Consider enhancing your i3 9100f with these upgrades:
Consider enhancing your i3 9100f with these upgrades:
Hi there! This is my debut here. I set up my own PC in January and, due to a tight budget, chose an i3 9100f. It cost around $70 back then (paired with a 1660S, b365M board, 2x8GB RAM)—still a solid choice for its price. In most situations it performs well for my needs (1080p at 60 FPS), though in demanding games like Shadow of the Tom Raider and AC: Origins, especially in crowded areas with many NPCs, frame rates drop to about 40-50 FPS, which is frustrating (100% CPU, 70-80% GPU usage). I was wondering if upgrading would help. Also, since I only use it for gaming, no worries there.
My top choices:
1. Swap to an i5 9400F—about $170 now and it’s easy without a new motherboard.
2. Upgrade to an R5 3600—$185, but needs a new card, adding $80, totaling $265.
3. Hold off and wait for the i5 9400F to drop in value, aiming for around $130.
4. Go with a Ryzen 4000—would be great if it drops soon, about $6/6 or 6C/12T.
I’d prefer a CPU that keeps up with gaming for at least two years (6C/12T). Let me know what you think! Have a great day!
Hi everyone, you're already part of the community! I'm planning to upgrade to a 9th or 10th generation i5/i7, so I wouldn't suggest buying a new motherboard right now. If you wait a bit longer, there might be some decent used deals on 9th gen Intel CPUs as people move up to the newer models. Option three is worth considering, even though used prices aren't always reliable at this stage.
It's hard to say for sure. The i5 9400F is older, so it might not keep up with newer tech. You could consider higher-end options if you want better performance and support.
Choose the i7, whether it's the 8th or 9th generation—perfect for gaming and tailored to your existing setup.
I mean future-proofing isn't really something we can rely on since we don't know what's ahead. But I think adding more cores would be beneficial. Personally, I'd suggest the i7 because it tends to hold up better over time compared to the i5. You can always look for a used i7 later if needed.