[SOLVED] Need Help, Upgrading from an i7 4770k

N1njaDestr0yer

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Hello There, I am curious to know as the title says. I am looking to buy/build a newer "second" PC.... As technology advances I feel like a 4770k will not be able to keep up or play any newer games that get released without a FPS Config or tweaking the games to run potato mode graphics... Which I don't like when you use that. Reminds me of the old N64/PS1 graphics from that decade... looks terrible in any modern games

I am looking to buy/build this PC to last 2-6 years before upgrading (aka futureproofing). I was curious to know which of these CPUs any of them good?


But I am on a budget of $1000 to build/buy a PC that can serve for a backup PC, just in case my main PC goes down for X reasons, but I need access to a PC... and this would be a PC that I would fix/tweak using money from paychecks (Work)

i9 10900k (a little harder to find. For me atleast)

i9 9900k (best bugdet CPU, Dated yes)

or

i7 10700k (if the i9 doesn't work out)


I plan to use this PC for Gaming, Learning to Mod/Running Modded game titles, and Video Game Emulation...

I am aware of how the i9 9900k and the i7 10700k CPUs are almost simailar to each other (In terms of Cores + Threads both have 8 Cores + 16 Threads). But one CPU is older than the other....

Before anyone else asks, I planned on building a i7 12700k + 3070Ti PC too but the those etherium buttcoin miners, shot down my idea...

Any advice is greatly appreciated, Thanks

-N1nja
 
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Solution
Maybe something like this paired with a set of DDR4 3200.

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813144531
MSI PRO B660M-A DDR4 $129.99

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-B660M-A-DDR4

https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i5-12400f-core-i5-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118360
Intel Core i5-12400F $169.99

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...2400f-processor-18m-cache-up-to-4-40-ghz.html

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Barty1884

Retired Moderator
If you have a 4770K already (which I assume is where it comes into play?), then why not try it out and see.

4c/8t chips are still viable - and with an overclocked sku, you have some additional performance to eek out.

Don't get me wrong, it's not the 'best' CPU out there and going to allow you to run infinite mods etc, but you should be able to get near i3-10100 performance from it. Still no slouch.
 

N1njaDestr0yer

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Something to consider/forgot to mention is I often have multiple tabs open or have some audio running and maybe discord (very rarely) in the background while gaming, that's kinda why I was aiming at the 10900k because of the extra cores + threads, sure it's expensive and older... while an i5 12600k can run circles around a 10900k while being half the cost of the i9.

I was originally aiming for an i9 9900k, since that CPU is tied with a i7 10700k in terms of core + thread count but the 9900k is older and I get it most of the Z390 Motherboards weren't built with good VRM's and a 12400/12600k will run circles around that CPU (9900k) too.

I always thought i7s and or i9s were better for multitasking with audio in the background, I never thought an i5 could match i7 or trample an i9.... In terms of performance and longevity and price...
 
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Barty1884

Retired Moderator
Something to consider/forgot to mention is I often have multiple tabs open or have some audio running and maybe discord (very rarely) in the background while gaming,

But you do have a 4770K right now? What's stopping you testing the theory rather than guessing?

I always thought i7s and or i9s were better for multitasking with audio in the background, I never thought an i5 could match i7 or trample an i9.... In terms of performance and longevity and price...

Many still operate with this perception. There was a time this was true, i7 > i5 > i3 etc, but now there is a lot of overlap.
Todays i5's jumping off point is better than an i7-8700K/808K at 6c/12t without factoring in IPC gains and the 'e' cores.

Realistically, background, lower priority tasks will be handled (at least in part) by the e-cores anyway. A dedicated 6c/12t "performance" chip, essentially for gaming etc. An i5-12600K is a smarter move for longevity purposes (with the p/e setup) compared to a 9th or 10th Gen i9/i7... IMO.
 

N1njaDestr0yer

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i5 12600K is probably the way to go

I guess I'm 50/50 I still don't want to admit that an i5 can outpace an i7 or even i9, But with the way the current technology is evolving I guess an i5 (12th Gen) would be the way to go....

Also how expensive would a Z590 PC cost? That includes an i9 10900k + Cooler + Motherboard and RAM? Cause I am just not ready to commit to an i5 "Gaming" PC also how long can a i5 12600k last?
 
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N1njaDestr0yer

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You don't have a GPU at all? No I still have the GPU it just doesn't work anymore started showing problems which send to it's demise. Was having VRM Issues and not responding when being turned back on from being shut off, I've tried DDU several times but just failed...

GPU itself

Gigabyte AMD 590 8GB,
Problem, Started having issues with the Drivers, Anytime I shut down the PC, and turn in on after X amount of time, boots like normal, but the drivers are nowhere to be seen, uninstalled somehow, also no amount of DDU can fix this GPU, I suspect faulty construction of this GPU VRAM is bad? IDK?

I can still use the GPU, but no dual displays and the missing drivers and the Bad coloring possibly due to bad VRMs,
 

N1njaDestr0yer

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I have been curious as to see if an AIO would help a i7 12700k to be cooler and perform better than traditional Air Coolers and which brand/manufacturers would work best?? And where would Iook into buying it? Amazon? or Bestbuy?
 
I tweaked my PC PartPicker list, I was at a stand still, Air Coolers vs AIOs? Part Link: PC Part List (12700k) which is better?

Also I've heard about undervolting your GPU (Nvidia GPUs like 3070 Ti, 3080 Ti, etc) but I have never undervolted a GPU before nor do I have a game to test if I successfully undervolted, or killed the GPU.... any help? The GPU I plan to use in this build...
You could easily rework that build in order to fit in a 3080 12GB which is a significant step up from a 3070 Ti.

This link down below gives you an idea of how to do that.

https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/pc-building-advice.3772957/post-22764876

https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Supernova-Modular-Warranty-220-G6-0850-X1/dp/B099821FWG
EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G6 850W 80+ GOLD Modular Power Supply $104.99

https://www.newegg.com/msi-geforce-rtx-3080-rtx-3080-ventus-3x-plus-12g-oc-lhr/p/N82E16814137712
MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ventus 3X PLUS OC 12GB Video Card $769.99
 
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N1njaDestr0yer

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Ok, I've tweaked the list again, I added those two parts, (RTX 3080 12GB), (EVGA 850W PSU) but I want to try to keep the budget @ $2,000 firm, PC List (12700k)

But as for the Undervolting for the GPU... I don't have any game that I can use to test if I succesfully undervolted or fried the GPU... then again I guess I can run the Unity Heaven benchmarking tool, since it is free... or is there a better alternative?
 
Ok, I've tweaked the list again, I added those two parts, (RTX 3080 12GB), (EVGA 850W PSU) but I want to try to keep the budget @ $2,000 firm, PC List (12700k)

But as for the Undervolting for the GPU... I don't have any game that I can use to test if I succesfully undervolted or fried the GPU... then again I guess I can run the Unity Heaven benchmarking tool, since it is free... or is there a better alternative?
If you were going to use dual M.2 SSD's then I could see the reason for going with a Z690 board due to the amount of PCIe lanes that come with that chipset or if you planned to OC that 12700K which means you're going to want to go with a $105 Noctua or a 240mm AIO. tbh OC these Intel 12 gens don't get you much more gain vs the cost. I'd go with the less expensive cpu that nets you near identical results while not requiring an expensive cpu cooler. As far as choice of case, I'd look at one that comes with two front intake fans.
 
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N1njaDestr0yer

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I just was going to use 1 M.2 SSD (Boot Drive) and the other was going to be a 2.5' SSD (Games + Storage),

I don't want to use the 12700KF or 12700F, I am found of have integrated graphics on board (for troubleshooting reasons)

and I have $2,000. I'd rather use the Full 2,000, because I have it sitting around, plus this 4 core 8 thread 4770k is really not Ideal for 2022 since it's almost 10 years old at this point, soon newer and newer PC hardware will beat the snot out of the 4770k...
 
I just was going to use 1 M.2 SSD (Boot Drive) and the other was going to be a 2.5' SSD (Games + Storage),

I don't want to use the 12700KF or 12700F, I am found of have integrated graphics on board (for troubleshooting reasons)

and I have $2,000. I'd rather use the Full 2,000, because I have it sitting around, plus this 4 core 8 thread 4770k is really not Ideal for 2022 since it's almost 10 years old at this point, soon newer and newer PC hardware will beat the snot out of the 4770k...
If you're determined to get a full size ATX board but you don't plan on using more than one M.2 SSD then save some money with this board down below. Same goes for the i7 w/integrated graphics.

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-MAG-B660-DDR4-Motherboard/dp/B09PXL3ZZB
MSI MAG B660 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 $189.99

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B660-TOMAHAWK-WIFI-DDR4

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NPHHSZ1
Intel Core i7-12700 $342.98

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...12700-processor-25m-cache-up-to-4-90-ghz.html

 

N1njaDestr0yer

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Mar 2, 2017
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I had a question.... Which RAM should I use with the 12700k? DDR4 3200 or DDR4 3600?

As for the RTX 3080 I plan to get (RTX 3080 Ventus 3X OC 12GB), Is there a step by step guide for undervolting a 3080/3090? since I really haven't undervolted a GPU before and would undervolting help all 3000 series GPUs? aka RTX 3070, RTX 3070 Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 3080 Ti, RTX 3090 and RTX 3090 Ti?

Update: I up'd my budget to $2,200 so I can have more storage 2TB is never enough... For Gaming at least..
 
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