Torn on upgrades

IkeaGnome · September 14, 2020

So as I've posted here before I'm getting ready to do an ITX build. Currently I have an i9 and use quite a bit of it's performance in games. High details, multi tasking while playing games etc. I have had really good luck with this CPU and my motherboard, the Rog maximus XI code. From what I've found, the motherboards are insanely hard to find right now in ITX. The ones I can find are closer to $400. For this price it almost makes sense to think about going to an i5 10600K or AMD. I've always been with Intel and Asus motherboards. Not really a fan boy of Intel. AMD is very tempting. I just never had a reason to make the swap. I also don't overclock. I haven't had a need to.

So where I'm at now, is there a motherboard that is very comparable to what I have now? If someone can come in and tell me "You could stay with your platform, or for $100 or $200 more you can get x more performance" that's worth looking into now. For motherboard I'd like to keep it reasonable. For motherboard and CPU I'd like to stay $500 and under. This is a slow build. I haven't ordered RAM for it(going from 8x4 to 16x2. It's not uncommon for me to hit 80% usage so stepping down makes no sense.) So if AMD ends up being the solution I could get the "right" ram for AMD.

The only parts for this build I have so far is a Corsair SF600, and when it finally ships, the Coolermaster NR200.

I'd like to use as many parts as I can, but the old lady is due for an upgrade too and my current parts could easily be used to make her an overkill build.

dizmo · September 14, 2020

$500 CAD or USD?

Why would you go from a 9900k to a 10600k? The boards are likely pretty similar in price.

IkeaGnome · September 14, 2020

5 minutes ago, dizmo said:

$500 CAD or USD?

Why would you go from a 9900k to a 10600k? The boards are likely pretty similar in price.

The going to a 10600k was just an idea. A good motherboard suggestion would probably stop the cpu change and by default the AMD swap thoughts. Currently, the closest I can find to my current motherboard in an Asus is the Z390 I. Which is out of stock most places and $400 where I can find it. On the flip side, for just about the same price I can get the 490 I and i5 for under $50 more. That's why I'm open to going to the LGA 1200 or AMD if it's comparable prices to a motherboard. I did forget to specify that I do use both m.2 slots I currently have.

Prices I'm talking are in USD.

dizmo · September 14, 2020

2 minutes ago, Voluspa said:

The going to a 10600k was just an idea. A good motherboard suggestion would probably stop the cpu change and by default the AMD swap thoughts. Currently, the closest I can find to my current motherboard in an Asus is the Z390 I. Which is out of stock most places and $400 where I can find it. On the flip side, for just about the same price I can get the 490 I and i5 for under $50 more. That's why I'm open to going to the LGA 1200 or AMD if it's comparable prices to a motherboard. I did forget to specify that I do use both m.2 slots I currently have.

Prices I'm talking are in USD.

Ahhh fair. Honestly if it's just $50 more I'd probably just get a new motherboard and CPU. You'll get pretty similar performance in games, with most tying in performance between the two. There are some titles where the 9900k is clearly ahead, but it's only ever by 9 or 10 fps. Plus you'll get a good amount for the 9900k, if you choose to sell it.

Have you considered the Gigabyte Z490i? It's considerably cheaper, and seems to have virtually the same features. Though you'd want to check the m.2 spec.

I definitely wouldn't go AMD. Their ITX boards usually aren't anywhere near the same level as Intel, which I think is because of their larger CPU mount.