Best Budget CPU for my Gaming PC

[ameliaporter]

I'm building my first gaming PC and while I do want it to be budget-friendly, I'd like to future-proof as much as possible. Here's what I have so far:

GPU: GeForce GTX 1070 Mini ITX OC 8GB
RAM: 2x8GB DDR4 2600
Case: Thermaltake ATX Full Tower Case

I can't decide between an AMD or Intel CPU (my motherboard would depend on which I choose). I'd like to be gaming at 1080p with 60+ FPS on AAA games. I've heard the Intel i7 is overkill and the Ryzen 5 isn't as good for gaming compared to i5-7600K but has more cores and threads. I also don't want to overclock, and would prefer a CPU that comes with the cooler.

Any help is much appreciated!

 

[vapour]

I5-8400 is the best choice so far IMO. <$200 with $110 Z370 MB. Will last for a few years. Also 6 cores

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor ($190.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI - Z370-A PRO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($111.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $302.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-10-12 10:27 EDT-0400

 

[constantine_99]

if u want more lifespan (or futureproof so u say)
i5 8600k would be much more better (for both lifespan and performance)
+
right now intel only released Z series, which was meant for OC, so u'll benefit more from that [i mean, u're paying a premium for that Z mobo, why bother with a locked CPU anyway, even if u don't OC it, the i5 8600k still had higher clock, and later if u ever want to try OCing, u can ]

if u're afraid to OC, mobo usually comes with profile for that, so u don't have to OC manually

the only downside though is that u don't get free cooler

if u're considering AMD path:
R5 1500x / R5 1600 could be great, both comes with stock cooler
the 1500x had self-OC feature, which means u don't have to OC it manually at all
the 1600 on the other hand, had more cores/threads, which means it should last longer, and it's unlocked too, u can OC it should u wish too
AMD path require B350 mobo btw [for OCing later on]

 

[vapour]

if u want more lifespan (or futureproof so u say)
i5 8600k would be much more better (for both lifespan and performance)
+
right now intel only released Z series, which was meant for OC, so u'll benefit more from that [i mean, u're paying a premium for that mobo, why bother with a locked CPU anyway, even if u don't OC it, the i5 8600k still had higher clock, and later if u ever want to try OCing, u can ]

I thought I5-8400 is locked too, but you can actually OC I5-8400

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjgxuepqOvWAhXFQCYKHcrOBCEQFghdMAk&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.level1techs.com%2Ft%2Fexploring-the-price-performance-advantage-of-bclk-overclocking-on-locked-coffee-lake-cpus%2F120099&usg=AOvVaw0QplfP8yJe0Ja0Ot3SBbXD

 

[smorizio]

if your not going to want to play right now dont buy the cpu and mb now. the coffee lake cpu is just a place holder and when the newer intel cpu drop in 2018 there going to use newer chipset and may not use the same pin outs. same as coffee lake cpu wont run on z270 mb.

 

[spdragoo]

if u want more lifespan (or futureproof so u say)
i5 8600k would be much more better (for both lifespan and performance)
+
right now intel only released Z series, which was meant for OC, so u'll benefit more from that [i mean, u're paying a premium for that mobo, why bother with a locked CPU anyway, even if u don't OC it, the i5 8600k still had higher clock, and later if u ever want to try OCing, u can ]

I thought I5-8400 is locked too, but you can actually OC I5-8400

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjgxuepqOvWAhXFQCYKHcrOBCEQFghdMAk&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.level1techs.com%2Ft%2Fexploring-the-price-performance-advantage-of-bclk-overclocking-on-locked-coffee-lake-cpus%2F120099&usg=AOvVaw0QplfP8yJe0Ja0Ot3SBbXD

I would be more willing to trust it would work if they had used an actual i5-8400. The article said they simulated an i5-8400 by using the i7-8700K (2nd & 6th paragraphs). Had they done it with the locked i7-8700, I might be more willing to accept their OC results.

 

[ameliaporter]

if your not going to want to play right now dont buy the cpu and mb now. the coffee lake cpu is just a place holder and when the newer intel cpu drop in 2018 there going to use newer chipset and may not use the same pin outs. same as coffee lake cpu wont run on z270 mb.

oh no! How frustrating...yes, and the 8400 and 8600K aren't available in my country yet (Spain), only pre-order from other countries with a month wait...I also read with these new motherboards, they won't be compatible with Windows 7, is this true??

 

[vapour]

if your not going to want to play right now dont buy the cpu and mb now. the coffee lake cpu is just a place holder and when the newer intel cpu drop in 2018 there going to use newer chipset and may not use the same pin outs. same as coffee lake cpu wont run on z270 mb.

oh no! How frustrating...yes, and the 8400 and 8600K aren't available in my country yet (Spain), only pre-order from other countries with a month wait...I also read with these new motherboards, they won't be compatible with Windows 7, is this true??

Win 7 does not support new Ryzen series or Coffee lake (no driver update for CPU), although I am Ryzen + win7 user

 

[constantine_99]

if your not going to want to play right now dont buy the cpu and mb now. the coffee lake cpu is just a place holder and when the newer intel cpu drop in 2018 there going to use newer chipset and may not use the same pin outs. same as coffee lake cpu wont run on z270 mb.

oh no! How frustrating...yes, and the 8400 and 8600K aren't available in my country yet (Spain), only pre-order from other countries with a month wait...I also read with these new motherboards, they won't be compatible with Windows 7, is this true??

no official support, doesn't meant it's not compatible XD