Is it Worth Upgrading from an i5-9600K?

I recently upgraded my GPU while still using an i7-6700K, and while some people say it bottlenecks, I’m really happy with the performance on 1440P—my CPU usage barely hits 50%. That said, if you're looking to upgrade mainly for gaming, it might be smarter to go for a better CPU to pair with a decent GPU.

In the long run, going for a 6-core AM5 chip is a great way to ensure you keep up with modern gaming demands. But if you can snag a cheaper option like a 9600X for under $200, that's also a solid move until you can invest more later.

If you've got the budget in mind, consider what you'll be using the new setup for. If it’s primarily for gaming and you’re gaming every day, an upgrade could definitely be worthwhile. But if your current rig is still running everything you need without issues, it may not be urgent.

Honestly, if you're looking for a performance boost, upgrading to something like the 7600 is going to give you a significant speed increase—potentially double what you're getting now. Just keep in mind, you'd need new RAM and a motherboard for that, too. If you're planning to pair it with a new GPU, an upgrade is almost necessary to fully utilize its capabilities.

Are you running into performance issues with the games or tasks you do? If your 9600K is still doing the job with no hiccups, you might hold off. Otherwise, jumping to an AM5 setup with at least 6 cores would future-proof your build pretty well.