5 models from 8400 to 8600k range
5 models from 8400 to 8600k range
I checked my setup and found the 1080 is limited by the 8400. I’m thinking about saving money and wondering if upgrading to an 8600k with a boost to around 4.9-5ghz would be better than adding another CPU or getting a new motherboard and a 11600k System Specs I5. I also considered a new 1080 and a 8400 Gigabyte Aorus z370, but it might be too much for my current rig—though it was on sale. My PSU is a Thermaltake 750w.
Your 1080 isn't heavily limited by the 8400. I'd prefer a new GPU over upgrading to a slower Rocket Lake platform. You'll eventually need a different setup, but if you're starting from an 8000 series, consider Raptor Lake or AM5. If you're patient, Arrow Lake could be available next year on Intel's next generation.
You identify a 1080 bottleneck by observing performance issues such as lag, slow loading, or high CPU usage under load.
Using a calculator and comparing with similar configurations helps evaluate performance against other CPUs.
The difference between 8400 and 8600k would just be a small frequency increase. It wouldn't make much of a difference and isn't worth the effort. Even if you're struggling with performance, it doesn't help much, whether you're limited or not. Your CPU won't push your GPU up much, and the gains are minimal—better consistency, tighter lows, and improved stability in newer games would be more valuable. Right now, a 6-core/6-thread setup is often a constraint. If you really need a CPU upgrade, the 9900k is the better choice. Even used, it's not a good value given its price and performance. I’d save up for a fresh platform with a better cooler and GPU later. A new power supply might also be necessary.
Calculators aren't consistent. UserBenchmark helps compare speeds, but most users start overclocking, so numbers tend to favor higher performance as a starting point. An 8600K only boosts frequency slightly and offers limited overclocking options—it's not worth it beyond that. For a real upgrade, consider an i7-8700K. Either way, you're not sacrificing enough speed to justify changing just one component. An 8700K helps ease the bottleneck, but the impact will probably be minimal unless your needs change. I recommend delaying the upgrade, saving some cash, and planning a full system refresh in a couple of years—maybe moving to a 13th or 14th generation instead of just a small jump from 8th or 9th.
That board seems to have some issues. New models like this one aren't common. Upgrading to something around 8600k isn't worth it unless you're budgeting under $50. The same applies to 8700k or 9900k at typical resale prices. Consider selling the motherboard and CPU, then look for used Ryzen chips. A 3600(x) costs about $50-60 and a 5600(x) around $80-100, both cheaper and more efficient than an 8700k. They also offer better power efficiency and future upgrades to higher-end chips like the 5800x3d or 5950x at reasonable prices.
Definitely something I'll look into, won't sell the cpu mobo though since I'm planning on passing it down to my girl for her first pc but I will definitely look into the amd stuff, will it also perform well with other task like video/photo editing, graphic design and rendering etc?