Upgrade Advice
Upgrade Advice
Hi, I understand you're planning to upgrade your system for Windows 11. You currently have an i5-6600k processor, a Z170K motherboard, 8GB RAM with a GTX 1070, and a budget of around £500. You're mainly focusing on upgrading the CPU, memory, and RAM, with a graphics card upgrade planned later. I’d appreciate any recommendations on the best options, keeping in mind your PSU is 550W and you don’t want to change it. Your usage is mainly for gaming at 1080p. Thanks in advance, David.
the age and exact model of the PSU?
i would consider something similar to this:
https://pcpartpicker.com/user/jaydenmill...ved/fCGK7P
it's up to date and will also give you at least one generation more on the same motherboard, since intel's 14th gen is the final generation for the LGA 1700 socket.
I'm not sure about the current market prices in Europe. I think the suggestion you mentioned is quite strong.
I wouldn't miss out on Intel 12 or 13th generation components if you manage to get a good price. The advantage with AMD lies in the upcoming CPU releases that fit their same socket. You might start with a lower-end processor and then wait for the next generation to offer more value compared to the issues with the 14th generation for Intel users.
I should note that choosing Intel on a DDR4 platform lets you use your existing RAM until you can afford a new one. This opens the door to buying a better CPU and motherboard, then focus on other upgrades—especially RAM—which is crucial. Eight gigabytes is far too limited for most needs today, particularly in gaming.
I don't want to label it a hopeless path, but for Intel, their current offerings are essentially stuck until the next generation, and it seems they're sticking closely to the same socket trend.
Your 6600K was a solid processor, it was about six generations ago.
Yes, you’ll likely enjoy an upgrade to a CPU.
The 6600K offers four processing threads and a passmark of 6284, which indicates maximum utilization.
The single-thread performance is 2331, and this metric is probably more relevant for gaming.
A suitable upgrade could be an I5-13400 with 16 threads and a rating of 26206/3836.
£224.97
Amazon.co.uk
It includes a laminar flow cooler, which I’d consider before investing in a more robust aftermarket option.
You’ll need an LGA1700 motherboard; any will work.
These models are available in DDR4 and DDR5 variants, with similar performance.
Your 8GB RAM could be upgraded, but I think it’s a bit limited. 16GB or more is recommended, preferably DDR5.
Intel doesn’t prioritize RAM speed.
Here’s an example of an Asrock B760M for £148.38
Amazon.co.uk
Two 16GB units would cost around £80.
I’d probably ignore the idea of future-proofing.
In reality, it’s better to purchase what you need now, and maybe a few years later.
It seems that any major upgrade beyond the 6600K would be too far ahead, requiring a new platform.
Your setup perfectly illustrates this point.
No, an IGPU is extremely useful for resolving issues. It's not a good deal unless you're working with an extremely tight budget.
New AMD motherboards also need DDR5 support. The advantages of current-gen AMD include the ability to upgrade at least one generation more, compatibility with newer DDR5 standards, and reduced power usage compared to Intel options. The downsides would be the higher cost of DDR5 and more expensive motherboards. Intel's 14th generation is essentially similar to the 13th. Pros: maintains DDR4 support, more affordable boards, typically more cores than AMD alternatives. Cons: increased power usage, E-cores may interfere with anti-cheat systems in some games.