Improve routes starting at 8600k
Improve routes starting at 8600k
I think the best budget-friendly path could involve a visit to Reddit Hardware Swap or another used marketplace and switching to a 9900k if you manage to get one for $150–170 (net -20). If your motherboard is adequate, the added cores, cache, and clocks will make a big difference and should be enough to push a 3080 at 1440p UW. Overclocking both the CPU and RAM will also help reduce issues from less optimized UE4 games. A budget-friendly B650 with a 7600 chip is another option—you can save the cash on RAM upgrades and later upgrade to a Zen 6 board when you're ready, just swapping the chips.
Discussing a 'drop in upgrade' means what processor do you have? The 9th generation should run on 8th generation chips, making the 9900K a solid choice to install. It’s likely some boards missed the 9th generation BIOS update, but it would still offer a noticeable performance boost—adding two extra cores with hyperthreading plus improved IPC and clock speeds. Avoid the 8700K unless you’re willing to sacrifice performance for cost. If a budget 9th gen CPU isn’t available, opt for an AM4 setup; it maintains similar IPC or better than comparable Intel models. For a genuine upgrade, consider a 12th or 13th generation DDR4 build so your existing RAM works seamlessly.