Question CPU and MB upgrade on a budget?

[mrjdshep]

My present setup: https://valid.x86.fr/yu1aq3
CPU: Intel Core i5 9400F
MB: as rock B360M
RAM: total 32
1st slot XPG ADATA DDR4 3200MHz 8GB
2nd Slot XPG ADATA DDR4 3000MHz 8GB
3rd Slot XPG ADATA DDR4 3200MHz 8GB
4th Slot: Crucial 8GB Single DDR4 2666 MT/s
GPU: RTX 3070 TI 8 GB
Monitor: Acer 144HZ 1440p
PSU: Thermaltake 80 plus (white) 600W.

I use my PC primarily for gaming DAYZ which is CPU intensive. My current setup I get some stutters. The CPU I was considering upgrading to is i5 -12400f ($112) and a motherboard as rock b660m. ($80) I'm open to AMD as well. but I'm a bit a of a frugal dude. and I don't need the latest and greatest tech. Just looking for a decent upgrade to last awhile.

on further research this website says I need at least an i5-13600kf to not be bottlenecked. Is that true?

https://imgur.com/a/6n9BAzP

View: https://imgur.com/a/6n9BAzP

 

[COLGeek]

The mixed memory isn't doing your performance any favors. You would be far better served using a matched set of 2x16GB memory vice the 4x8GB mixed bag you have now. That would even improve performance with your current build.

 

[geofelt]

Most cpu intensive apps are mostly single threaded.
Run the cpu-Z bench on your i5-9400 and look at the single thread raing.
You should see around 481:
https://valid.x86.fr/bench/qbciuf

You can see what other processors may do.

 

[mrjdshep]

The mixed memory isn't doing your performance any favors. You would be far better served using a matched set of 2x16GB memory vice the 4x8GB mixed bag you have now. That would even improve performance with your current build.

okay, I'll see about taking out the mixed ram. Thanks

 

[geofelt]

There is no such thing as "bottlenecking"
If, by that, you mean that upgrading a cpu or graphics card can
somehow lower your performance or FPS.
A better term might be limiting factor.
That is where adding more cpu or gpu becomes increasingly
less effective.
Bottleneck calculators are generally considered as junk science.

The 2400 speed stick will cause all of your ram to run at 2400 speed.
Run the cpu-z test with only the two 3200 speed sticks in different channels.
You should see better performance, but do not hope for too much.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

GPU: RTX 3070 TI 8 GB

PSU: Thermaltake 80 plus 600W

the RTX 3070 Ti requires from 650-750w minimum depending on the specific model card.

you also don't provide which Thermaltake model PSU you have.
many of theirs are very low quality and not even intended for the heavy power delivery involved with a dedicated GPU.

while you may be able to get away with a higher quality 600w unit with only very minor performance loss,
there's a good chance this unit just cannot provide proper power for this card at all.

 

[mrjdshep]

Most cpu intensive apps are mostly single threaded.
Run the cpu-Z bench on your i5-9400 and look at the single thread raing.
You should see around 481:
https://valid.x86.fr/bench/qbciuf

You can see what other processors may do.

Thanks I did a bench and got 446. I have the 9400F so it is supposed to be 456 not too bad.

 

[COLGeek]

Thanks I did a bench and got 446. I have the 9400F so it is supposed to be 456 not too bad.

What speed is your memory set at in your BIOS?

 

[mrjdshep]

There is no such thing as "bottlenecking"
If, by that, you mean that upgrading a cpu or graphics card can
somehow lower your performance or FPS.
A better term might be limiting factor.
That is where adding more cpu or gpu becomes increasingly
less effective.
Bottleneck calculators are generally considered as junk science.

The 2400 speed stick will cause all of your ram to run at 2400 speed.
Run the cpu-z test with only the two 3200 speed sticks in different channels.
You should see better performance, but do not hope for too much.

So looks like my motherboard only supports 2600.
Not any better bench score it was 10 points less. with the 3200 16GB

What speed is your memory set at in your BIOS?

2600

 

[mrjdshep]

the RTX 3070 Ti requires from 650-750w minimum depending on the specific model card.

you also don't provide which Thermaltake model PSU you have.
many of theirs are very low quality and not even intended for the heavy power delivery involved with a dedicated GPU.

while you may be able to get away with a higher quality 600w unit with only very minor performance loss,
there's a good chance this unit just cannot provide proper power for this card at all.

Hmm, I put all my parts in the part picker and it was well within the draw limit. but I'll take your word for it and see about getting a better psu

 

[mrjdshep]

Say I did set aside $500 for upgrades what would you recommend. CPU, and Motherboard right, and as psu?

 

[mrjdshep]

https://valid.x86.fr/yu1aq3

 

[Darkbreeze]

What case model do you have? Yes, it matters.

Do you currently have an aftermarket CPU cooler or are you intending to just use the stock cooler if the model you choose comes with one?

What is the max budget you can legitimately afford to throw at this?

You understand that if you do a platform upgrade, the chances are very probable that there will be problems without doing a clean install of Windows after the upgrade, right? And, that you plan to do so? And also, that it would be a very good idea to go ahead and do the free upgrade to Windows 11 afterwards since Windows 10 support will be ending next October.

And based on the CPU-Z screenshot you posted, the only memory that is even being recognized are the two 3200Mhz DIMMs. The other DIMMs aren't even listed on there. As the COLGeek recommended, getting rid of that mixed memory would be a good idea besides which aside from a few DDR4 boards, the majority of Intel 12th Gen and newer, and ALL Ryzen 7000 series and newer only support DDR5 anyhow. If you go with a 12th Gen 12400F and a DDR4 board, you COULD get away with just using the two 3200mhz DIMMs but you'd end up with only 16GB of memory so depending on how much your heart is set on more than that, simply going with a board that supports DDR5 might be a better idea depending on your budget.

 

[geofelt]

Say I did set aside $500 for upgrades what would you recommend. CPU, and Motherboard right, and as psu?

The first upgrade might be to a quality psu.
A 850w seasonic focus with a 7 year warranty is $110:
https://www.newegg.com/seasonic-foc...0-750w/p/N82E16817151231?Item=N82E16817151231

A good cpu would be the I5-14500 for $240:
https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i...cessor/p/N82E16819118478?Item=N82E16819118478
It scores 795:
https://valid.x86.fr/bench/unqm4d
It comes with a suitable cooler.

You can reuse use your DDR4 ram
Or, a 2 x 16gb DDR4 ram kit would be about $50.

A suitable B760 motherboard might be a $150 MSI PRO B760 wifi for $150:
https://www.newegg.com/msi-pro-b760...a-1700/p/N82E16813144587?Item=N82E16813144587

Totals about $500