Question Thinking about upgrading from i5-11400F to i9-11900K/KF

[elishmidt]

I bought this PC during the crazy GPU prices as a pre-built but its time to upgrade. The current MOBO only supports 10th and 11th gen CPUs and I'm thinking about upgrading to the best I can get without upgrading my MOBO and everything. Would you guys think its worth getting the i9-11900K/KF or just wait and buy a new mobo and upgrade everything? Im on kinda a tight budget right now so I don't want to go too crazy and do a full new build. (I will be upgrading my current 16GB to 32GB of RAM as well)

My specs are as follows,

CPU
Intel Core i5 @ 2.60GHz (11400F)
Skylake Technology
RAM
16.0GB
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd. B560 DS3H AC-Y1 (U3E1)
Graphics
4095MB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (MSI)

Thanks!

 

[Lutfij]

First, I'd always opt for getting a K SKU since the iGPU is invaluable when you need to diagnose display related issues when your discrete card conks out. However your motherboard is only a B series so I don't see any need to go for a K KSU since you won't be able to overclock the processor.

As for rams, the highest your board will allow you to go will be DDR4-3200MHz, so look for a dual channel ram kit.

While you're at it with the upgrades, what is the make and model of your PSU? How old is this unit at this point?

or just wait and buy a new mobo and upgrade everything?
Would be a good idea in the long run. Buy once and enjoy the build until the day it conks out.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Looks like the 11900k has more cores and boosts higher. Looks like you can get the 11900k for under 250.

This shows the differences. Also be sure your board can handle it and that you’ve got the cooling if you do it.

https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-intel_core_i9_11900k-vs-intel_core_i5_11400

 

[elishmidt]

First, I'd always opt for getting a K SKU since the iGPU is invaluable when you need to diagnose display related issues when your discrete card conks out. However your motherboard is only a B series so I don't see any need to go for a K KSU since you won't be able to overclock the processor.

As for rams, the highest your board will allow you to go will be DDR4-3200MHz, so look for a dual channel ram kit.

While you're at it with the upgrades, what is the make and model of your PSU? How old is this unit at this point?

or just wait and buy a new mobo and upgrade everything?
Would be a good idea in the long run. Buy once and enjoy the build until the day it conks out.

Thanks for the reply lots of info I didn't know.

1) I will keep the K thing in mind. It seems like the standard is more expensive than the K/KF model (lol). I had no clue I can't overclock with this mobo 🙁

2) I was planning on getting two DDR4 3200 16GB sticks.

3) I have a 750W Corsair RM750.

4) I do only have a standard coolermaster cpu cooler, would that be enough? or think about investing in liquid cooling as well. (i feel like if i go with liquid cooling im going overkill and it would just make more sense to upgrade everything.)

 

[lvt]

So you skip the i7? 😛

 

[35below0]

The power delivery on that motherboard is not much. An i9 may be asking too much of the motherboard itself.

"Direct 6+2 Phases Low RDS(on) MOSFETs without PWM Doublers, each power phase connects directly to the CPU"

You can fit an i9 but the motherboard is limiting you just as much as the i5 CPU.

If the price of the i9 is around $250, you're wasting your money. Because you're almost to a decent 12th gen or higher build. Esp. as you can reuse a lot of gear.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-13400F 2.5 GHz 10-Core Processor ($185.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z690 Extreme ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $315.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-22 03:34 EDT-0400
*The ASRock Z690 Extreme ATX LGA1700 Motherboard supports the Intel Core i5-13400F 2.5 GHz 10-Core Processor with BIOS version 9.04. If the motherboard is using an older BIOS version, updating the BIOS will be necessary to support the CPU.

The AsRock Extreme supports up to 14900K/S. I selected the 13400F largely because it's a great improvement on your current CPU, plus it doesn't demand much power.
Keep in mind that a more powerfull CPU means a PSU upgrade. Also, a K-series CPU will need a cooler (The 13400F comes with an adequate stock cooler)

It's a decent board in it's own right. Lots of goodies, the previous-gen flagship chipset. You will have much better options in the future than if you upgrade to an 11th gen CPU but keep the old motherboard.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Also might mention if the op is the USA and has access to microcenter, you might see if they have it in stock, but they’ve been advertising at mine an i5 12600kf, z790 board and 16gb ddr4 for $250. Which is the price point of the i9. The guy above just pointed out about the current board so I’ll leave that alone.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...s-v-16gb-ddr4-3200-kit,-computer-build-bundle

Though if you want to go a little over 300 they’ve got the i7 12700kz, z790 board and 16gb of ram for 329.

https://www.microcenter.com/product...s-v-16gb-ddr4-3200-kit,-computer-build-bundle

Of course all kinds of other options but in either of those cases you’d get a high end board, could reuse your ram or use the new ram as desired, and possibly outperform the i9, but still have an upgrade to 14th gen in your back pocket.

I know the poster above mentioned the 13400. I haven’t used that cpu, but things I’ve read if you went with the 12600kf for example, is that it’s a hair faster than the 13400 and about even if not a little ahead of the 14400.

2 years old but found a video comparing the 10900k, 11900k and 12600k in 7 games. At times yes the i5 falls behind but wins other times. But if your motherboard would limit an i9 then no reason to get it imo

View: https://youtu.be/VvZD_ETTjGc?feature=shared

 

[35below0]

The reason i went with the 13400F is that it is decent in performance, doesn't cost a lot of money and since it's a non-K model it comes with a stock cooler.
With a K CPU, you have to add another $30-40 for a cooler. It also draws considerably more power. Not knowing the PSU situation, i picked a safe intel.

But a 12600 non-K would also be a fine choice. Anything that performs on par with the 11900, comes with a cooler and draws 65-125w would be a solid pick, esp. if it doesn't cost a lot.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

That is true. I know I'm running a 12600kf in mine, on the other hand I've also got a thermalright peerless assasin cooler sitting on it as well. So I guess I don't think about the heat all the time since mine runs pretty cool with that huge cooler lol.