Motherboard supports DDR memory standard.
Motherboard supports DDR memory standard.
Hi, consider upgrading your motherboard with an MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk. Since your current RAM is all DDR4 (4x8GB at 3200MHz), adding the DDR4 variant makes sense. If you switch to a DDR5 motherboard, you could replace your existing RAM with DDR5 variants. However, since the RAM can still be used in a secondary setup for someone else with an older CPU and board, it might not be necessary to upgrade right away.
12th and 13th generation systems perform significantly better with a solid DDR5 setup versus a DDR4 one. If you plan to reuse much of the hardware, it's best to purchase a DDR5 board and RAM right away. The recent drop in DDR5 prices makes it even more cost-effective.
You're checking out a 13700KF model to boost RAM performance and add some longevity, wondering if the higher cost is justified.
It's not about future-proofing, it's about spending more to make things last longer—most things in life do that. There’s no real future-proofing. I agree, though, to get DDR5 with a fresh build if you can reuse that RAM. Unless your budget is super tight, then building a system with a 13700K wouldn’t make sense :0
DDR5 configurations have seen a significant drop in cost, making both RAM and components more affordable. This setup is frequently recommended for Intel systems, though note that overclocking isn't possible anymore. PCPartPicker provides a detailed list here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Rgz8MV. The CPU features an Intel Core i7-13700F at 2.1 GHz with 16 cores, priced around $346.99 on Amazon. The cooler suggested is the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, costing $34.90. The motherboard is the MSI B760 GAMING PLUS WIFI ATX, available for $159.99. Memory includes the G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 at $96.99. Overall cost comes to approximately $638.87. Created by PCPartPicker on 2023-09-18.
I have a build that's quite comparable, currently running a 3060 with 12GB RAM. It seems the bottleneck might be elsewhere, so I'm planning upgrades for other components first. In the meantime, I'm considering the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Frost Commander 140 with 13700KF and DDR5 RAM, though I'm still undecided about the 32GB option.
Boards are also quite costly with no real justification. You won’t be paying 13700k anyway because it operates efficiently.
This RAM model is the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32 GB (two 16 GB modules) DDR5-6400 CL32 chip (F5-6400J3239G16GX2-TZ5RK) from PCPartPicker.
That's a valid observation, but I really appreciate the ports available on this board. The built-in Bluetooth is a nice feature I enjoy, and the Wi-Fi adds a useful bonus. While it's not essential for me, I'm open to recommendations for other boards that match this standard if you have any suggestions!