Ryzen 1700x for $300 - Keep or Nah?

[jackyw]

I just snagged a great deal on a Ryzen 7 1700x off Amazon for $300 here: http://amzn.to/2yYTXCs, but I am not sure if I actually need it.

 

It's practically the same price as the 1700, but I don't do any content creation. The most I do is just gaming. I am debating on whether I should cancel the item and order a 1600x (save $80) or 1500x (save $100) or go with something totally different. I do like the idea of future-proofing my computer. (I am still running an Intel Core 2 Quad core with DDR2, a floppy drive, and 2 IDE CD drives.)

[Guest]

Considering that your workload doesnt require many cores/threads, the R5 1600 will do the job fine when it comes to gaming. The R5 1500X is a cheaper alternative, has 4 cores/8 threads which is still enough for gaming.

[PETRGangKing]

It's a good CPU, I'd keep it. I like to go big. But those are usually 299.99 at Newegg 

[Valkyrie Lenneth]

The most I do is just gaming. I am debating on whether I should cancel the item and order a 1600x (save $80)

^ this

[PETRGangKing]

Oh I just seen you hadn't paid yet, nvm I'd cancel it.

[Streetguru]

24 minutes ago, jackyw said:

 

If money is a big deal save $100 and get an R5 1600, if not just keep it, it's a great CPU.

[DarkMatterX1]

Ultimately it's your decision, but - If you don't need the money for a different part, and it won't hurt you to spend it - just buy it. Better to buy "too much" cpu now, and let your use case grow into it, then to buy just enough, and have to spend the same amount or more in 12 months when what you settled for starts showing its drawbacks. In other words, don't second guess yourself. You initially picked it for some reason, whatever it may be. Stick with your first choice. The R7 1700 is a great cpu. 

[Phentos]

That is reminiscent of the deal I got on my 1700, having spent only $232 on it. 

 

Personally if you only care about gaming, the 1700X should suit you just fine for the next few years.

 

However... If you plan on gaming on a high refresh rate monitor in the future, I would recommend going with a 8600K + Z370 combo. Those release very soon.

[Streetguru]

6 hours ago, Phentos said:

 

Less than a 10% difference between the the Coffee Lake chips and Ryzen chips, really not worth losing cores, or losing half your threads potentially.

[epsilon84]

2 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

Less than a 10% difference between the the Coffee Lake chips and Ryzen chips, really not worth losing cores, or losing half your threads potentially.

 

Then just get a 8700K and you have the best of both worlds: the best gaming performance and best 'all round' CPU without compromises:

 

Yes, its slightly costlier than a 1700. But its also quite a lot faster overall.

 

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Intel/Core_i7_8700K/18.html

 

[jackyw]

Thank you all so much for the helpful suggestions. Yes, I would rather save the money for other parts, and I feel like if my needs should ever need more than this, I would just tolerate using what I downgraded to. I think the only real ceiling is if it prevented me from playing certain games, which is highly unlikely.

 

In conclusion, I decided to cancel my order for the 1700x and will probably look into 1600x. I am not really considering Coffee Lake because I think it costs too much with the motherboard factored in. MSRP for 8700K is $379 right?

[Streetguru]

3 minutes ago, jackyw said:

 

It's $369 I think from their slides, might have changed or they're just charging more.

But overall ya, Ryzen is still the better value.

[jackyw]

Ok, right after looking at Linus Tech Tips's new video about Coffee Lake, it seems like the i5 8400 is a better value than Ryzen... Thoughts?

[epsilon84]

2 minutes ago, jackyw said:

Ok, right after looking at Linus Tech Tips's new video about Coffee Lake, it seems like the i5 8400 is a better value than Ryzen... Thoughts?

 

For gaming, the i5 8400 would be better than Ryzen.

[Streetguru]

54 minutes ago, jackyw said:

Ok, right after looking at Linus Tech Tips's new video about Coffee Lake, it seems like the i5 8400 is a better value than Ryzen... Thoughts?

It makes no sense to me to give up half your threads for a bit more gaming performance, and the motherboard is still more expensive.
 

Did linus test the R5 chip near 3900mhz?

[jackyw]

1 minute ago, Streetguru said:

It makes no sense to me to give up half your threads for a bit more gaming performance, and the motherboard is still more expensive.
 

Did linus test the R5 chip near 3900mhz?

You're right. Linus did state that because the Ryzen chips are unlocked, the gaps could be closed between R5 and i5-8400.

 

Also, I found an Asus Prime x370-Pro for just $85, which effectively puts the CPU + Mobo combo at $305, total. The i5-8400 mobo cpu combo from Newegg is a little more expensive at about $340, total.

 

I think I will go with the R5 1600x with the Asus mobo. I think it will allow me to upgrade nicely in the future should AMD keep the socket platform for a while.

[Streetguru]

18 minutes ago, jackyw said:

 

AMD is keeping AM4 until 2020

[jackyw]

Just now, Streetguru said:

AMD is keeping AM4 until 2020

Next time on $h!t manufacturers say!

[Phentos]

4 hours ago, Streetguru said:

AMD is keeping AM4 until 2020

AMD has been quiet as to whether X370 chipset support would last until then though. Keep that in mind.

[PETRGangKing]

6 minutes ago, Phentos said:

AMD has been quiet as to whether X370 chipset support would last until then though. Keep that in mind.

A very valid point, that I dont see brought up enough. As we have seen many times, it is possible that sockets stay the same but chipsets change.