Considering the next steps after 9400f... What’s the best path forward?
Considering the next steps after 9400f... What’s the best path forward?
I thought about it too, wasn’t really sure if my motherboard would handle it. It was the most affordable Z370 I found, maybe I could have splurged a little more. Probably worth upgrading next time. Appreciate the advice!
They adjusted their scoring to favor Intel, which caused some debate. Their reliability is questionable. Here are a few thoughts: The 9700K remains a strong CPU choice. If you prefer staying on your current setup, a 9700K or 8700K works well and can handle overclocking with proper VRM management. For a new platform, the R5 3600 offers good value compared to an 8700K. Moving to X99 is viable if you don’t need high frame rates—around 120fps at 1080p is manageable—but it’s worth considering cooling and power efficiency. Haswell-E CPUs match Zen/Zen+ performance at similar core counts. OC capabilities improve with better cooling, especially for quad-channel RAM. Broadwells are decent but have limited overclocking potential; they’re still functional but not ideal for heavy overclockers. X99 models provide more PCIe lanes and better RAM options, making them appealing for flexibility. Overall, it depends on your specific needs and willingness to manage older hardware.
Honestly, I’m not a big supporter of the current mobile model I own. The BIOS isn’t appealing, the RGB stays stuck in amber or off, there’s no Type-C USB support, and the built-in sound quality is terrible—even worse than the onboard speakers. There aren’t enough USB ports either. Given these issues, selling it wouldn’t make much sense since I probably won’t get much value for it. A CPU and motherboard combo could bring in 125 to 150 if things go well. Still, with a budget of around 300 pounds, is it smart to buy a 9700K on a disliked board, or invest in a Strix B450 with a 2700X or something similar? I found this specific Intel i7-5960X Gigabyte board on eBay for a similar price—worth considering. It’s tough to decide, but none of these options feel right right now... It took me three months to choose a new phone, and I don’t even think about it as much as my PC does. Sometimes I wish I could just settle for a console. Bless the simple-minded folks.
I'm a big Intel supporter, but I think the 9700k was a total letdown from Intel's perspective. Every aspect shows a lack of respect for customers and ethical business standards. The main consumer chip that came before it was the i7 series (2600k, 3770k, 4770k, 7700k), which if faulty would have been downgraded to an i5 (2500k, 3570k, 4690k, 7600k). These lower-end models typically didn't have hyperthreading as a premium feature and were instead rebranded as i7-9700k so they could market the working chip as i9-9900k, opening up an entirely new market. (This feels pretty obvious... Nvidia?)
Unlike earlier generations, this wasn't a straightforward upgrade from i7-8700k. It was more of a middle ground. What's happening is that Intel has shifted focus, and now you're forced to buy the i9 to get hyperthreading on a non-Pentium chip. Previously, from Sandy Bridge to Kaby Lake, each step from i3 to i7 brought real improvements. Even in Kaby Lake-Coaline, upgrades were consistent.
In this case, it's not just about performance—it's missing a key efficiency feature that's standard across most competitors. Plus, there are still two models below i7 that lack hyperthreading, and the jump to i9 feels more like a reaction to greed than genuine progress. So for the $350 you're paying for an "i7," I'm feeling really unsatisfied.
It's generally not wise to invest in hardware you don't appreciate. If you're passionate about it, dissatisfaction can be constant. I've experienced performance drops just to run better hardware at the time (from a 2700X to an X5675 on a Rampage III Formula because I enjoyed overclocking, and X58 outperforms Ryzen in my view). My advice is personal—depends on how much it bothers you.
When it comes to a STRIX board? Well, if you're using a B450-F, I tested a 2700X with no problems before switching to Crosshair. The 9700k offers significant speed gains in games, though it's more noticeable on displays above 100Hz. It’s essentially a 2700X with extra PCIe lanes.
But there are conditions: 1) you need a solid build to handle the voltage (around 4.2-4.5Ghz), 2) proper cooling is essential—even modest voltages generate a lot of heat, and it adds up over time, 3) RAM limits matter; high memory timings can cause issues on Haswell-E chips.
Some users claim it works under XMP, but I’ve successfully run both 1.35V and 1.2V DDR4 without problems on my 5820K and 5960X. Regarding cooling, I use a custom loop with a single 360mm fan for my Radeon VII and CPU; upgrading that would help. At 1.2V, the CPU under load can reach high temperatures quickly, but real-world stress tests show it handles normal gaming better than higher voltages.
The B450 Strix Gaming-F is not recommended for a B450 motherboard due to design flaws that lead to excessive heat in VRMs. For better performance, consider the MSI Tomahawk or Pro Carbon series. Refer to the provided link for more details.