Need assistance choosing a new CPU and motherboard.
Need assistance choosing a new CPU and motherboard.
I’m seeking recommendations for PC upgrades within a budget of $400 to $500, focusing on a new CPU and motherboard. I’d like to keep my current RAM intact unless I can secure a great deal. I’m not planning to replace any other components.
The parts I’m considering are:
- Western Digital Blue 2 TB 2.5" SSD
- MSI VENTUS 3X OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB video card
- Fractal Design Pop Air ATX Mid Tower case
- EVGA SuperNOVA 850 GM 850 W 80+ Gold certified modular power supply
- Sceptre C305B-200UN 30.0" curved monitor
For the CPU and RAM, I’m hesitant to change them, so I’m leaning toward these options instead.
My current setup includes:
- Intel® Core™ i5-6600K at 3.50GHz (overclocked to 4.0)
- 32 GB DDR3-1600 CL9 memory (Corsair Vengeance)
- 64-bit OS with x64 processor
- MSI Z170A GAMING M3 ATX LGA1151
I’m aiming for the flight sim DCS, which needs heavy graphics and editing capabilities. The recommended specs are quite demanding.
Your PCPP list isn't available to the public. Upgrading with your very old DDR3 RAM doesn't make much sense; you need at least DDR4 for any meaningful change unless you're considering a used i7-6700k that would cost around 50-100 dollars, which offers little value. This would be a far better use of your budget—around 400 to 500 dollars—and would secure you a solid platform for another four to five years. Upgrading to DDR5 afterward would mean you'd likely need to upgrade again soon, similar to what you'd do with a DDR4 setup now.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i5-12600K 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor
($153.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
Gigabyte Z790 GAMING X AX ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($199.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:
G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory
($91.00 @ Amazon)
Total:
$443.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2023-11-23 00:09 EST-0500
the Z170A gaming M3 features a DDR4 motherboard, possibly the incorrect RAM specifications were included?
You're right about the memory type, it's likely DDR4 at 3200mhz, not 2400mhz as shown in Task Manager. Thanks for the clarification.
DDR5 versus DDR4: The Right Time to Upgrade Your RAM Explore the latest in DDR5 technology Consider swapping your current RAM for a more efficient option. PCPartPicker Part List CPU: Intel Core i5-13400F 2.5 GHz, 10-Core Processor (($200.97 @ Amazon)) Motherboard: Asus TUF GAMING B760-PLUS WIFI D4 ATX LGA1700 (($109.99 @ B&H)) Total: $310.96 Prices cover shipping, taxes, and available discounts Created by PCPartPicker 2023-11-23 10:08 EST-0500
Intel® Core™ i5-13500 Processor (24M Cache, up to 4.80 GHz) - Product Details | Intel
Specs, features, and tech info for the Intel Core i5-13500 processor.
www.intel.com
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
- Intel Core i5-13500 2.5 GHz 14-Core Processor
Price: $247.49 @ Newegg
Motherboard:
- Asus TUF GAMING B760-PLUS WIFI D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
Price: $109.99 @ B&H
Total: $357.48
Shipping, taxes, and discounts applied where available
*Selected lowest prices based on criteria*
Generated by PCPartPicker
2023-11-23 10:35 EST-0500
If you plan to spend around a couple hundred dollars either way, it would be much better to follow the approach I recommended, even without using those specific components. Then you could sell your current motherboard, memory, and CPU to recover part of your investment in the new ones. Many users with older hardware would be interested in upgrading to a Skylake platform if the cost is reasonable. It doesn’t make sense to buy brand new DDR4 parts so late when the platform is already largely obsolete. But if saving 100 dollars now matters to you, choose one of the 12th or 13th Gen boards that support DDR4.