Reddit reviews Intel Core i7-4770 Quad-Core Desktop Processor 3.4 GHZ LGA 1150 8 MB Cache BX80646I74770

A lot of Xeons tend to focus on things like 6 or 8 cores and multi-processor support (which are both pretty useless for gamers), but the Xeon E3-1240 v2 and Xeon E3-1230 v2 both seem like good choices. Those two are pretty much like Ivy Bridge i7 processors without the Intel HD graphics.

With Haswell, the Xeon E3-1240v3 at $280 looks to be a good alternative to the i7-4770 at $307. The advantage to the i7 is that it has 0.1 GHz more turbo, and it has integrated graphics. The Xeon, however, has 4 Watts lower TDP and costs $27 less. Also, integrated graphics mostly go unused on gaming systems.

The i7 is at least $50 more depending where you look.

Xeon

i7 (The i7 on Newegg is from a 3rd party)

It's a Xeon in name only.

If you can it would have to be a socket 1150 Core i7 (4XXX). Example.

I say IF because OEM computers are not usually upgrade friendly. The computer's BIOS would have to "know" the new CPU, and my admittedly quick search for info didn't reveal any Dell Optiplex 3020 model with a Core i7. The model I did find had a Core i5.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-i7-4770-Quad-Core-Processor-BX80646I74770/dp/B00CO8TBNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469327622&sr=8-1&keywords=4770

Cheapest used it 282, come in 10 less and I guarantee it sells in 4 days or less

Thanks for the reply!

How do you think the i5-4690 compares to an i7 like this?

I suspect this is a stupid question, but if I decide to go with just one monitor to start, I will still benefit from the SLI'd 980's, correct?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00CO8TBNS/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

There are ones that go for almost $200.