CPU Upgrade Help

[rbhatta]

Budget (including currency): 700 USD

Country: USA

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Mostly high fidelity Single Player games(Elden Ring, Assassin's Creed, Ghosts of Tsushima) and some MP games (RedSec, Warzone, Arc Raiders), adobe lightroom, some python and java programming. 

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): 

This is my Current Build:

CPU: Intel i5 8400

Motherboard: ASRock Z370 Killer SLI/ac ATX

Ram: 24 gigs DDR4 (I don't remember the frequency)

Storage: 3TB HDD, 1 TB NVME, and a 512 GB SSD

GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB XC3 ULTRA GAMING

PSU:CORSAIR CS-M Series CS750M 750W 80 PLUS GOLD

Monitor: Gigabyte 27-inch 1440p 175 HZ

 

I only want to upgrade the CPU, Mobo, and Ram(which will lead me to also upgrade the PSU). It's been 8 years since I bought the CPU and mobo, and it's time to upgrade now. I don't have a super high budget, but I'd like a CPU/Mobo that can run me for another 8 years, hopefully. I do want to get Ryzen this time, but I'm a bit out of the loop on the current options, so I was looking for recommendations on what I can go for. I might overclock the CPU a little bit, but that's not a big requirement. Ryzen 5 or 7 would be great, Ryzen 9 definitely is overkill. Still want to play at 2k resolution, not planning to upgrade to 4k. Microcenter has some bundle deals I might get, but I do want to look at specific CPUs and then get the other parts around them. 

 

Thank you!

 

[filpo]

2 minutes ago, rbhatta said:

Budget (including currency): 700 USD

Country: USA

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Mostly high fidelity Single Player games(Elden Ring, Assassin's Creed, Ghosts of Tsushima) and some MP games (RedSec, Warzone, Arc Raiders), adobe lightroom, some python and java programming. 

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): 

This is my Current Build:

CPU: Intel i5 8400

Motherboard: ASRock Z370 Killer SLI/ac ATX

Ram: 24 gigs DDR4 (I don't remember the frequency)

Storage: 3TB HDD, 1 TB NVME, and a 512 GB SSD

GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB XC3 ULTRA GAMING

PSU:CORSAIR CS-M Series CS750M 750W 80 PLUS GOLD

Monitor: Gigabyte 27-inch 1440p 175 HZ

 

I only want to upgrade the CPU, Mobo, and Ram(which will lead me to also upgrade the PSU). It's been 8 years since I bought the CPU and mobo, and it's time to upgrade now. I don't have a super high budget, but I'd like a CPU/Mobo that can run me for another 8 years, hopefully. I do want to get Ryzen this time, but I'm a bit out of the loop on the current options, so I was looking for recommendations on what I can go for. I might overclock the CPU a little bit, but that's not a big requirement. Ryzen 5 or 7 would be great, Ryzen 9 definitely is overkill. Still want to play at 2k resolution, not planning to upgrade to 4k. Microcenter has some bundle deals I might get, but I do want to look at specific CPUs and then get the other parts around them. 

 

Thank you!

 

I'd say get this 6 core 9600X (comes with a $60 cooler that will work great with it) https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-5-9000-series-ryzen-5-9600x-granite-ridge-socket-am5-desktop-cpu-processor/p/N82E16819113844?Item=N82E16819113844 Go for this unless your current cooler can get the am5 mounting hardware in which case pay $60 more and get the 7700X which has 2 more cores and comes with a white AIO https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-7-7700x-ryzen-7-7000-series-raphael-zen-4-socket-am5/p/N82E16819113768?Item=N82E16819113768

For motherboard get this one for $135 with the promo code https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-b650-aorus-elite-ax-v2-atx-motherboard-amd-b650-am5/p/N82E16813145487?Item=N82E16813145487

as for RAM... it's quite expensive but still manageable https://pcpartpicker.com/product/YcZ9TW/gskill-ripjaws-s5-32-gb-2-x-16-gb-ddr5-6400-cl32-memory-f5-6400j3239g16gx2-rs5k

[apoyusiken]

isnt 700 bucks a bit excessive? you can almost get ryzen 9 9950x3d. I mean if you dont have a problem with money whats the issue? Get the best thing you can afford.

 

edit : nvm my dumbass read it as i only wanna upgrade the cpu

Edited November 17, 2025 by apoyusiken

[rbhatta]

13 minutes ago, filpo said:

I'd say get this 6 core 9600X (comes with a $60 cooler that will work great with it) https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-5-9000-series-ryzen-5-9600x-granite-ridge-socket-am5-desktop-cpu-processor/p/N82E16819113844?Item=N82E16819113844 Go for this unless your current cooler can get the am5 mounting hardware in which case pay $60 more and get the 7700X which has 2 more cores and comes with a white AIO https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-7-7700x-ryzen-7-7000-series-raphael-zen-4-socket-am5/p/N82E16819113768?Item=N82E16819113768

For motherboard get this one for $135 with the promo code https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-b650-aorus-elite-ax-v2-atx-motherboard-amd-b650-am5/p/N82E16813145487?Item=N82E16813145487

as for RAM... it's quite expensive but still manageable https://pcpartpicker.com/product/YcZ9TW/gskill-ripjaws-s5-32-gb-2-x-16-gb-ddr5-6400-cl32-memory-f5-6400j3239g16gx2-rs5k

Thanks for the recommendation!
apart from this, i found this bundle on microcenter: https://www.microcenter.com/product/5007218/amd-ryzen-7-9700x,-gigabyte-b650-gaming-x-ax-v2-am5,-cpu-motherboard-bundle. I'll lose the free cooler, but seems like a good deal for this bundle. What do you think?

Edit: Nvm, the mobo is pci 4.0 and nvme support is not listed, i guess thats why it's so cheap

Edited November 17, 2025 by rbhatta

[filpo]

Just now, rbhatta said:

Thanks for the recommendation!
apart from this, i found this bundle on microcenter: https://www.microcenter.com/product/5007218/amd-ryzen-7-9700x,-gigabyte-b650-gaming-x-ax-v2-am5,-cpu-motherboard-bundle. I'll lose the free cooler, but seems like a good deal for this bundle. What do you think?

 

Depends. if you have a microcenter near you then sure. What cooler do you currently have and can you get the am5 mounting hardware (if applicable) easily? (Like with noctua, you can just ask them and they send it over, can you do that? Depends on what cooler you have specifically)

RAM will probably be the one I linked above as that's the best value 2x16gb kit I found. Unless you can find a really great bundle at microcenter

[rbhatta]

2 minutes ago, filpo said:

Depends. if you have a microcenter near you then sure. What cooler do you currently have and can you get the am5 mounting hardware (if applicable) easily? (Like with noctua, you can just ask them and they send it over, can you do that? Depends on what cooler you have specifically)

RAM will probably be the one I linked above as that's the best value 2x16gb kit I found. Unless you can find a really great bundle at microcenter

I do have a Microcenter near me, so i can pick it up. For cooling, i have a Cooler Master Hyper 212, so i'll need to checkout whether i can get AM5 support. 
Yeah for the ram, i was expecting it to not come cheap, so i am prepared for it. i know i said 700$ for the budget, but if it does get over a bit, I'm fine with that, coz my goal is to keep this PC running till it's unusable, so the cost will spread out over the years. 

[filpo]

4 minutes ago, rbhatta said:

For cooling, i have a Cooler Master Hyper 212, so i'll need to checkout whether i can get AM5 support. 

I'd definitely upgrade that for the 9700X, it'll be hard to cool on the hyper 212. If you case can fit it (what case have you got?) then get this https://pcpartpicker.com/product/CwGhP6/thermalright-phantom-spirit-120-se-6617-cfm-cpu-cooler-ps120se-black

5 minutes ago, rbhatta said:

know i said 700$ for the budget, but if it does get over a bit, I'm fine with that, coz my goal is to keep this PC running till it's unusable, so the cost will spread out over the years. 

it should still be under. $350 + $190 + $35 is 575 so maybe even getting a new PSU is possible

if you do want to (though do note I don't think it's needed) then get this (comes with $30 steam credit as it seems and is generally a great price for a 1000W psu) https://www.newegg.com/msi-atx12v-1000-w-up-to-90-power-supplies-black-mpg-a1000gs-pcie5/p/N82E16817701030?Item=N82E16817701030

[rbhatta]

8 minutes ago, filpo said:

I'd definitely upgrade that for the 9700X, it'll be hard to cool on the hyper 212. If you case can fit it (what case have you got?) then get this https://pcpartpicker.com/product/CwGhP6/thermalright-phantom-spirit-120-se-6617-cfm-cpu-cooler-ps120se-black

it should still be under. $350 + $190 + $35 is 575 so maybe even getting a new PSU is possible

if you do want to (though do note I don't think it's needed) then get this (comes with $30 steam credit as it seems and is generally a great price for a 1000W psu) https://www.newegg.com/msi-atx12v-1000-w-up-to-90-power-supplies-black-mpg-a1000gs-pcie5/p/N82E16817701030?Item=N82E16817701030

This is the case i have: https://www.newegg.com/phanteks-atx-mid-tower-eclipse-p400-steel-plastic-tempered-glass-computer-case-black-red-ph-ec416ptg-br/p/N82E16811854048?Item=N82E16811854048&_gl=1*ie60ov*_gcl_au*MTU2NTUxMTkxNS4xNzYzNDEzNjc1*_ga*NDk3MjY4MjIwLjE3NjM0MTM2NzU.*_ga_TR46GG8HLR*czE3NjM0MTM2NzUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NjM0MTcwMjEkajU0JGwwJGgxNDE4MDYwMTkz

i'll check out the link, it might fit. This thread has been super helpful! Thank you so much! 

[filpo]

4 minutes ago, rbhatta said:

This is the case i have: https://www.newegg.com/phanteks-atx-mid-tower-eclipse-p400-steel-plastic-tempered-glass-computer-case-black-red-ph-ec416ptg-br/p/N82E16811854048?Item=N82E16811854048&_gl=1*ie60ov*_gcl_au*MTU2NTUxMTkxNS4xNzYzNDEzNjc1*_ga*NDk3MjY4MjIwLjE3NjM0MTM2NzU.*_ga_TR46GG8HLR*czE3NjM0MTM2NzUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NjM0MTcwMjEkajU0JGwwJGgxNDE4MDYwMTkz

i'll check out the link, it might fit. This thread has been super helpful! Thank you so much! 

Yes the cooler I linked does fit and I'd highly recommend getting that cooler as it'll help your temps a lot more compared to the cooler you currently have

 

No worries hope I've been a good help and good luck on your upgrade!