I'm moving from Z270 to a newer model. Could you get some advice or information about this upgrade?
I'm moving from Z270 to a newer model. Could you get some advice or information about this upgrade?
I’m shifting up from the Z270 to the Z690, trying to understand what improvements I can expect. It’s a jump from 7th generation to 12th generation. In my past upgrade from the 3570k to the 7600k, I saw a noticeable performance boost, which was satisfying. Right now, I’m using a 1080p gaming setup with a Thermaltake Core X71 non-glass case. I plan to upgrade later. My power supply is a Corsair RM 1000, and my motherboard is an Asus Prime Z270-AR. The CPU is a 7600k OC’d unit, paired with a 970GB RAM module (2x4GB, 2x8GB) on Corsair Vengeance 2311 at 3200MHz. I’ve had the BIOS modified. The PSU runs at around 55°C during gameplay, and temperatures drop to under 50°C in summer. CPU temps stay in the low 80s; it’s around 38-40°C when idle. Cooling is set with custom Loop fans from EK parts, and the case layout is pretty even—temperatures roughly match fan positions: back (120), top (240), bottom (360), front (480) with EK Vader fans.
I’m considering getting a Z690 Aorus Elite DDR4 from Gigabyte, possibly a 12600K or 12700K model. The cost is uncertain, especially in Australia. My RAM setup is two 16GB modules at 3200MHz CL16 DDR4 (Grey) with 32GB installed—just tested it on the Z270. I’m thinking about spending around $400-$500 for a good one.
I’ve kept upgrading over the years, cleaning the PC and changing coolant regularly. The jump from 3570k to 7600k did help, and I’m expecting a similar improvement with the newer generation. For the CPU block, I’m leaning toward a 12600K or 12700K, but I’m not sure if an EK model or the Thermaltake W9 clear version would be better for visibility.
If you have any advice on this or want more details—photos, specs, or recommendations—I’d appreciate it. Thanks!
12700K only makes sense if you can find it at a much lower price than the 13600K, which is faster in nearly all aspects. The right performance boost depends on your needs. For gaming, you might see a slight but clear improvement in some titles, others may not change much, and a few could gain big gains, especially when upgrading the GPU. The 12600K and 13600K will be noticeably quicker—about 70% or more per core—and with extra cores, high-performance and energy-efficient cores, they could offer three to four times the speed of an upgraded 7600K in demanding tasks.
I understand the significant underperformance of Alder and Raptor lakes without E cores turned off. If you're okay with a more thorough analysis, 12600K behaves like 13400 but at a much lower price. On DDR4, its IMC would match that of 13400, though it's technically superior due to not being in the defect bin. For 1080p gaming, 13600K makes more sense than 12700K, with 12600K being a better value compared to the Ryzen 5 7600 cost that offers similar results. Even at 1080p, games are consuming more than 3.5GB and require more rendering power for high frame rates and stable timing, so consider upgrading your GPU soon.
You're considering the 13th generation instead of the 12th. I wasn't expecting that price point. Regarding the Mobo, with BIOS version F22 (and F25 available), a 13th gen setup is feasible. I won't upgrade to a 13700k as it would cost $600 more. A 13600k CPU looks great and should perform much better. You're welcome for the guidance—this really surprised me. I'm planning to try it out soon, not just in a few days. The RAM upgrade is also fine; 3200mhz should work well for gaming. Thanks again!