Hey everyone! I'm a software developer and I usually struggle with hardware issues. Currently, I have an Intel Core i7-7700 CPU running at 3.6GHz along with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060Ti GPU. I upgraded my graphics card a year or two ago, and while the performance boost has been great, I feel like my CPU is holding me back. I'm looking to upgrade my CPU but I want to avoid changing my motherboard right now. Is there a CPU that would fit my existing ASUSTeK B150M-A/M.2 motherboard that could offer a real upgrade from my i7-7700 and help reduce this bottleneck? Thanks so much for any advice! 🙂
5 Answers
To see meaningful improvements, you'll need to replace your motherboard and RAM for a solid CPU upgrade. Do you happen to live near a Micro Center? That could help with finding good deals.
The only CPU upgrade you can consider is the i7-7700K, but honestly, the performance increase is minimal. It might not be worth the effort or cost in the long run.
If you're interested, do some research on LGA 1151 'mutant' CPUs. There are tutorials available that might help you modify your BIOS to use a wider range of CPUs.
With a budget between CAD 600-800, you could check out bundle deals at Canada Computer. A B650 motherboard with a Ryzen 7000 series CPU plus 16GB of DDR5 RAM should be a solid choice. You might even consider a cheaper B650 board with a Ryzen 7600 for about 450-470 CAD. This will keep you set for future upgrades and leave some budget for a GPU later!
You’re pretty limited with your current setup since your motherboard has a locked chipset. The best option is indeed the i7-7700K, but again, it won't make a significant difference. Honestly, a motherboard upgrade is your best bet if you want to eliminate the bottleneck and really boost performance.
I’m actually in Ontario, Canada.