r5-2600x vs i5-9600k

[vwcrusher]

Trying to figure out which cpu to go with for a system upgrade.
Uses include: general use, gaming (mostly rpg type) and photo editing with lightroom.
Current system includes an i7-3770, GTX 1070 ti (overclocked) and a 2560 x 1440, 60Hz monitor.

I understand that the top of the line CPUs may be too much overkill, but I need help in deciding which way to go, and as importantly, why.....In some ways, I don't know what I don't know.

Thanks in advance.....and please ask questions that could result in the best answer.

 

[InvalidError]

If you have a spare HDD/SSD, I'd try doing a clean minimal re-install to make 100% certain your issues aren't caused by stuff that got messed up over however many months or years it has been since your current install - unless your current install is well under a year old and still quite lean in terms of amount of random stuff that got (un)installed. Lots of little things can potentially go wrong while applying those mega fall/spring updates, all the little patches in-between, countless driver updates, etc.

 

[vwcrusher]

Good suggestion, although I do keep a pretty clean C drive. I normally take everything out I either don't want or am not using (old school trained - always limited storage).

I disabled the GPU OC as well, thinking that could somehow be the cause, but same result (and it is way more powerful than the CPU).