutely no reason to go for the I7.
But what about people like me who also do heavy multi tasking, run heavy multi threaded apps as well as use virtalization via vmware, virtualbox.
I have personally never seen hyperthreading being anything more than a gimmick. No matter how people mention that an app is optimized it, I have never seen HT give a boost, at least not more than 3~5%.
Relation between cache quantity and performace is subjective. The is no guarentee that less cache means lower performance or vice versa. There were many instance since the celeron 333 Times where a cpu with lower cache performed better than its bigger brother. Personally I think that each cpu has a certain optimal cache quantity with which it works best, lower or higher would both result in less than ideal performance. So cache quantity does not make for a good deciding factor.
As for the higher clock, the only implication it might have is that the cpu may possibly have more oc potential.
So in the end who does the I7 2600k cater to? Is there any point why someone should go for it?
May be for possibly a higher oc potential, benching and bragging rights.
So do you guy's think? Post your own views.
My own thoughts on it
So what does I7 2600k has over I5 2500k?
The primary differences b/w these cpu is hyper threading, 100MHz higher clock and 2 mb more cache in I7 2600k and it demands a 5.5k premium for the same.
Several reviews have already shown that there is no difference for gaming. At the same time these reviews also show a considerable diff in synthetic tests that cannot be explained by just the clock diff.
Its clear that for gaming alone there is absolutely no reason to go for the I7.
But what about people like me who also do heavy multi tasking, run heavy multi threaded apps as well as use virtalization via vmware, virtualbox.
I have personally never seen hyperthreading being anything more than a gimmick. No matter how people mention that an app is optimized it, I have never seen HT give a boost, at least not more than 3~5%.
Relation between cache quantity and performace is subjective. The is no guarentee that less cache means lower performance or vice versa. There were many instance since the celeron 333 Times where a cpu with lower cache performed better than its bigger brother. Personally I think that each cpu has a certain optimal cache quantity with which it works best, lower or higher would both result in less than ideal performance. So cache quantity does not make for a good deciding factor.
As for the higher clock, the only implication it might have is that the cpu may possibly have more oc potential.
So in the end who does the I7 2600k cater to? Is there any point why someone should go for it?
May be for possibly a higher oc potential, benching and bragging rights.
So do you guy's think? Post your own views.