upgrade a 7 Year Old PC - mainly CPU

[hunter63]

Budget (including currency): £500 - less is better

Country: UK

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: total war, wow, idie games, the odd RP story game, constant dual/triple screening, and using for processes linked to work. 

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): 

Current PC - 

CPU - Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4670K CPU @ 3.40GHz 4 Cores

MOBO - MSI Z87-G45

RAM - 8GB

GPU - Radeon (TM) RX 480 Graphics
PSU - corsair bronze 650 (3 month old)

 

Display - 3 x 1080p - 1 x ASUS MG248 - 2 x ASUS VS238

 

My PC has started to vastly slow, huge issues with gaming and also dual screening. I desperately need an upgrade to the CPU, including MOBO and RAM. Had a PSU problem 3 months ago so this is brand new. I dont currently want to upgrade the GPU as of money, but will do this early 2021 when i will have a much more vast budget to spend on it looking at the new nvidia range.

The idea is to semi future proof the PC, so i can happily upgrade the GPU next year to maximise the output of the amchine, including maybe purchasing a 2k 144hz primary monitor. This is where i have an issue. 

I like to the idea of getting a ryzen processor, but realise a new Gen is coming in 6 months and dont particularly like the idea of spending the money on something that is so soon to be out of date. 

Intel have their brand new CPUs out now and i was looking at the i5 10600k.

i cant wait till xmas as i need my PC for work as well and need to upgrade now rather than wait for new gen ryzen

 

The thing i want to ask is a second opinion on the matter: brand new i5 10600k, or go with a gen 2 - ryzen 7 3800X or ryzen 5 3600X

 

the i5 and ryzen 7 work out to be a similar cost in the UK, with both including mobo ram and maybe aftermarket cooler around the £400 - £450 range. the ryzen 5 is significantly cheaper at £300. 

 

Thanks for the help and please take into account what im asking, im not here for a ryzen vs intel fanboy debate but more looking for some input on a problem i am trying to solve. I realise i am still bottle necked till 2021 on gaming by my GPU, but want to upgrade in preparation for the new cards. 

[Streetguru]

3 minutes ago, hunter63 said:

 

Your GPU is fine

 

just grab an R5 2600 or R5 3600 with a B450 MSI board with USB bios flashing

and then 16GB of 3200mhz CL16 CL14(B-die) or 3600mhz CL16 potentially for 3000

[ayazam]

we have the same specs, hurray, but i have less budget to upgrade

i'd recommend you get R5 3600, with MSI B450-A Pro MAX or B450 Tomahawk MAX
and get a good 16GB Kit with rated speed 3200Mhz or more

me myself gonna upgrade only to R5 3500, with B 450 A Pro, and 16GB Ripjaws V

[vinit6694skr]

6 minutes ago, hunter63 said:

Budget (including currency): £500 - less is better

Country: UK

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: total war, wow, idie games, the odd RP story game, constant dual/triple screening, and using for processes linked to work. 

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): 

Current PC - 

CPU - Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4670K CPU @ 3.40GHz 4 Cores

MOBO - MSI Z87-G45

RAM - 8GB

GPU - Radeon (TM) RX 480 Graphics
PSU - corsair bronze 650 (3 month old)

 

Display - 3 x 1080p - 1 x ASUS MG248 - 2 x ASUS VS238

 

My PC has started to vastly slow, huge issues with gaming and also dual screening. I desperately need an upgrade to the CPU, including MOBO and RAM. Had a PSU problem 3 months ago so this is brand new. I dont currently want to upgrade the GPU as of money, but will do this early 2021 when i will have a much more vast budget to spend on it looking at the new nvidia range.

The idea is to semi future proof the PC, so i can happily upgrade the GPU next year to maximise the output of the amchine, including maybe purchasing a 2k 144hz primary monitor. This is where i have an issue. 

I like to the idea of getting a ryzen processor, but realise a new Gen is coming in 6 months and dont particularly like the idea of spending the money on something that is so soon to be out of date. 

Intel have their brand new CPUs out now and i was looking at the i5 10600k.

i cant wait till xmas as i need my PC for work as well and need to upgrade now rather than wait for new gen ryzen

 

The thing i want to ask is a second opinion on the matter: brand new i5 10600k, or go with a gen 2 - ryzen 7 3800X or ryzen 5 3600X

 

the i5 and ryzen 7 work out to be a similar cost in the UK, with both including mobo ram and maybe aftermarket cooler around the £400 - £450 range. the ryzen 5 is significantly cheaper at £300. 

 

Thanks for the help and please take into account what im asking, im not here for a ryzen vs intel fanboy debate but more looking for some input on a problem i am trying to solve. I realise i am still bottle necked till 2021 on gaming by my GPU, but want to upgrade in preparation for the new cards. 

Grab a 3600 instead of 3600x or a 3700x instead of 3800x. 

If cost isn't a factor go for a 3700x with B450 board like MSI B450 Tomahawk. Power consumption on the 3700x should also be better than the i5 10600k and you gain 4 extra threads for the same price.

[vinit6694skr]

2 minutes ago, ayazam said:

we have the same specs, hurray, but i have less budget to upgrade

i'd recommend you get R5 3600, with MSI B450-A Pro MAX or B450 Tomahawk MAX
and get a good 16GB Kit with rated speed 3200Mhz or more

me myself gonna upgrade only to R5 3500, with B 450 A Pro, and 16GB Ripjaws V

Go for 3600 instead you get SMT and similar single thread performance. 

[ayazam]

9 minutes ago, vinit6694skr said:

Go for 3600 instead you get SMT and similar single thread performance. 

bro, i only have 300$ and i want a B450 A Pro and 16GB Kit
btw, 3600 is $200 at my country, so atleast i need to have $400 to have cpu-mobo-ram

[hunter63]

i will have £1k plus in 2021 for a new GPU and monitor, will a r5 3600 be good enough for taking it to that level, or should i splash a little more on a ryzen 7 3700? 

i think i am swooping for AMD over the new i5 for now though....

[ayazam]

its enough, spend more your money to GPU and monitor if you plan to gaming

 

[hunter63]

Thanks so much for all the replies!

Last question, as i have no experience with AMD cpus, would i need an aftermarket cooler (even a cheaper one) with the 3600 or 3700, or does the stock cooler work well. 

[boggy77]

this will be a significant boost and is a good pairing for any mid to high end gpu. you should only consider the 10600k if you think you'll get a £1000+ next gen nvidia card.

for something like a 2070 super, there won't be any difference between the 3600 and the 10600k.

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor	£151.00 @ Amazon UK
Motherboard	MSI B450M MORTAR MAX Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard	£94.98 @ Amazon UK
Memory	Patriot Viper 4 Blackout 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory	£60.81 @ Ebuyer
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	£306.79
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-06-29 13:05 BST+0100

 

[boggy77]

Just now, hunter63 said:

Thanks so much for all the replies!

Last question, as i have no experience with AMD cpus, would i need an aftermarket cooler (even a cheaper one) with the 3600 or 3700, or does the stock cooler work well. 

stock cooler works well to keep it under 90 and not throttling. however, especially if you overclock, can be quite loud and run quite hot.

i recommend one of these if you decide you want a cooler

ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO

Gelid Solutions Phantom

[hunter63]

thanks a huge amount for all the feedback. i think ill go with the 3600, and hope it stands up to the new GPUs in 2021! 

[Nena Trinity]

Overclock it to the moon? Or buy Ryzen 3600.

[vinit6694skr]

2 hours ago, ayazam said:

bro, i only have 300$ and i want a B450 A Pro and 16GB Kit
btw, 3600 is $200 at my country, so atleast i need to have $400 to have cpu-mobo-ram

Go for R5 2600 or 1600 AF if you can find it.

[ayazam]

20 minutes ago, vinit6694skr said:

Go for R5 2600 or 1600 AF if you can find it.

nope, not gonna find that, its none existent here

[steelo]

4 minutes ago, ayazam said:

nope, not gonna find that, its none existent here

You could always get a R5 3600 and save up then get the next gen navi...You'd be set for awhile. A RX 480 is old but isn't terrible for 1080 gaming at 60+ fps for now...

[ayazam]

1 minute ago, steelo said:

You could always get a R5 3600 and save for a GPU later on...A RX 480 is old but isn't terrible for 1080 gaming at 60+ fps

i only need cpu-mobo-ram, gpu is okay

and i will get 3700X/3900X later on, so the 3500 only for the start

[steelo]

9 minutes ago, ayazam said:

i only need cpu-mobo-ram, gpu is okay

and i will get 3700X/3900X later on, so the 3500 only for the start

Okay, then I'd pick up something like a used 2600 for now. I have a 1600af that is overclocked (basically a 2600) and it's a beast for the money. I think cinebench showed it comparable to a 6th or 7th gen i7 and not too far behind a stock 3600. You should be able to find them for under $100 USD.

[vinit6694skr]

12 minutes ago, ayazam said:

nope, not gonna find that, its none existent here

2600 ?

[ayazam]

6 minutes ago, steelo said:

Okay, then I'd pick up something like a used 2600 or a 2500 for now. Should be able to find them under $100 USD.

thats a no no, since a second hand 2600 here is either non existent or $120+

here we glorified secondhand parts, its price will not go down less than 70% of the MSRP

well i already have discussion over like a week ago
and 3500 is the best you could find here, its either 3100 or 3500, cant go up, or find a 2nd 2600

Just now, vinit6694skr said:

2600 ?

yup, not gonna find it new, or 2nd hand

[steelo]

He should be able to find a 2600 anywhere...

 

I just checked newegg and amazon...why are the 3100's going for like $174 USD???? I thought these were sub $100 CPU's?

[vinit6694skr]

6 minutes ago, steelo said:

Okay, then I'd pick up something like a used 2600 or a 2500 for now. I have a 1600af that is overclocked (basically a 2600) and it's a beast for the money. I think cinebench showed it comparable to a 6th or 7th gen i7 and not too far behind a stock 3600. You should be able to find them under $100 USD.

A 2600 is better than the Broadwell 6C/12T i7 6800k which they used to sell for 400 USD. 

[steelo]

2 minutes ago, vinit6694skr said:

A 2600 is better than the Broadwell 6C/12T i7 6800k which they used to sell for 400 USD. 

Yeah, I ran a cinebench test a while back after I overclocked my 1600af and remember it having an equal score to an i7...I think it was the 7th gen locked version. That surprised me.

[vinit6694skr]

3 minutes ago, ayazam said:

thats a no no, since a second hand 2600 here is either non existent or $120+

here we glorified secondhand parts, its price will not go down less than 70% of the MSRP

well i already have discussion over like a week ago
and 3500 is the best you could find here, its either 3100 or 3500, cant go up, or find a 2nd 2600

yup, not gonna find it new, or 2nd hand

Strange you can't find 2600 here in India you can not only get a 2600 but also a 1600. The AF never launched though. I had similar choice like you though a 3500 or 2600 both were similarly priced but I went to 2600 simply because of the extra 6 threads.