Choosing between two improvements.
Choosing between two improvements.
You're considering two different hardware setups. One offers a Ryzen 1700+ with M-SPI X370 and carbon pro, paired with 16GB of 2400MHz RAM. The other is an Intel 8600K with Asus B360K and 8GB of 2133MHz memory. For gaming, the latter seems more suitable given your monitor specs and usage habits. You're also thinking about coding and potential future projects like 3D modeling, which could benefit from the higher core count in the Ryzen option. Your current setup is a 6600K with 8GB of 2133MHz RAM.
8600k is at its maximum CPU capacity and often lags in current games. The 1700 offers weaker single-core performance but can still deliver smooth 60fps+ gameplay, while the 8600k struggles to maintain it. When compiled with a modern multi-threaded compiler, the 1700 significantly outperforms the 8600k in build times. In terms of rendering power, the 1700 consistently outperforms the 8600k.
The 8600K might run into trouble in certain multiplayer games such as Warzone and Battlefield. But if you're aiming for 1440p, it's probably only an issue if your graphics card is more advanced than an RTX 3060/2060S or RX 6600XT/5700XT. I owned a 9600K with a 2060 Super, and once I switched to 1440p, my GPU limitations disappeared completely. The 1700 isn't ideal for gaming CPUs; it's better suited for tasks that need multiple cores, though not as much as most people claim. People often look at Ryzen with overly optimistic expectations, especially for the first generation models. Compared to what AMD and Intel improved afterward, it didn’t perform very well. There’s a point where Intel called the 1800X “An i7 in productivity, an i5 in gaming,” which shows how far it lagged against the CPUs you were upgrading from at that time. Even with newer Ryzen versions, Zen 1 isn’t significantly better.
Right now I'm running on a GTX970, so I expect it might struggle with 1440P resolution in most games. Upgrading the GPU seems unlikely until prices stabilize. When thinking ahead, I'm curious about which component offers the smoothest path for future upgrades—clearly the AMD board is better, but should a newer Ryzen or Intel CPU be more advantageous later on?
The MoBo backs the Ryzen 3000 lineup, though it isn't an ideal upgrade route. https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/x370-gam...upport-cpu For the Intel MoBo (PRIME B360M-K), a move to the 9th generation Intel is feasible. https://www.asus.com/Motherboards-Compon...lpDesk_CPU Neither model offers strong support for modern CPU upgrades.
The X370 will focus on the Ryzen 9 3950X as its main component. While it's a solid chip, for gaming the 9900K performs better overall, though not dramatically. Memory speed might also play a role since the X370 supports higher RAM capacities. The B360 model restricts overclocking, typically offering DDR4-2933 with an i9 processor. I think the X370 offers the most improvement potential. A Ryzen 9 3900X or 3950X would likely be more suitable long-term. In most scenarios they excel, sometimes significantly so. At most, in games limited to eight cores, they'll lag only slightly—about five to ten percent. As time passes, these games will become less common. Pairing this with better overclocking features and upgraded RAM and CPU should result in a well-rounded system.