Need assistance? I'm here to help. What do you require?
Need assistance? I'm here to help. What do you require?
Hey there, I’m looking for advice and want to figure out the best path forward. Thanks to everyone who’s been supportive. My PC has these specs: Ryzen 7 1700, Asus ROG Strix B350, F gaming, DDR4 RAM (3200MHZ), Trident Z RGB, 16GB, and a custom build with BYKSKI, Barrow Pump, and an Alphacool 240mm copper radiator. The motherboard is stock, but I’ve been having issues since about a year ago. The 2-pin CPU cooler stopped working when I switched to a larger fan, but the stock cooler on the Ryzen worked fine. Recently, after cleaning the system, the motherboard refused to recognize the second RAM stick—even though the manual suggested dual-channel support. I tried swapping RAM sticks one by one, but only the second stick worked. Now I’m considering sending it to a technician who said the board needs replacing. I’m torn: should I sell the Ryzen 7 and the new motherboard, or go for an I7 9700K with an MSI Z390? Or maybe opt for an X470 or B450 MSI? I’m not sure what you think. Also, the B350 doesn’t support RAM speeds above 3200MHz if I upgrade—would it be worth it? What do you recommend? Thanks!
Submit the board for return but avoid spending on a 9700K. It isn't an upgrade. Wait two months and install Zen 3 instead. Also, handle the board more gently—you might have damaged it during handling.
I wouldn't call 9700k an upgrade for the 1700, but it definitely doesn't fit today's standards. Considering current options, he’d likely need a new board for Zen 3 since the B350 isn’t supported.
Absolutely. However, if OP were to improve either direction, the coffee lake wouldn't be a strong upgrade since it's essentially a non-functional platform.