PC Upgrade Question
PC Upgrade Question
Dear Users,
I am planning to upgrade my PC and would appreciate your feedback.
Current specifications:
CPU: i9 9900K
MOBO: Asus Z390-E
GPU: Asus RTX 3080
PSU: Corsair RMx 850
RAM: HyperX Fury 32GB DDR4 3000Mhz (HX430C15FB3AK2/32)
Storage: 2HDDs, 1NVME and 1SSD
Case: SilverStone PM01-RGB
CPU cooler: Dark Rock Pro 4 PWM
Anticipated changes:
CPU: i7 14700k
MOBO: approximately 300-400EUR (mid-range)
Cooler: Artic Freezer II 360
The system is used for both productivity and gaming.
What advice would you give? I’d like to keep the RAM and stick with the PSU if everything works well.
The RAM model also relies on the motherboard, meaning you can't simply change from DDR4 to DDR5 without adjusting the memory type. The power supply unit mainly depends on the graphics card, which typically consumes the most power.
Motherboards aren't compatible with both DDR4 and DDR5. To maintain your existing RAM, opt for a DDR4 board. DDR5 is currently more expensive, but if you plan to upgrade your PC later, investing in a DDR5 motherboard and RAM makes sense.
Your Dark Rock performs adequately for the 14700K and doesn’t require additional cooling.
If you’re purchasing from Germany, consider these options:
- z790 DDR5
- https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product...if...ptide-wifi
- https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product/MZWJ...te-x-wifi7
- https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product...a-...-nova-wifi
- z790 DDR4
- https://de.pcpartpicker.com/products/mot...ice&page=1
- z690 DDR5
- https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product/VVC4...690-taichi
- https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product/dk8b...z690-unify
- z690 DDR4
- https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product/FNWz...90-extreme
- b760M DDR5
- https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product...tx...-plus-wifi
Upgrading to the 14700K usually needs a BIOS update. Among the choices, z790 boards are costly but offer little extra benefit over z690, which is the latest high-end chipset.
Budget 760 models often lack advanced features and refinements, yet they’re more affordable.
If you’re willing to update the BIOS, the z690 Extreme remains a strong pick. It lets you retain your current RAM.
The Aorus Elite X Wifi7 is a close third. It’s a solid board with fast WiFi 7 support.
Keep in mind that many boards demand a compatible CPU before BIOS updates can be applied. Some, like the z690 Extreme, can be updated with just a power supply.
Be sure to review BIOS upgrade requirements before selecting a motherboard that isn’t natively supported by the 14700K.