Question System upgrade

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elitech

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Mar 22, 2018
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Hello everyone,

The community has been extremely helpful in the past, so I am reaching out once more. I am asking/looking for ideas to upgrade my current system (built in 2018). Wondering what upgrade(s) would give me best bang for buck. I do not have a high budget (up to $300, can be stretched to more if the gain is worth it).

I feel I should probably invest into more/better RAM, but suggestions are welcome. I haven't noticed any problems so far on my system while playing (knock on wood).

I am in the US.

My current build can be found below:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-8700 3.2 GHz 6-Core Processor ($330.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49 CFM CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Gigabyte B360M DS3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: TEAMGROUP Dark 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory
Storage: Crucial MX500 500 GB M.2-2280 SATA Solid State Drive
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive ($38.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte WINDFORCE OC GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB Video Card
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($164.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair TX550M Gold 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer ED242QR Abidpx 23.6" 1920 x 1080 144 Hz Curved Monitor ($193.00 @ Amazon)
Total: $846.47
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-05-11 09:31 EDT-0400

Thank you,
 
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Solution
ScrewySqrl
Heres my belated suggestion for a $300 upgrade:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor ($160.85 @ B&H)
Motherboard: ASRock B660M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($94.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($49.97 @ Amazon)
Total: $304.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-05-18 10:32 EDT-0400

the 12400F is a generation behind but still a huge step up from your current CPU, the Mobo is inexpensive and basic, but gets the job done. And 32 Gb of slightly faster RAM than your existing setup. This assumes you don't have a nearby...
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Lafong

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Dec 2, 2021
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elitech said:
Will try.

@Lafong Let's hypothesize I want to buy a whole new system. If you have the time/will to do it, what would be your recommended best bang-for-buck whole system build right now?
Click to expand...

I can answer that in 2 words:

Im possible.

You don't specify a budget nor a list of required parts. "Bang-for-buck" begs the question how many bucks.
 
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Eximo

Eximo

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May 27, 2010
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Bang for the buck, what you have now is pretty close. 6c/12t CPU, 16GB of memory, and a mid-range GPU. GTX1080 is certainly in that range. More than the entry level 4 and 6GB GPUs, but right in line with entry level gaming GPUs available now (RX6600/A750/RTX3050).

Upgrading the CPU to the i5-12400F is about the most budget friendly way to increase CPU performance. Alternative would be a Ryzen 5600, but your slow DDR4 would have more of an impact there than on an Intel system.

Adding a faster memory kit to that concept is a bonus.
 
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ohio_buckeye

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Jan 5, 2015
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Without reading through everything, I did see Microcenter has this setup for 350.

www.microcenter.com

Intel Core i7-12700K, Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit, Computer Build Combo - Micro Center

Get it now! Find over 30,000 products at your local Micro Center, including the Intel Core i7-12700K, Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit, Computer Build Combo
www.microcenter.com www.microcenter.com

Ram is dirt cheap right now to add more later. I just bought a silicon power 32gb ddr4 3200mhz kit for 50 bucks from amazon for a pc at work. It actually showed up the same day and works great. Added to their existing 16 for a total of 48gb. So you can definitely add ram later. That would push the 1080 to the max and then you know your cpu wouldn't be a bottleneck for a while.
 
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ScrewySqrl

ScrewySqrl

Champion
Aug 2, 2010
11,199
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Heres my belated suggestion for a $300 upgrade:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor ($160.85 @ B&H)
Motherboard: ASRock B660M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($94.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($49.97 @ Amazon)
Total: $304.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-05-18 10:32 EDT-0400

the 12400F is a generation behind but still a huge step up from your current CPU, the Mobo is inexpensive and basic, but gets the job done. And 32 Gb of slightly faster RAM than your existing setup. This assumes you don't have a nearby Microcenter
 
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Reactions: artk2219
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Solution
E

elitech

Honorable
Mar 22, 2018
58
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Thank you Sqrl!

I have compiled all the recommendations, for convenience. Can anybody explain/elaborate what would be the best option here? I would assume that spending more=better, but that's not always how it works.

Why_me has 2 posts that go together.

Why_Me said:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: *Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor ($160.85 @ B&H)
Motherboard: *MSI MAG B660M BAZOOKA DDR4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($104.00 @ Newegg)
Total: $264.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-05-11 12:25 EDT-0400
Click to expand...
Why_Me said:
The next logical upgrade would be the RAM.
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z DDR4-3200 32GB (2x16GB) CL16 $55.99

btw make sure and add a LGA1700 compatible cpu cooler to that cpu.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Z7VM85V/
Thermalright Assassin X 120 R SE CPU Cooler $20.90
Click to expand...


ohio_buckeye said:
Without reading through everything, I did see Microcenter has this setup for 350.

www.microcenter.com

Intel Core i7-12700K, Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit, Computer Build Combo - Micro Center

Get it now! Find over 30,000 products at your local Micro Center, including the Intel Core i7-12700K, Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit, Computer Build Combo
www.microcenter.com www.microcenter.com

Ram is dirt cheap right now to add more later. I just bought a silicon power 32gb ddr4 3200mhz kit for 50 bucks from amazon for a pc at work. It actually showed up the same day and works great. Added to their existing 16 for a total of 48gb. So you can definitely add ram later. That would push the 1080 to the max and then you know your cpu wouldn't be a bottleneck for a while.
Click to expand...


artk2219 said:
A bit more than you were looking to spend, but its a substantial upgrade all around, and you should be able to upgrade your CPU without changing the board in a few years if you wanted.

Click to expand...


ScrewySqrl said:
Heres my belated suggestion for a $300 upgrade:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor ($160.85 @ B&H)
Motherboard: ASRock B660M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($94.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($49.97 @ Amazon)
Total: $304.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-05-18 10:32 EDT-0400

the 12400F is a generation behind but still a huge step up from your current CPU, the Mobo is inexpensive and basic, but gets the job done. And 32 Gb of slightly faster RAM than your existing setup. This assumes you don't have a nearby Microcenter
Click to expand...
 
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A

artk2219

Distinguished
Jun 30, 2010
1,141
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19,840
elitech said:
Thank you Sqrl!

I have compiled all the recommendations, for convenience. Can anybody explain/elaborate what would be the best option here? I would assume that spending more=better, but that's not always how it works.

Why_me has 2 posts that go together.
Click to expand...
Honestly these are all good options and it just comes down to what you want to spend, basically 300, 350 gets you a good upgrade now but youre topped out, there isnt a meaningful upgrade path in the future. You could go AM5 and likely be able to upgrade your CPU in a few years, but you're spending more now as opposed to later, it's your preference honestly. Another option if you wanted to reuse your RAM and you're ok with that limited upgrade path (you could technically upgrade to a Ryzen 7 5800X3D in the future and get better gaming performance than the 12700K) is also from microcenter, they have a good combo deal with a Ryzen 5 5600X, $190 for a cpu and B450 board, yeah its not an amazing board, but its about as fast as the 12400 and you can reuse your RAM and add another 16gb kit if you wanted. You can use the Ryzen 5 3600 as a reference in that review, its about the same performance as your i7 8700 so you know roughly how much of an upgrade you would be getting.

www.tomshardware.com

Intel Core i5-12400 Review: Alder Lake's Gaming Coup De Grace

Mid-range gaming has a new champion.
www.tomshardware.com www.tomshardware.com

www.tomshardware.com

CPU Benchmarks and Hierarchy 2024: CPU Rankings

We've run thousands of CPU benchmarks on all new and older Intel and AMD CPUs and ranked them.
www.tomshardware.com www.tomshardware.com

 
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ohio_buckeye

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Jan 5, 2015
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If you did the 350 combo at microcenter I think you could still upgrade to Intel 13th gen. Thought somewhere else on the forum someone suggested 14th gen might use the same socket. Not sure on that. I think I’d hesitate on the 5800x3d unless you get a deal as that cpu is already pushing 2 years old.
 
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Lafong

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Dec 2, 2021
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Lots of rumor and web pages saying Meteor Lake and the following Arrow Lake will use an 1851 socket.

But that isn't likely to matter unless you are the type that regularly upgrades the CPU without upgrading the motherboard. I wouldn't have any qualms about buying a 1700 socket setup if I wanted to upgrade today.
 
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