Upgrade CPU from i5-6500 to i7-7700K
Upgrade CPU from i5-6500 to i7-7700K
Hello, I have an Intel core i5-6500 on a MSI B150M motherboard with LGA1151 socket. After testing, it seems my system is limited by CPU-heavy games. I found an used Intel core i7-7700K listed for 7,200 MUR (~167 USD). It matches the socket and chipset, so overclocking isn’t possible, but performance could still improve due to higher frequencies and hyper-threading. I have three questions: 1) Is this price a good value considering limited local options and shipping costs? 2) Could upgrading affect compatibility or stability? 3) What details should I ask the seller about the CPU condition? Thanks ahead, Abel.
The list includes 7700k for compatibility, so that should work. It might be wise to refresh the latest BIOS before making changes. What's more interesting is the cooler options—6700k and non-K models—both could offer savings if available.
Choosing a 6-core Ryzen 3600 with a used B450 board should cost similar or slightly higher. A RAM upgrade is likely necessary, but most components can handle at least 3200MHz. Switching to an older platform may boost performance more, while upgrading on your current setup is an option if you find an I7 under $120.
I recently replaced my CPU cooler with a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Spectrum. I verified the TDP rating and it should be fine since I won’t be pushing it overclocked. I previously owned a Cooler Master Seidon 120 V2 AIO, but the pump was beginning to fail, so I upgraded. The used market is very scarce; this i7 is the only one I found, haha. Other choices include Pentium 4 and Core 2 Duo. On the new listings, only 10th, 11th, and 12th gen Intel chips are available. Even Ryzen models are hard to locate right now—currently I believe only the Ryzen 5000 series (Ryzen 5 and 7) exist. Switching to Ryzen would also require a new motherboard and RAM, as mine are DDR4-2166, and I don’t want to incur extra costs. Thanks @porina and @Somerandomtechyboi!
If you have the budget, moving to a 12th gen system on a B660 DDR4 board with an i3 12100(F) would be a significant improvement. Although RAM speed will slightly affect performance, it will still outperform older models like the 7700K. The B660 also offers strong upgrade options, supporting 13th gen and allowing future CPU and RAM upgrades. If the price difference between the i3 12100(F) and a B660 is similar to that of an i7 7700K, I’d choose the i3 consistently—working hard 8 days a week and twice on Sundays.
Which nation? The budget isn't crucial since many rams boost to 3200 with a bit of adjustment.