Evaluate if an upgrade is worthwhile or not yet.
Evaluate if an upgrade is worthwhile or not yet.
Hello, with the announcement of the new GPU (3070), I’m planning to switch from my 1660 to a 3070 when it arrives. My current hardware includes an i7-7700K and an ASUS ROG Strix Z270F motherboard. The CPU is cooled by a Corsair Hydro Series H110i, which works well. I’ve also been considering upgrades, especially for the processor, since the 1151 socket seems outdated and the LGA-1200 is now the standard. There’s a new LGA-1200 socket, and it looks like this is the latest. Should I upgrade my CPU to something like i5-9600K or i7-9700K? Or should I wait for Black Friday and buy this setup instead? My ASUS ROG Strix B460-F with an Intel i5-10600K and a Cooler Master Hyper 212 cooler is in use. The GPU replacement will happen anyway, and I’m thinking about adding more RAM (16GB extra). It’s unclear if the existing cooling solution can handle the new components. Would it be better to invest in a new motherboard and CPU now, or keep going with what I have for another year?
First evaluate the 3070's performance and the 7700k's stability when paired together at higher resolutions. At greater speeds, especially with overclocking, the 7700k should handle the 3070 without major issues in games. For even higher configurations like 9600k or 9700k, consider upgrading to a new board. Note that Z270 doesn't support Coffee Lake, and avoid B and H series boards for the comet lake pair. Wait until Ampere releases a new chip before testing the 7700k with a 3070.
Keep the processor running smoothly with it. It remains a solid CPU, not worth swapping out just yet. I’d recommend holding onto it until around 2021 when DDR5 technology with new sockets launches. You’ll probably be fine. Upgrading to a 9600k or 9700k isn’t feasible without replacing the motherboard, and going for a 200-series board isn’t compatible with the 8000 or 9000 series. While you won’t hit the full potential, you might still reach about 90% of it. A 7700k should handle the 2080ti well, especially with some overclocking, and a 3070 is expected to match that level.
Not worthwhile. The best option is to remove your 7700k. Others have achieved a drop of up to 25 degrees by doing so, and it's affordable and safe using a tool from eBay—you can even 3D print one. MindBlankTech managed to boost its 7700k to an unrealistic 5.2 GHz after delidding.