Is the moment right to switch to a newer CPU?
Is the moment right to switch to a newer CPU?
I plan to enhance my PC's CPU to models like 12900K, 13900K or 14900K. I also require a suitable board.
Here are my current PC details and existing components:
- Cougar MX410 Mesh PC case – New
- 6x Arctic P12 PWM case fans – New
- 2x Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB – New
- TeamGroup MP34 4TB – New
- 32GB Corsair DDR4 RAM – New
- be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 – New
- 2x SATA SSDs – Used
- i7-7700K – Used
- System Board – Used
- EVGA 850w Bronze PSU – Used ... purchased in 2015
- GTX 1080
I’m considering whether it’s the right moment to upgrade. Should I go for the 12900K, 13900K or 14900K? There’s a $250 difference.
My current CPU cooler seems adequate, but is the PSU still sufficient? Will it remain reliable long-term? Should I invest in new RAM sticks, as 12th generation and above use DDR5?
I’m looking for a good system board to pair with these upgrades.
I’d prefer not to modify the GPU just yet, but I’ll upgrade later.
The main purposes for using your PC will be determined by the intended applications and tasks associated with it.
From what I see, sticking with Intel means the best deal is in the 12th to 14th generation. You could still use your existing DDR4 RAM if you choose. Your power supply seems quite outdated—don’t know the warranty details, but if it’s under ten years, replacing it might be wise. If you wait, you could miss out before moving to a new graphics card. The 1080 has been a solid performer and still competes with newer models from today.
Anticipate seeing expressions of frustration over your 9-year-old power supply.
Most likely, others will attempt to persuade you to use an i-7 unless your situation is quite specific or you're not concerned about the diminishing returns trend.
There should be a good number of 13th generation boards supporting DDR 4, but I’d prefer DDR 5 if I were setting up a new PC. Uncertain about why you purchased the RAM already.
Installing air cooling on an i-9 could raise some worries, but I’m unsure if you’ll be forcing it or if you’re open to letting it run without modifications.
Checking the performance gap between DDR4 and DDR5 with those 12-14 900k CPUs.
Thoughts on AMD processors – would they be more affordable?
Regarding cooling solutions, is the available cooler suitable? Can you perform some overclocking with it?
If this is intended for gaming and only light or no productivity work is involved, here’s what I would do:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i7-13700 2.1 GHz 16-Core Processor
($339.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler:
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 50.5 CFM CPU Cooler
(Purchased For $0.00)
Motherboard:
MSI MAG B760 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($164.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
(Purchased For $0.00)
Storage:
Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME SSD
(Purchased For $0.00)
Storage:
Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME SSD
(Purchased For $0.00)
Storage:
TEAMGROUP MP34 4 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME SSD
(Purchased For $0.00)
Video Card:
NVIDIA Founders Edition GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB Video Card
(Purchased For $0.00)
Case:
Cougar MX410 Mesh ATX Mid Tower Case
(Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply:
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan:
ARCTIC P12 56.3 CFM 120 mm Fan
(Purchased For $0.00)
Case Fan:
ARCTIC P12 56.3 CFM 120 mm Fans 5-Pack
(Purchased For $0.00)
Total:
$594.97
Prices cover shipping, taxes, and any available discounts
Created by
PCPartPicker
2024-02-16 12:44 EST-0500
I prefer a powerful CPU, so I’m choosing an i9. Will Intel ever release a consumer-grade CPU with over 8 performance cores soon? What about better manufacturing processes?
I have no concerns about AMD, especially with the support for AM5, which will provide a solid upgrade path in the coming years. Regarding DDR4 versus DDR5, I think it would be wise to check some YouTube reviews of the devices you're interested in to understand the differences. From a cost perspective, I believe DDR5 prices have stabilized closer to those of DDR4.
I suggest choosing AM5 since it offers an upgrade route. LGA1700 is no longer viable. We should still secure at least two more CPU generations from AMD.
Refer to my previous build.
Beyond certain productivity activities, the answer is no.
There are excellent AMD CPU choices, but given your existing components, an Intel platform would offer better value.
Your current cooler is a high-end air cooler, but with Intel CPUs you’ll face thermal constraints even before overclocking, particularly with an i9 model.
None of the i9 or i7 models exceed eight cores. The Intel i7s provide sufficient performance, even in emulators, since most are single-threaded and the multithreaded ones have only eight cores plus extra cores.