I've been using an Intel i7 8700k for a while now and it's showing its age, especially since I've been playing games like Claire Obscur, where my CPU usage hit around 95-100% with just Steam running. I know it's time for an upgrade, and I'm curious about options within three budget ranges: $500, $300, and $200. I'd ideally like to stick with Intel, but I also hear good things about AMD. However, switching to AMD means I'd need a new motherboard, and I'm not too happy with my current MSI motherboard's lighting features. Any thoughts on the best options?
2 Answers
If you're sticking with your MSI board, the highest you can go is an i9 9900k. However, the performance upgrade for what you'd pay isn't great. Instead, you might want to consider an i5 12600KF with an ASUS Prime Z790-P D4. That combo would run about $190 for the CPU and $230 for the motherboard, while still letting you use your 32GB of DDR4. Just keep in mind that going AMD would require new RAM and DDR5 prices aren't friendly right now.
Honestly, now isn't the best time to upgrade because of RAM prices. Considering your setup, the Intel i5 14600k or 14700k paired with a Z790 DDR4 motherboard is a solid choice, allowing you to keep your current RAM. That way, you won't break the bank and still get a nice performance boost.
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