I'm contemplating changing my current PC setup from an ATX form factor to an ITX one to make it more portable for traveling to my boyfriend's place a couple of times a year. Since I don't travel frequently enough to justify a laptop, and I really don't want my mid-tower case getting damaged in checked baggage, I think an ITX build might be ideal. The total cost for the switch is about $410, but I'm curious if it would be smarter to upgrade my CPU and motherboard instead. My budget is around $450, and I'm open to waiting for sales, like Black Friday, to snag some deals. I've built a few ATX PCs but never an ITX, so I'm looking for advice on whether I should go for the form factor change or invest in a newer CPU and motherboard combo. For context, I'm okay with the idea of losing 2 DIMMs with an ITX build since it's mostly for gaming. Also, I've been considering AMD CPUs but I'm not entirely sure if something like a 5500 or 5600 would be a worthwhile upgrade over my Intel i7-9700K. Any insights or suggestions would be super helpful!
2 Answers
Going for an $160 1151 motherboard might not be the best call with your current CPU architecture being a bit dated. Instead, switching to an AM4 setup could give you slightly better performance at a reasonable price. For example, check out the ASRock B550M ITX motherboard. You can pair that with an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 for a decent upgrade without blowing your budget.
Honestly, switching to a new CPU is a solid idea! Looking into LGA1700 boards with something like a 12600K would give you a nice performance boost without the hassle of a full case swap. I've got a similar setup, and it works great for gaming.
I appreciate the suggestion, but $450 is my absolute max for everything. If I can't get it all within budget, I might need to rethink!
That's interesting! Just to clarify, are you saying that the best AM4 CPUs don't significantly outperform my i7-9700K? Is my planned budget going to be enough for a noticeable upgrade?