What Upgrades Should I Consider for My PC to Play Games at 1440p?

I think jumping to a 9900K for $250 isn't a great move. You only get a slight performance bump with two extra cores but not much in per-core performance. For better value, you might want to check out the 12600KF with a B760 motherboard; that would be a much smarter investment. You could also look into a used RTX 3060, which goes for around $200 and would handle 1440p settings nicely, especially with its better capabilities for ray tracing and DLSS.

Honestly, it’s really tough to justify that $250 upgrade from a 9600K to a 9900K. You might be better off looking for a used CPU, motherboard, and RAM combo on marketplaces. I've scored great deals like a 5800X setup recently for about $300, and it outperforms the 9600K significantly. Also, consider selling your current components to recoup some costs! If you’re looking for a GPU under $400, I’d recommend checking out the RX 6700 XT or similar; those would pair well with your upgrades.

If you're targeting 1440p gaming, you'll want to prioritize GPU upgrades over the CPU. A newer GPU with at least 12GB of VRAM should be on your list. If the RX 6700 XT isn't attainable, keep an eye out for options like the RX 4070 if your budget allows.

For $250, the upgrade to a 9900K just doesn't make sense. Instead, you could get a newer 5800X along with an AM4 motherboard for not too much more. Plus, selling your 9600K and motherboard would help cover the costs. What kind of games do you enjoy? This info could help in picking the right parts.