Time to make the call - 9700k!
Time to make the call - 9700k!
This June 19th offers a 19% discount nationwide. I own several components: an MSI H310 pro M2 i5 8400 with 8GB RAM, a MasterLiquid ML120L RGB, an EVGA G3 550W gold, and an Nvidia 1070TI titanium. I’m experiencing CPU issues where utilization stays near 100% during games like Battlefield V and PUBG, making Discord laggy. I also notice no noticeable FPS difference between low and ultra settings due to this bottleneck. I’m considering purchasing an i7 9700K for around 403 USD today, hoping to recoup at least 45% by selling my i5. I don’t have funds for a PSU, motherboard, or AIO, only the processor. Please confirm if I should proceed, as this could mean my entire savings are at stake—no mistakes allowed.
1. Will the AIO (MasterLiquid ML120L RGB) keep the i7 9700K running smoothly without overheating? Can you trust the video link provided?
2. Will the 550W gold power both the CPU and the 1070TI titanium at stock levels?
3. Will my H310 CPU last until December 2020 with the i7 9700K, until I upgrade to a Z370? You can check its support for the i7 here: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/...upport-cpu
It will be close but might not slow down much. 129 AIOs seem okay... a good air tower cooler would be better. 2. Sounds fine if it's a solid model. 3. It may not slow down but it will definitely get hot. Should it last until December? Not sure, but the VRM is likely to throttle. 4. The 9700 seems like a poor choice.
Opt for a higher-quality air cooler, the Masterpro isn’t ideal. Your power supply can handle the wattage for this configuration; some may suggest it’s not optimal based on the tier list, but if you already have it, stick with it. For the third point, I’m not familiar with the latest Intel motherboards—someone more knowledgeable should clarify that.
Disregarding the terrible board that may overheat or slow performance because it can't safely run a 9700K, the 9700K is a poor choice as it significantly underperforms compared to the 3700X and 10600K versions.
Also keep in mind, if you intend to purchase a new motherboard, hold off just a bit. Ryzen refresh is coming up soon, along with B550 boards. If you're patient enough, the 4th generation CPUs will be released later this year and could really challenge Intel.
Avoid selling the 8400, opt for a solid board with strong power output. It should work well for most tasks. Suggestion: combine the 8400 with the H310 board and upgrade to a B450 Pro4 and a 3600. It would significantly improve performance. Edited June 14, 2020 by TofuHaroto