I'm considering selling my current CPU and motherboard to upgrade to an Intel i7-14700K and a compatible LGA1700 motherboard. The reason I'm leaning toward Intel is that I want to avoid the cost of purchasing new RAM for an AM5 board. I recently learned that my i9 9900K still has a surprisingly good resale value, and my Aorus Z390 Pro WiFi ITX motherboard does as well. If I can sell these for a decent price, it might cover about half the costs for the new upgrade.
I own an RTX 4060, so I'm a bit concerned whether the 14700K might be overkill for my current setup. I've also heard about potential voltage issues with the 14700K, which makes me a bit hesitant. I'm looking for advice since I'm not super knowledgeable about PC builds—if you think this upgrade makes sense, which motherboard would you recommend? I got a suggestion for the MSI Z790 WiFi Tomahawk DDR4 from an AI, but I'd appreciate some human input as well.
2 Answers
Upgrading to a higher-end CPU like the 14700K is usually a smart move because high-end CPUs tend to retain value well. If you can get a good price for the 9900K, it might make this upgrade more feasible. For motherboards, consider grabbing a Z690 or Z790 model with strong VRMs and Gen 5 support. Just remember, when pushing the 13th or 14th gen chips, some manual tuning can help a lot with performance and reduce power draw.
Absolutely! If you can find someone willing to pay top dollar for the 9900K, it could totally fund your upgrade. Honestly, even switching to an i5-12600KF could be a nice step up. Just make sure to keep your BIOS updated to address any potential issues with the 14th gen. Also, since LGA1700 boards are a bit pricey lately, don’t fixate on a specific model; take a look at the used market for great deals.
But keep in mind, the voltage issues aren't fully fixed yet. Just double-check on that.
Yeah, that's also a thought. If selling doesn't pan out, maybe I'll just upgrade anyway and pass the CPU down to my sister!