Upgrade your CPU for better performance.
Upgrade your CPU for better performance.
I recently purchased a GTX 1070 for $150, which seems like a solid price. However, I've been dealing with a problem that has been bothering me since my first purchase. Now that I have a Core i3 8100 with four cores at 3.6GHz, I'm unsure if I should push my settings higher because I worry my CPU might struggle. Should I go all-in with something like the 8700, or opt for a more conservative choice such as the 9400f? Since I already have an H370 chipset board, overclocking isn't an option. Thanks for your advice!
It's just swapping the CPU or motherboard if you can make it through the Ryzen 4000 release early next year. This X470 board seems a bit too cheap for what it is. PCPartPicker list: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-core ($117.68 on Amazon) MSI X470 GAMING PRO ATX AM4 ($86.41 on Amazon) Total $204.09 – includes shipping, taxes, and discounts. Created by PCPartPicker November 8, 2019 04:32 EST.
I tried to stay courteous, but I prefer an Intel setup instead of AMD. I’m fine with my current Intel system and just need some advice on the best CPU to purchase for an upgrade. It’s better than being simply told to buy a Ryzen.
Probably just wait until i7 8700s are down to under $200, if intel didn't artificially lock down your motherboard you could just drop in a 9900K, there is a chinese motherboard hack that would apparently let you do it though. But really once the Ryzen 4000 series is out, it's going to be pretty hard to beat it's value depending on how long you end up waiting.
What specific board do you possess? If the VRM is underpowered—something typical for the H370—it might struggle to maintain the 8700 boost clock for extended periods, which could limit performance. Since it only supports 2666MHz DDR4, this will affect its capabilities somewhat. For budget options, consider QN8H or QN8G (i7-8700/8700K engineering models) available on platforms like eBay, Aliexpress, Taobao, etc. These are cheaper but still more expensive than a Ryzen+motherboard.
It seems like you're considering upgrading your MSI H370 Gaming Plus. Adding an 8700 would be a good move, and a 750W power supply from eBay could provide the necessary boost.