I'm considering upgrading my current PC build and I'm weighing my options. Right now, I have an Intel i5 11400F and I'm thinking about switching to a Ryzen 7 9700x along with a new B850 motherboard and DDR5 RAM. I'm curious if I should update the BIOS before installing the new CPU. Is spending around $650 on this upgrade a wise choice, or is there a more budget-friendly way to enhance my system? Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
I think you’ll really enjoy this upgrade! Is it worth $650? Absolutely, in my opinion. The Hyper 212 should suffice, but it's a bit on the edge for the 9700X. If you can spend an extra $20, check out the Thermalright Assassin Burst 120; it’s a fantastic cooler for the price. Otherwise, the Phantom Spirit at $40 is top-notch. Enjoy your upgrade!
Your upgrade plan sounds reasonable! Just a couple of things: if gaming is your main focus, you might want to consider the Ryzen 5 9600X instead—it's similar in performance to the 9700X and could save you some cash. Also, the Hyper 212 cooler isn’t the best option; you might want to look at the Thermalright Phantom Spirit instead for better cooling.
Make sure to double-check your links; you posted the same one twice!
Thanks for pointing that out! I’ve fixed the links.
They’re likely reusing the cooler, but you should confirm if you have the AMD mounting hardware.