Looking for advice on improving your setup? Consider a new CPU and motherboard for better performance.
Looking for advice on improving your setup? Consider a new CPU and motherboard for better performance.
Hi, I currently have a pc that I upgraded bit by bit since I build it back in 2015, but the only parts I haven't upgraded are the CPU and motherboard. And now I'm looking to upgrade those parts, but am not sure what to go with. Here is my current build: CPU: Intel I7 6700k Cooler: Corsair H115i RGB PRO XT Motherboard: ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 4x8Gb (32Gb) 3200Mhz CL16 GPU: ASUS TUF 3080 OC 10Gb PSU: Corsair RM850x Case: Corsair 5000D Airflow Boot SSD: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500Gb NVMe M.2 I want to change out my CPU to get a more fluent gaming experience and PC experience overal. My CPU is capped at 100% usage in almost every game I play, while my GPU is only running at 50% usage. I have already looked around and was thinking about maybe either the Intel I7 12700k or the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, with ofcourse a new motherboard to go with the socket. For motherboard I don't want it to be a cheap model that is very bare-bones, but I don't need an over-the-top crazy motherboard either. Preferably a Z or X board so that I have some future-proofing to maybe overclock later. I don't have a preference for Intel or AMD. At last I would like to upgrade my boot SSD later as well to maybe a PCI-e 4.0 one down the line, so a motherboard with support for that would be nice as well. My budget is around €600 - €700 (€400 CPU + €200 - €300 motherboard) Also I have seen videos and articles about new upcoming 13th gen Intel CPU's and new AMD CPU's with a new AM5 socket, so maybe I should wait for them to come out? I'm not in a rush, my computer still works fine. I hope someone has some tips for me on which direction I should go to get the best performance within my budget! Thanks in advance!
For clarity, 600-700 euros equals roughly $650 to $750 USD. There are various perspectives on this, but regardless of the angle, I wouldn't hold off for the AM5 release. AMD has already hinted at a future date and is currently offering around 5.5Ghz, with enthusiasts already modifying older models to reach that speed. It seems they might be facing challenges they prefer to keep private, especially since they've indicated the AM4 line won't be phased out anytime soon. Overall, I don’t expect the AM5 to surpass AM4 for a while. Even in games like American Truck Simulator, my 5900X hasn’t hit over 25% CPU usage with an RTX3060ti at 4K. Plus, the AM5 is setting the stage for standardization that could take years to fully benefit from.
From a cost perspective, sticking with your existing setup lets you invest more in the processor rather than the new motherboard. A 9900KF from Intel, for example, might not be significantly cheaper than a similar LGA1200/LGA1700 chipset if you’re paying three times as much. Still, it’s a smart move if your board lacks M.2 support or fast RAM. A 3200MHz RAM and at least 4GB should boost performance noticeably.
If you’re planning upgrades, make sure you have enough RAM—32GB isn’t unreasonable and can improve performance. I’ve assembled an LGA1700 upgrade kit that includes a 1TB SSD and an SN570 WD Blue drive. I recommend starting with a new M.2 slot rather than one that’s already worn, and consider a $6 cooler replacement kit (Corsair CW-8960091).
At $650 USD (600 euros), you’re comfortably within reach, allowing room for a better CPU. My personal preference leans toward AMD, but the AM5 isn’t expected to quickly overtake AM4 anytime soon.
Thanks in advance! The tips you shared are really helpful. The pcpartpicker list seems solid. I probably won’t need the RAM since I already have 32Gb of 3200Mhz CL16. Converting prices to my area raises the total to around €800 with RAM, which is better than the €670 estimate. The WD SDD offers great value, so I’ll consider it. Appreciate the suggestion for the retrofit kit—I hadn’t thought about that either!
Price difference of 800 euro with RAM versus 670 without is notable. Shipping seems to be a big factor. The recommended board works with PCIe4.0, so alternatives like SN750 or SN770 Black series are available, though they might not offer better value than the SN570. In fact, I swapped an SN850 Black for a SN570 Blue after noticing a small performance boost for the extra 100-150 USD. My 5900X still performs well with DDR4-3200 CL16 Crucial Ballistix and the SN570, but it hasn't reached 50% utilization yet. Updated June 9, 2022 by An0maly_76
It's also due to the fact that prices here are at least 50 USD higher when compared to the USA. PCPartPicker shows the RAM you choose is much more than what's needed for similar models. The RAM I currently have is compatible with Intel, not the 'Z' type Corsair ones for AMD, so I'll likely stick with Intel to avoid buying new RAM. Thanks for the advice on the WD SSDs; I think I'll get one when I purchase the new CPU and motherboard.
It doesn't function that way. You can't simply convert currencies to figure out costs. Any claims about leaks online are just hearsay. I question if anyone has a retail CPU they've actually tested. They're more likely engineering prototypes. What exactly do you mean by the AM4 platform disappearing? I suspect there are no more chips coming out for AM4 anymore. It's likely EOL. Of course, you'll be able to purchase 5000-series CPUs in the future, but no more versions will be released. The 5800X3D is probably the final model. You're focusing on 4K, though. If you check 1080p scores, the difference will be more noticeable. At 4K, a 12900K might match a 5600X with the same GPU. At 1080p, the 12900K will likely outperform. The CPU plays a smaller role at 4K, especially in most games. With the Z170 board, the i9 9900KF won't work. M.2 connections don't significantly boost speed—SATA M.2 SSDs are about the same as 2.5" SATA drives. They're only faster with M.2 NVMe. The 12700/F and B660 board offer better value. Also, the MSI PRO B660M-A is superior to the Asus version. You can unlock power limits for a bit more speed.
Probably and is distinct concepts. Time will clarify. https://www.tweaktown.com/news/86367/amd...rs-to-come This refers to the chipset or platform compatibility. It's not just a single component but relates to how the board interacts with the processor. Your experience with MSI and BIOS updates suggests you're concerned about compatibility and reliability, which is valid. I wouldn't suggest MSI for critical builds after such issues. Prices can vary by region, but it's better to understand the specs rather than guessing. Agree to disagree. An SN550 improved boot performance for a Ryzen 1700 by 57%. Edited June 9, 2022 by An0maly_76
Both 1151 yes. However, 100 and 200 series chipsets only work with version 1 (6000 and 7000), whereas you’d need 300 or 400 series chipsets to use version 2 (8000 and 9000). That’s a poor idea from Intel. I made a mistake... 400 is LGA1200, but I think 300 still fits for 8000 and 9000. I saw something on Wikipedia (probably not reliable), but it says the LGA 1151 socket was updated for the Coffee Lake generation and comes with Intel’s 300-series chipsets. Even though the physical size stays the same, it changes some reserved pins and adds power and ground lines for 6-core CPUs. The new socket also moves the processor detection pin, making it incompatible with older processors and motherboards. Consequently, Coffee Lake CPUs from the 100 (Skylake) and 200 (Kaby Lake) series won’t work. Also, 300-series chipsets only support Coffee Lake and don’t match Skylake or Kaby Lake.
Similar to B450s, certain high-end Ryzen models may not work with specific A320 variants. Some B550 units require a BIOS upgrade to function properly, though this isn't widely reported these days. My Asus B550-PLUS ran into problems initially but handled a 5900X without issues. While I'm not an expert, I tend to lean toward AMD over Intel at the moment. I'm contributing $0.02 where I think it might assist. Updated June 9, 2022 by An0maly_76
Defining AM4 compliance means ensuring compatibility with future processors. If no new CPUs are released for that platform, the focus shifts to other considerations. The 9900K won't fit with the Z170 chipset, just like the 12900K isn't suited for the Z590. Your preference should be based on your requirements rather than brand loyalty. The MSI B660 PRO remains the superior option. Clarify what you mean by M.2—it's simply a connector type. Claiming an M.2 SSD is faster only applies to NVMe variants; otherwise, it doesn't offer performance benefits.