Upgraded in a tough way
Upgraded in a tough way
As I've shared before, I'm preparing for an ITX project. Right now I own an i9 processor that handles a lot of gaming performance and multitasking. I've found the combination of CPU and motherboard to work well with the Rog Maximus XI code. It seems tough to locate compatible motherboards these days, especially in the ITX size—the ones available are usually around $400. For this budget, switching to an i5 10600K or AMD might make more sense. I've stayed mostly with Intel and Asus boards, though I'm not a big fan of Intel. AMD looks appealing, but I haven't had a strong reason to change. I don’t overclock and haven’t needed it before. Now I’m wondering if there’s a board that matches my current setup closely. If someone can suggest alternatives—like staying on my platform or getting a better RAM option for $100-$200 more—I’d really appreciate it. For now, I’m aiming to keep the motherboard and CPU within a $500 range. This build is slow, so I haven’t ordered any RAM yet (I usually upgrade from 8x4 to 16x2). Going down in capacity doesn’t seem sensible since I often hit 80% usage. If AMD ends up being the right path, I’d like to find compatible RAM for it as well. The only components I have so far are a Corsair SF600 and the upcoming Coolermaster NR200. I’m open to using more parts, but my current setup could easily be upgraded for my older motherboard.
What price difference makes a difference? The components seem almost identical in cost.
The decision to go for a 10600k was merely a thought. A solid motherboard recommendation would likely prevent the CPU upgrade and default to AMD swap options. Right now, the nearest match to my existing Asus board is the Z390 I, which is currently out of stock and priced around $400. On the other hand, for roughly the same cost, I can obtain the 490 I and i5 for less than $50 more. That’s why I’m considering switching to LGA 1200 or AMD if they offer similar value. I should note I didn’t mention having both M.2 slots available. The prices I discuss are in US dollars.
It's not a big deal if it costs an extra fifty dollars. I’d likely just upgrade to a new motherboard and CPU instead. Performance in games would be quite similar, with most titles showing only minor differences—usually around nine or ten frames per second. The 9900k does offer better performance for certain games, but the savings are minimal. If you decide to sell it, you’ll get a decent price. Have you looked into the Gigabyte Z490i? It’s much more affordable and has almost identical features. Just make sure to verify the M.2 compatibility. I wouldn’t recommend AMD boards; their ITX models generally lag behind Intel due to the size of their CPU mounts.