Checking if upgrading is feasible for a functional study session
Checking if upgrading is feasible for a functional study session
Hi everyone, my computer is a 5-year-old model and it used to handle everything perfectly until now. I’ve started focusing on my startup project and have stopped playing games as I did before. My GPU (GTX 1070 mini) stopped working a few months ago. Now I mainly use the PC for coding, Android emulation, Solidworks, and browsing online – all of which demand a lot of CPU power. I’ve also boosted my CPU speed to around 4.5–4.1 GHz depending on what I’m doing, but it still performs well. I’m looking for advice on upgrading the CPU. Here are my specs:
- **CPU** | Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5 GHz Quad-Core
- **CPU Cooler** | Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve
- **Motherboard** | MSI Z170A GAMING PRO ATX LGA1151
- **Memory** | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL15
- **Memory** | Same as above
- **Storage** | Crucial MX300 275 GB M.2-2280 SSD
- **Storage** | Seagate Barracuda 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM HDD
- **Video Card** | Gigabyte GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1 GB (temporary)
I’m ready to hear any suggestions and thank you for your help!
What budget should you aim for? If there’s no limit and you focus on value, a B550 board paired with a strong VRM such as the B550-Plus TUF from Asus offers excellent performance for your needs.
Thank you! I was considering a price near $300, but keeping the motherboard unchanged.
Well then, your options are limited to securing a 7700k chip, which offers only minimal improvement. You'll likely need to switch to a different system, as the first version of 1151 is essentially obsolete. At around $300, you can find this setup: an Intel Core i5-10400F processor at 2.9 GHz with six cores ($179.99 on Amazon), paired with the MSI B560M PRO-VDH Micro ATX LGA1200 motherboard ($132.98 on Newegg). Combined cost comes to about $312.97, including shipping, taxes, and any available discounts. This information was generated by PCPartPicker on June 25, 2021 at 7:33 AM EDT.