7740x or 3600?
7740x or 3600?
Hey! I'm thinking about a small improvement for my setup. My current i7 4770 with 1060 MHz isn't up to the demands of Horizon Zero Dawn or Cyberpunk 2077 anymore. Gaming is my main priority, so I don’t need many rendering threads. Browsing and some online tasks are enough. My old 27-inch monitor runs at 144Hz and 1080p—still solid for its age. But it only supports DVI, not HDMI, which was a surprise when I upgraded to a 2060 Pro and got maxed out at 60Hz. That’s why I’m stuck with the older GPUs.
I’m planning a bigger upgrade soon: a 2K, 144Hz monitor. Until then, I’ll stick with what I have. Now, my current monitor is limited to 144Hz via DVI. I’m hoping for a higher refresh rate later, maybe even 1080p at 60Hz or more.
For the CPU, motherboard, and RAM, I’m still on a budget but expect the 4770 to hit its limits in a couple of years. I’m considering used parts—some 7700K/8600K/8700K boards with a compatible board for $225–250. I found a 7740x with an X299 motherboard for $200–225, and a 3200MHz DDR4 RAM around $80. That puts the total upgrade budget in the low $400s.
I’m also thinking about getting a Ryzen 5 3600 (or similar) plus a new board and RAM for about $450. The 7740x and 3600 seem pretty balanced for most games, though the 3600 might edge out slightly. The 4600 is still unknown—maybe better later, but not sure yet.
If I go with the 7740x now, it should last a few years even if I upgrade to something like a 3070 or 3080 later, especially if I switch to a 2K display. What do you think? Go for the cheaper option and stick around two years, or wait for a more powerful model?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Cheers
I'm unsure about getting a quad-core processor these days, even though the 7740X is likely the fastest one you can get (especially when overclocked with similar cooling). It's not much better than a 4770. I think it still offers some room for improvement. X299 chips are now priced lower and feel fair compared to AM4 options with more cores. But right now, I really need something with at least six cores. Maybe a stock one if you can overclock it well, but not for gaming purposes. Red or blue?
Thanks for the response. I’m leaning toward you as well. However, I’m hoping for a budget-friendly upgrade—it might not be worth it right now. Staying with Zen 3 seems like the better choice. If the 4600 doesn’t offer enough improvement over the 3600, the 3600 should drop in price soon after Zen 3 arrives.
The 7740 essentially offers the same performance as the 7700k on the x299 platform. This is only a small improvement compared to the 4770 you currently have. Investing 200 in such an outdated system isn't worth it when Zen 3 is near.