[SOLVED] Need Help for a CPU upgrade!

[SmokeyAznn]

Hi. Im a Highschool student and i'm not very familiar with computers so im having a hard time with this. Im in need of new CPU cause this one sucks and i don't know what to buy. I have budget around 325$ and i want to get the best possible CPU around my budget.

Specs:
Cpu - Intel Core i5-9400F 2900 Mhz
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 1365 Mhz
Motherboard prime B360M-A

Thanks!

 

[siaan312]

You can't.

That cpu is modern and is plenty powerful, and you won't get anything that is worth an upgrade for 325$.
The only cpu that would be worth upgrading to (without swapping board or platform)
Is a 9900/9900F, which, while faster, aren't a gargantuant leap forward, and usually cost around 400$, not 325$.

Why do you feel the CPU is slow? maybe you have a different problem.
That cpu is a solid 6 core 6 thread puncher of a gaming cpu, and not bad for productivity work.

 

[SmokeyAznn]

Well i guess i have another problem then, cause i can't even play rainbow six seige with the LOWEST settings.

 

[SmokeyAznn]

Is i7-9700 worth buying?

 

[SmokeyAznn]

Hello. I'm fairly new to pc stuff and i wondered if i7-9700 is worth buying. I have i5-9400f with the PRIME b360-a and i have a budget around 350$.









Cheers!

 

[siaan312]

No.
Its better (obviously) and has onboard graphics unlike the i5-F
But, its almost the same speed cores, just 8 instead of 6. both non-hyperthreaded.
for gaming it would be almost 100% the same,and for other stuff it will be around 20% better, since it has 20% more cores.

 

[EvilHamster]

Well i guess i have another problem then, cause i can't even play rainbow six seige with the LOWEST settings.

You really, really do! and throwing money at a new CPU will NOT fix it. That setup should run most games at 200+ fps. Chances are, the i7 will run it even slower!, as they usually have more cores and threads but at slightly lower frequency. Nearly no game takes advantage of more than 6 cores, but all of them take advantage of clock speeds .

There could be several problems..

1. Bloatware/viruses etc.
2. Thermal throttling (check CPU and GPU temps. For CPU core temp should do the trick. MSI afterburner for the GPU. There are plenty other too though!).
3. PSU might be very bad and not delivering enough juice.. but I think you might see random shutdowns though...
4. How much RAM do you have? What speed? 8 GB at 2500 mhz should be minimum. 16 GB at 3200+ is highly recommended. And make sure they are in dual channel slots. (i.e., NOT next to each other).
5. Download drivers (GPU).
6. Sorry to mention, but do be sure that you are connecting the monitor to the GPU, NOT the motherboard. If you do the latter, it will use the onboard GPU, not the NVidia one.

(Also, use an SSD. It will not give more FPS but still nice upgrade to have. 128 GB should do it. But nowadays I would recommend 256 GB. )

 

[SmokeyAznn]

Thanks for replying. This stuff is really overwhelming, so your answer helped.

 

[siaan312]

Thanks for replying. This stuff is really overwhelming, so your answer helped.

Usually, getting a new thing from the same generation, even if you have a mid-low end one, isn't worth.

that's usually a general rule of thumb.

 

[RodroX]

If your i5 9400F is/feels enough for you (which probably should in most games, then don't waste the money.

I have to admit there will be a point (not soo far away) on which you will want more than 6 cores, but for now you are still safe.

Another way to go is save up for the Core i9 9900/9900K, or just change platform when is need it.

Cheers

 

[SmokeyAznn]

I don't know if i have bloatware/viruses i will check. And im not sure if my CPU is throttling, but im sure my GPU is fine. I haven't checked either if my PSU is giving enough "JUICE" cause im not sure how. While i do know about my RAM, GPU drivers and that my monitors are connected to the GPU not the motherboard.

AND!!! Thanks for replying i really appreciated it!

 

[SmokeyAznn]

Well my pc felt fine when i got it. But after a while after using it got worse. Maybe i got a virus cause i have downloaded alot of shady programs.

Thanks for replying mate!

 

[EvilHamster]

Well my pc felt fine when i got it. But after a while after using it got worse. Maybe i got a virus cause i have downloaded alot of shady programs.

Thanks for replying mate!

While a "Virus" is more unlikely, a whole lot of bloatware can do it ... fast. Basically, try to massively optimise Windows, which it needs anyway. There are many guides, and if you can not fully figure it out, we can help here (both on this thread, as well as in the Windows 10 subforum), but the general gist is the following:

1. get rid of all the software you have not installed yourself and do not need/want/(know, but be careful on the latter).
2. stop all the autostarts on all the software you do not actively need every single time you boot it up (and even then, try to keep it at a minimum. E.g., there is no reason Steam needs to autostart. You can turn it on when you want and then off when you do not need it).
   1. I do not use windows 10, so I do not know if this is still sound advice, but on windows 7, there is something called "msconfig", which you run in the "run prompt" (Win +R). There, go on services and startup and turn off things you do not need. BUT, many of these things are needed for windows to function normally, so be a bit careful. Google the things you do not know. That being said, you can always restore to defaults, so you should be fine, if you do not push things tooooo far.
   2. There might be similar things out there.
   3. Things like CCleaner (for the registry) are also nice.

For the termal throteling... install core temp and see the read outs. It should remain under 80° really (though 85 occasionally should still be permissible). If it is regularly over 90°, even without stress testing (ie., in normal gaming) thermal throttling might be a real issue.

As for the PSU. What kind is it? Do you know?

CAUTION:! If you decide to open the case and look at it remember! The PSU is by far the most dangerous part of a PC! So unless you know what you are doing, do not touch it etc (esp. anything inside.... never ever put anything inside the fan region ).
- Even before anywhere near it, REMEMBER TO DISCHARGE IT FIRST!. Discharging is done by unplugging the PC (out of the socket, if it is a laptop - remove battery too!) and than turning it on. The power light should go on for a split second, cause of all the energy still in the PSU. This amount of energy, though it seems small, can be deadly!, so again. Be careful with the PSU.


Best and take care.

 

[EvilHamster]

p.S. something like an "uninstaller" is quite nice, since they delete all the random stuff left behind from programs that you do not want. Most of these uninstallers come bundled in with crapware though, so care when installing them. (Also, uninstall them when you are done with it... they usually like to autostart, even when told not to...)