basically the i7 just has more threads, and it will have a very slightly better clock rate/overclock potential. so you'd primarily notice the difference doing cpu things that take advantage of lots of cores/threads, like video editing or streaming. games generally speaking rely more on the gpu than the cpu, but not all. games like warcraft are cpu bound, but for those what matters most is single core performance rate, not multi-threading. the benefit of the 8700 over the 8600 for games is going to be marginal, it's just up to you whether its worth $120 bucks or not. really, you can argue that any high end processor from the past several years is only marginally better than any other.

i built a similar computer to yours a little while back, got a 7700k and had a similar decision with the 7600k - to me it was worth it to get the 7700k. but i paid 300 for it, and i'd say there was a larger difference between the 76/7700 than between the 86/8700, though just getting a 7600k was the recommendation for games a year ago.

Clock for clock, i5s gaming benchmarks are almost the same as i7. But i5s do clock a little lower and nobody nowadays runs only the game with nothing in the background (Discord? Stream? Music? Skype? Twitch updater? Youtube?). For real world usage, I am guessing i7 adds quite a bit of value. i7 chips also have higher clock speeds and more thermal headroom (if userbenchmarks results are any guide).

With Ryzen and Intel going to 6+ cores in desktops and Intel U chips going to 4 cores as default, it's basically a certainty games will be better optimized to take advantage of at least 4 cores going forward.

PS4 and XBox One already run low clock speed 8 core CPUs. My guess is some technology/optimization for the consoles will come to PCs as well.

TLDR: i7 probably already has significant advantages in real world usage and will probably do even better going forward.

PS: I run all i7s but I always had practical needs (Excel/R sims) for more cores.

Any recs for a decent headset under $100?

Cloud II's are on sale for $70 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SAYCVTQ/

Best Buy has them for the same price and if you pick up in store you get an additional 10$ off

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hyperx-...?skuId=4505204

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/custome...at218900050012

Get a Free $10 Savings Code* When You Choose Store Pickup

or just make your own headset with a decent set of headphones and a mod mic or something (Newegg always has the Philips (open back if you don't mind that) SHP9500s for like 50$)

Off a future purchase

The Turtle Beach Ear Force headsets always get good reviews. I have had the Z22 for a few years which appears to be discontinued. You should definitely be able to find a decent newer model for under $100.

The Logitech G633 Artemis is extremely well reviewed. I have been very satisfied with the wireless G933 version for a few years too.

If you're still looking, Costco has this same computer (Dell 7577) but with 1060 instead of 1050ti on sale for $700 for the next few days.

https://m.costco.com/Dell-Inspiron-1...100380743.html

My daughter would like a Razer keyboard for X-Mas. Can anyone recommend a good one? Would prefer under $100 but I don't really care how much.

I dunno what kind my razer is, but it has custom mx brown switches and it feels like a dream.

Wheatsauce, thanks very much for the link. May have to snag that. Not 100% sure if membership is required, not a member tho.

If she's asking for a Razer keyboard, I would think that she has something specific in mind. You might ask he if there's a particular model she's after, or if she's interested in the mechanical keys. Most mechanical Razers use their "Green" switches which to me are obnoxiously loud and clicky. I have a Logitech G710+ with the aforementioned mx brown switches and I much prefer the sound of those. Razer's green switches are more akin to mx blue.

Razer has a variety of keyboards and I think you need more information on why she's asking for a Razer keyboard in order to make the right purchase.

There are plenty of great mech boards out there if she doesn't specifically want a razor.


I have a Filco ( expensive typist board ) and the quality of the new cheap mech boards is really high.

I have a https://www.amazon.com/Mechanical-Ke...dp/B01ABUJ2KM/

which feels near identical to my filco.

They also do a backlit version, and a full size plain or backlit.

There are also cheap and awesome RGB boards.

https://www.amazon.com/Mechanical-Ke...dp/B06XW33N5R/

It can be used wireless or wired and has an app to design your own colorschemes.

My friend has the Razer BlackWidow Chroma (I think that's the one) and the color schemes on the keys do look kinda cool. Looks like it's a bit over $100 though.

I have this https://www.amazon.com/DREVO-Wireles...=drevo+calibur

and this: https://www.amazon.com/REIDEA-KM06-P...ds=reidea+km06

Both cheap, both have AFAIK "otemu" red switches. Haven't actually tried one with real Cherry switches, but I very much like these. Prefer the Drevo, which I'm typing on now. Bluetooth is super useful on occasion, and I like the compactness but still retaining the cursors and home/end cluster. The lighting is a little restrictive compared to the Reidea (which has some sort of software I ignored), that one I got soon after the Drevo since going between it and the previous Microsoft Comfort non-mech was horrific, and on that PC I needed a full layout with numpad and F-keys.

Never using a non-mech non-lit keyboard again for any length of time unless it's impossible.

I agree with previous posters, "A Razer keyboard" is probably not specific enough when she has something specific in mind.

This is for a kid right? I'm guessing if she specifically asked for a razer keyboard it might be important that it's from razer, even if there are cheaper comparable options.

Trying to be too discerning a buyer for a kid, especially on Christmas morning, can easily backfire.

She's 14 and it has to be Razer because she's spoiled . What she really wants is one of these because of the keys on the left though it looks like those things aren't produced anymore which leads to the $399 price. Perhaps something like this would work as well. I had one of those when I grinded poker pre-BF and loved it

She really doesn't. She just went into HS and she got some friends that play SC2/LOL and she's getting back into those and wants a Razer. She has no idea what she specifically wants.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

this sold out in hours but is back up under a different link. Since they sold out so quick they're asking people to try price matching w/ best buy.

Even though they don't have the model # on costco's website, which has caused some people some problems, i was able to price match over the phone AND get 18-month no interest financing. So, yay shiny new laptop for under $40 a month!

Just ordered a gtx 1060 for 189 after rebate. I’m Running a 950 right now and haven’t been very happy with its performance lately especially when I’m streaming high performance games like destiny.

Seems like a pretty good deal on an upgrade without having to spend $600

I’ve never installed one and it seems a little intimidating to me.

It's no big deal. It only fits one way and then you will have to connect it to the power supply and you're done.

Just watch a few install guides on youtube. It's fairly straightforward.

I guess, if you wanna get technical, you can make it fit however you want.

Jmakin, have you ever played a console that used cartridges? Same basic principle. Pull out the old one, plug in the new one. Easy peasy.

As long as you have a 3/4" drill bit, some needle-nose pliers, and a rubber mallet, you won't have any problems installing a new video card.

I'm just afraid of ****ing something up.

kind of embarrassing for a CS major. my box is huge though so I've got room to fart around with

That's what she said.