Question Beginner PC Upgrade - Assistance needed for most cost efficient route and components

[AsheRayne]

Date: As soon as possible.

Budget Range: Flexible - I want to find the best and most cost efficient route.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Almost entirely for gaming.

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: Unsure

Do you need to buy OS: Possibly

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon, Microcenter

Location: Orlando, Florida

Parts Preferences: Nvidia/Intel

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 3840x2160

Additional Comments: Good afternoon! I am looking to upgrade my current gaming PC build, but I have been so out of touch that I do not know what the best route is. My original intent was to simply upgrade my CPU as I have an old I5 3570k and feel I'm being bottlenecked as my GPU is a GTX 1080 Founders Edition. However, my socket is 1155 on my motherboard, and once I look into changing the CPU, any REAL upgrades seem to need a new motherboard as well. And possibly cooling. So here's where I'm at:

Current CPU: Intel Core i5-3570k @ 3.4ghz (not OC). Standard stock fan

Ram: 16gb DDR3 1600MHz DIMM
(2x 8GB Ballistix Sport sticks)

OS: Windows 10 Home 64bit

GPU: NVIDIA - GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition 8GB GDDR5X PCI Express 3.0 Graphics Card - Black -

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1080-founders-edition-8gb-gddr5x-pci-express-3-0-graphics-card-black/5330600.p?skuId=5330600

PSU: EVGA 600W

Cooling: Air Cooling

Main Hard Drive: SanDisk Ultra II 480GB

Motherboard: msi z77a-g41


What I would like is to find the BEST and most efficient route to upgrade at least the CPU, while at the same time getting the most out of the GPU and the new CPU. I'm assuming that I'll have to upgrade the ram as well. While the new RTX GPUs are attractive, I just spent 519 on the current GPU within the last yearish, so I'm loathe to add that expense on, but rather maximize the use of that card.


Assume that beyond the very basics, I am completely OUT of touch and clueless on where to go and what to do, or what's available, so please explain it to me as such when replying. My current mix could be completely underutilizing my GPU and I wouldn't even know it! Thank you in advance for the help.

 

[BeauJet]

Date: As soon as possible.

Budget Range: Flexible - I want to find the best and most cost efficient route.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Almost entirely for gaming.

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: Unsure

Do you need to buy OS: Possibly

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon, Microcenter

Location: Orlando, Florida

Parts Preferences: Nvidia/Intel

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 3840x2160

Additional Comments: Good afternoon! I am looking to upgrade my current gaming PC build, but I have been so out of touch that I do not know what the best route is. My original intent was to simply upgrade my CPU as I have an old I5 3570k and feel I'm being bottlenecked as my GPU is a GTX 1080 Founders Edition. However, my socket is 1155 on my motherboard, and once I look into changing the CPU, any REAL upgrades seem to need a new motherboard as well. And possibly cooling. So here's where I'm at:

Current CPU: Intel Core i5-3570k @ 3.4ghz (not OC). Standard stock fan

Ram: 16gb DDR3 1600MHz DIMM
(2x 8GB Ballistix Sport sticks)

OS: Windows 10 Home 64bit

GPU: NVIDIA - GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition 8GB GDDR5X PCI Express 3.0 Graphics Card - Black -

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1080-founders-edition-8gb-gddr5x-pci-express-3-0-graphics-card-black/5330600.p?skuId=5330600

PSU: EVGA 600W

Cooling: Air Cooling

Main Hard Drive: SanDisk Ultra II 480GB

Motherboard: msi z77a-g41


What I would like is to find the BEST and most efficient route to upgrade at least the CPU, while at the same time getting the most out of the GPU and the new CPU. I'm assuming that I'll have to upgrade the ram as well. While the new RTX GPUs are attractive, I just spent 519 on the current GPU within the last yearish, so I'm loathe to add that expense on, but rather maximize the use of that card.


Assume that beyond the very basics, I am completely OUT of touch and clueless on where to go and what to do, or what's available, so please explain it to me as such when replying. My current mix could be completely underutilizing my GPU and I wouldn't even know it! Thank you in advance for the help.

If you want cost effective, while being up to date, do i5 9600k or 9600 if you want locked(149.99) while Unlocked is 229.99/219.99 on New-egg for best unlocked performance and price while doing well in supporting the GPU.

The Motherboard now, could be a Asus gaming e-390(Equal to MsI MPG), ASUS Prime Z390-A(189.99), MSI MPG Z390 GAMING PRO CARBON AC LGA (Equal to Asus Gaming-e) 1151 , orASRock Z390 Pro4 LGA 1151 (300 Series) Intel Z390 (Cheapest) for 9th gen which is what you need if you were to choice the processor above. These are just to name a few(though your prefs decide this as well.)

Ram. Well all you need is DDR4 2.4 GHZ 3 GHZ. Your choice. Ram is cheap right now. have a look around, as you'll need to upgrade your ram to DDR4 sadly, even if you were to go for 7th gen as well.

Now cooling. Try cooler master, mainly their cheap evo and Master Hyper.

If you want to spend more, then try Cryorig.

 

[BeauJet]

If you want cost effective, while being up to date, do i5 9600k or 9600 if you want locked(149.99) while Unlocked is 229.99/219.99 on New-egg for best unlocked performance and price while doing well in supporting the GPU.

The Motherboard now, could be a Asus gaming e-390(Equal to MsI MPG), ASUS Prime Z390-A(189.99), MSI MPG Z390 GAMING PRO CARBON AC LGA (Equal to Asus Gaming-e) 1151 , orASRock Z390 Pro4 LGA 1151 (300 Series) Intel Z390 (Cheapest) for 9th gen which is what you need if you were to choice the processor above. These are just to name a few(though your prefs decide this as well.)

Ram. Well all you need is DDR4 2.4 GHZ 3 GHZ. Your choice. Ram is cheap right now. have a look around, as you'll need to upgrade your ram to DDR4 sadly, even if you were to go for 7th gen as well.

Now cooling. Try cooler master, mainly their cheap evo and Master Hyper.

If you want to spend more, then try Cryorig.

For instance, this is a build around a i5 9600k or i5 9600.

CPU:i5 9600k 219.99 on Newegg or 149.99 if you got 9600 non k
GPU:GTX 1080(YOURS)
MOBO:Z390 Gaming-E 219.99 on Newegg
Ram: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3Ghz 2x8GB 69.99 on Newegg
PSU:Corsair 750 RMX 69.99 on Amazon

 

[Calvin7]

Intel Core i5-9400F
https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i...7981?Item=N82E16819117981&Tpk=N82E16819117981

Motherboard
Chipset : Intel B365
https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=100007627 601304476 601328529

You can use DDR4-266MHz memory with this setup.
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2666 (PC4 21300) Desktop Memory Model F4-2666C15D-16GVR
https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-16gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820231892

 

[AsheRayne]

Thank you all for the replies! This should be a good start for me

 

[AsheRayne]

For instance, this is a build around a i5 9600k or i5 9600.

CPU:i5 9600k 219.99 on Newegg or 149.99 if you got 9600 non k
GPU:GTX 1080(YOURS)
MOBO:Z390 Gaming-E 219.99 on Newegg
Ram: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3Ghz 2x8GB 69.99 on Newegg
PSU:Corsair 750 RMX 69.99 on Amazon

I don't plan on overclocking - but I couldn't seem to find the "non k" processors. I had to google what the K stood for, so now I get it that it's unlocked, but wasn't able to find the nonk!

 

[AsheRayne]

For instance, this is a build around a i5 9600k or i5 9600.

CPU:i5 9600k 219.99 on Newegg or 149.99 if you got 9600 non k
GPU:GTX 1080(YOURS)
MOBO:Z390 Gaming-E 219.99 on Newegg
Ram: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3Ghz 2x8GB 69.99 on Newegg
PSU:Corsair 750 RMX 69.99 on Amazon

I had one more question for you if I may? Someone suggested a Zen 2 that is coming out in about 12 days. The entry line from what I can read will cost 199 and be similar in performance to the i9 9900ks. Would that fit this motherboard you suggested, and would it be worth it?

 

[BeauJet]

Unfortunately no, but to the latter yes.

AMD(Zen) and Intel(i9 9900k for instance) are completely two different types of chip-sets, or they are different by design. So the board in question would fail to even use a AMD unit, as it uses a different architecture and are not compatible.

So taking this in mind, the build would change like this if you were to go Zen 2nd gen.

CPUas reference only for build) AMD Ryzen 3600 6 core(retail at $199 )
GPU:GTX 1080(YOURS)
MOBO:ASUS Prime X470-Pro AM4 AMD X470 SATA 6Gb/s ATX AMD Motherboard (149.99)
Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC425600) 69.99(Newegg)
PSU:Corsair 750 RMX 69.99 on Amazon

In the end, you'll need to replace the board due to change of the cpu(Intel) and the nice thing about AMD is their CPU's for a year or so now, have the same socket type(AM4).

So, if you do choice AMD, remember it's a socket AM4 or x470 based board.

Not Z390 or 370 which is Intel based.

So, AMD in my opinion, is worth it more due to price and relative performance versus Intel's great, yet costly and very little performance gains as of recent next gen advancements.
Knowing your case, AMD is worth it more due to price, and it seems if the news is true, power now.

 

[AsheRayne]

Unfortunately no, but to the latter yes.

AMD(Zen) and Intel(i9 9900k for instance) are completely two different types of chip-sets, or they are different by design. So the board in question would fail to even use a AMD unit, as it uses a different architecture and are not compatible.

So taking this in mind, the build would change like this if you were to go Zen 2nd gen.

CPUas reference only for build) AMD Ryzen 3600 6 core(retail at $199 )
GPU:GTX 1080(YOURS)
MOBO:ASUS Prime X470-Pro AM4 AMD X470 SATA 6Gb/s ATX AMD Motherboard (149.99)
Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC425600) 69.99(Newegg)
PSU:Corsair 750 RMX 69.99 on Amazon

In the end, you'll need to replace the board due to change of the cpu(Intel) and the nice thing about AMD is their CPU's for a year or so now, have the same socket type(AM4).

So, if you do choice AMD, remember it's a socket AM4 or x470 based board.

Not Z390 or 370 which is Intel based.

So, AMD in my opinion, is worth it more due to price and relative performance versus Intel's great, yet costly and very little performance gains as of recent next gen advancements.
Knowing your case, AMD is worth it more due to price, and it seems if the news is true, power now.

You've been SUPER SUPER helpful! I saw this board this morning before I saw your response and was thinking it may be worth it? Gigabyte Aorus Pro X570 Wifi https://www.anandtech.com/show/14490/gigabyte-unveils-its-x570-aorus-pro-with-or-without-wi-fi-6

 

[BeauJet]

You've been SUPER SUPER helpful! I saw this board this morning before I saw your response and was thinking it may be worth it? Gigabyte Aorus Pro X570 Wifi https://www.anandtech.com/show/14490/gigabyte-unveils-its-x570-aorus-pro-with-or-without-wi-fi-6

Yea, that's a good board. It should work for what CPU your getting(ZEN) as again, AMD has done the nice thing of using the same socket type for a while now.

Basically, just by how it was explained in the beginning of the article with, "Since AMD announced its intention to release the Ryzen 3000 series processors during Computex, GIGABYTE unveiled a number of X570 motherboards to complement its release. "

It's clearly going to be worth getting the board, as it is going to be compatible with the ryzen 3000 series(3600 and above).

So knock yourself out, and enjoy yourself.

On one last note to how you mentioned RTX.

From what i can tell and in my opinion(Had three already and using my 1080 Ti now) they are not so good due to price and clear failure rates. Those don't mix well.

I've lost three of them in a row from dying unexpectedly and that's frustrating and also the price again...1,200 at launch..way more than 980ti and 1080s launch.

While a RTX 2080 is around 600-900 depending on the model it's pretty steep in my point of view when you can get a 1080 ti for around that price.

Now none of this is important, but it's just to weigh in to you that RTX is expensive and at launch had a major failure rate.

I don't like having a card go haywire in one week. I'm positive you wouldn't too.

So this is a little strange, but good on you for holding on to the GTX 1080, even if it's not the ''best'' now it's still less likely to give you articulating or basically dying for no real reason.