i7 9700K or wait for next gen and new socket

[Terriblyghetto321]

I tried looking around to see if there was a similar thread but couldn't find one but apologies if this has been discussed before.

 

I'm thinking about building a new gaming PC next month but I'm wondering if it would be smart to wait until the next intel CPUs are released. I've seen similar discussions in other threads but my concern is from my understanding the socket is changing with the new 10th gen intel CPUs and so if i got a 9700k and mobo (I currently have a 4790k so I have a 1150 mobo), I would need to buy a new CPU and mobo down the line if I wanted to upgrade the CPU which is exactly what happened with my 4790k. A 9700k might do fine for years so it might not really be a big deal but I thought I'd ask for any advice since this will be the first PC i build myself and I'm looking to invest quite a bit into this build. 

[Mister Woof]

Upgrade path is an overemphasized feature especially if you buy higher end initially, and at the beginning of a new product life cycle, and at a strategic time. 

 

It's almost never worth it to upgrade within a generation it two (or three) and even if you can or want to, you usually are losing out on many improvements that newer boards would have anyway.

 

Ryzen 4000 is coming out middle of next year and the 4790k isn't terrible; if I were you I'd wait it out until then.

 

Or for Intel 10th gen if that's what you really want.

 

Also keep in mind Ryzen 3000 is already halfway through it's product lifespan, and Intel 9th gen was mostly obsolete when it launched (minus 9900k). So buying either now unless you have to is already buying old tech.

 

I was sitting on a locked Haswell i5 and I skipped both 6th and 7th gen, knowing there weren't meaningful gains. Until I saw the huge leap in the 8700k and got it within a month of launch, and am very pleased at 2 years of use. I don't particularly care if intel switches sockets for 10th gen because it will be a wasted upgrade. I'll wait another 3 years and reassess and at that point a new socket is pretty much guaranteed anyway.

 

My 2c.

 

 

[sphbecker]

3 minutes ago, Terriblyghetto321 said:

I tried looking around to see if there was a similar thread but couldn't find one but apologies if this has been discussed before.

 

I'm thinking about building a new gaming PC next month but I'm wondering if it would be smart to wait until the next intel CPUs are released. I've seen similar discussions in other threads but my concern is from my understanding the socket is changing with the new 10th gen intel CPUs and so if i got a 9700k and mobo (I currently have a 4790k so I have a 1150 mobo), I would need to buy a new CPU and mobo down the line if I wanted to upgrade the CPU which is exactly what happened with my 4790k. A 9700k might do fine for years so it might not really be a big deal but I thought I'd ask for any advice since this will be the first PC i build myself and I'm looking to invest quite a bit into this build. 

The age old question, buy now or wait for the next big thing? There will always be a next big thing. From what I understand, the big thing the 10700K will have over the 9700K is HyperThreading, which is actually a pretty big thing, puts it basically at he 9900K level. Other than that, I don't see much reason to wait. It isn't expected to be much faster, it isn't going to get PCIe 4.0 or USB4. Considering that will be the last 14mn chip and the next chips will have a number of new technologies, it is unlikely that the board for a 10700K will work for the next gen.

 

Having said all that, I would try to get a good price on a 9700K if I was you (I would really get an AMD but I realize that isn't what you asked).

[pas008]

what is this for?

if pretty much gaming, what resolution are you intending on playing?

[Otto_iii]

Based off simply what Intel is limited to with their silicon fabs they aren't going to improve much anytime soon beyond 9th gen.  AMD is looking to have a another leap next year with 7nm node redesign, as well as architecture redesign, but Intels already at there peak for now.  They are relaunching Haswell just to meet supply rather then pushing out any new products and have no confirmed desire to go to 10nm on Desktop anytime soon, instead keeping the little 10nm silicon they have for high end laptop market.  All their new desktop stuff is likely going to be 14nm, on very similar if not basically same architecture, just like the 9700k is.

If you really prefer Intel then a 9700k will be great, especially for gaming.  

Its a really great CPU for pure gaming, if productivity isn't a concern.  If you go through bunch of Gamers Nexus, or any other reputable hardware reviewers tests, you'll find it may not top the 9900k for average FPS, but almost always has by far the best 1%, and .1% lows, which imo is more important particularly with 1080 to 1440p high refresh gaming.  If you start streaming and require a bit more multi-threaded work down the line you could upgrade to a 9900k later on, but for just games its arguably the best CPU on the market, especially for 300$ price range. 

If budget is a concern pair it with a 100$ Gigabye z390 UD (the only good budget Z390), decent 3200 speed ram, overclock it, and have fun. 
If you don't care about Gaming i'd recommend a AMD R7

[xg32]

adding to what @Plutosaurus is saying, don't worry about "upgrade path", especially for intel, you basically won't upgrade without swapping motherboards.

 

The only efficient upgrades i see right now are people that go from 2600/2700->3900/3950x or ones that are sitting on a x570+3600 waiting for 16cores to get cheaper, or ryzen 4000 (if the 3950x just drops 200usd in 2020, which is very likely, then they'll have a 3600 AND a 3950x for 750usd, maybe even save a few bucks over getting a 3950x today)

 

If you are going intel, don't worry about it, their 10nm is likely gonna suck and 7nm isn't until 2021. 

 

If you are concerned about upgrading, just get a x570 elite and a r5 3600, and sit on it til you see something you like in ~2years, but by then intel might have something better.

 

I'd still just build around what CURRENTLY fits ur needs and not worry about upgrading, it's overrated.

[Otto_iii]

50 minutes ago, xg32 said:

The only efficient upgrades i see right now are people that go from 2600/2700->3900/3950x or ones that are sitting on a x570+3600 waiting for 16cores 

Don't forget about the 120$ 3500x from aliexpress meme boys 

[Terriblyghetto321]

Thanks so much the responses, I really appreciate the feedback. 

 

I'm a mechanical engineer by day and a comic book artist by night and I want to game at 1440p but I'm looking to budget around $1500-$1650 for a new build since my current setup is on it's last legs. I figure a 9700k shouldn't have any issues running Solidworks and clip studio/photoshop when paired with something like a 2060/2070 super. My current 4790k managed to keep me going for years so I think the comments about a 9700k keeping me going for years make a lot of sense.