I built my PC in 2020 using an i5-9600k CPU, AMD RX 590 GPU, and 16GB of RAM. The highest CPU I can upgrade to on my LGA 1151 300 series motherboard is the i9-9900k, which I'm seeing for around $225. It seems like I could invest that money into a more modern CPU if I also upgrade my motherboard and other components. I do some casual gaming, and my current setup handles most games on medium or low settings. However, I'm running a Plex server and sometimes experience sluggish performance during streaming. startup times can be frustrating, too. I'm considering adding more RAM but wonder if it's worth it to keep upgrading or just build a new system altogether.
3 Answers
Honestly, the i9-9900k isn't worth it. For about the same price, you can get a 12600k and motherboard, which will greatly improve your Plex performance. The 12th gen CPUs offer a significant boost over the older generations. Plus, you could look into AMD options too—they're great value, just remember they don’t have QuickSync if Plex is a concern.
At this point, a whole new build sounds like the better option. I just upgraded my system and it significantly outperformed my old setup, which was similar to yours. You can build something solid for around $800 if you look out for deals—like an i7-14700K combined with a new motherboard, RAM, and power supply. It’s definitely worth considering!
You're on the right track! The i9-9900k, while decent, is overhyped and overpriced for what you could get with a newer CPU. A clean install of Windows could also help with the sluggishness. If you're storing the OS on an old HDD, that could be the main bottleneck. Upgrading to an SSD, especially an NVMe, would speed up boot times a lot. As for RAM, maybe wait on that unless you see your usage consistently maxed out.
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