[SOLVED] Upgrade now... or later?

[Horadin]

Approximate Purchase Date: now? 2022? You tell me!

Budget Range: Preferably around $700ish, but obviously will go higher if necessary

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Plex Server/Encoder, Network administration, Video Encoding

Are you buying a monitor: No



Parts to Upgrade: CPU, Mobo, RAM

Do you need to buy OS: No
Please note that if you're using an OEM license of Windows, you will need a new one when buying a new motherboard.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon/Newegg

Location: Orlando, FL

Parts Preferences: Prefer AMD, but open to suggestions
Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution:1680x1050 (New monitor in the future, but not now)

Additional Comments: Don't care about RGB. Needs to be near silent.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Video encoding times are not as quick as I'd like. I've been bitten by the upgrade bug. It's not a necessary upgrade, just something I would like to do.

Current build:
Intel BX80662I76700K 4512 Core i7 6700K 4.00 GHz Unlocked Quad Core Sky Lake Desktop Processor, Socket LGA 1151
https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Unlock...+i7+6700k&qid=1629896394&s=electronics&sr=1-1

Zalman Computer Noise Prevention System with Silent Fan Pure Copper Heatsink CPU Cooler CNPS9500AT
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HKDA0U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ASRock ASRock Fatal1ty Gaming Z170 Gaming K4 LGA 1151 Intel Z170 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-Mothe...g+Z170+K4&qid=1629896155&s=electronics&sr=1-1

G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C16D-16GVRB
https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-16gb...0&cm_re=ripjaws_v 3200-_-20-231-977-_-Product

Seasonic X-850(SS-850KM3 Active PFC F3) 850W 80 Plus Gold ATX12V/EPS12V Power Supply
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ETEFTK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Antec Sonata Series SOLO II Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
https://www.newegg.com/black-antec-sonata-series-atx-mid-tower/p/N82E16811129177

ZOTAC GeForce GT 730 Zone Edition 4GB DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 (x8 lanes) Graphics Card (ZT-71115-20L)
https://www.amazon.com/ZOTAC-GeForc...&keywords=nvidia+gt+730&qid=1629897161&sr=8-3

USRobotics 56K Pci Express Faxmodem
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003Y49TO2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1



Anticipated build:
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 3.7 GHz 12-Core Processor
https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-9-5900x/p/N82E16819113664?Item=N82E16819113664&Tpk=N82E16819113664

be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4, BK022, 250W TDP, CPU Cooler
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BY6F8D9?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Master (AMD Ryzen 3000/X570/ATX/PCIe4.0/DDR4/USB3.1/ESS 9118 Sabre HiFi DAC/Fins-Array Heatsink/RGB Fusion 2.0/3xM.2 Thermal Guard/Gaming Motherboard)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SSM6CLC?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin SDRAM (PC4-28800) DDR4 3600 CL16-19-19-39 1.35V Dual Channel Desktop Memory Model F4-3600C16D-32GVKC
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z45XB3G?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1



The graphics card, power supply, case, and modem would remain unchanged. I'm not really a gamer and I only occasionally do video editing/encoding, so my graphics are fine for me. I'm happy with the parts I've chosen and expect that this system will last me many years to come. My PC is perfectly adequate for now - I've just been bitten by the upgrade bug. I could upgrade now or in 6 months. I don't anticipate that the parts I've chosen will change unless AMD (or Intel) releases something significantly better or reduces prices on their better hardware. My question is simply should I upgrade now, or will pricing be significantly better if I wait?

 

[drea.drechsler]

I think by 2025 or 2026 China should be coming to market with very price competitive processors with similar...or better....performance with their competition. So waiting could be worth it.

Naaah...that's silly of course. There's always something coming, always. It's been that way since I first got into PC's for home computing back in the early 90's. Just buy what you need...if you need it...from whats available NOW and ignore what MIGHT be coming. Buy what you can afford, of course.

Only if you don't really NEED it should you consider delaying even if only to make the need for performance more sharply defined once new tech hits the market. That's also when you can check the reviews to see if it's as performant as the hype-building anticipatory articles made it seem.

 

[Horadin]

I've been building PC's long enough that I know there will always be better tech coming out. I guess my question is opinion based on whether the chip shortage is causing higher prices right now, and if I were to wait up to 6 months or so, would the prices come down enough to make the wait worth it? If the prices are expected to drop by 1-2% then I'd rather just do the upgrade now. If they're expected to drop by 5-10%, then perhaps I should wait. I guess I've not been following the shortage close enough to understand what will happen, and how quickly.

 

[geofelt]

If your pc is perfectly adequate for now, I would wait until the end of the year.
Intel Alder lake is coming. It will need a new motherboard and perhaps ddr5 ram.
AMD is supposed to respond early next year, also requiring a new motherboard and possibly ddr5 ram.
If you buy now, you can count on buyer's remorse.

Love the SOLO case, it was one of my first.

If you have the itch to upgrade can you look elsewhere?

If windows is not on a ssd, that would be my first upgrade.

Perhaps a second larger higher res monitor?

 

[Horadin]

If your pc is perfectly adequate for now, I would wait until the end of the year.
Intel Alder lake is coming. It will need a new motherboard and perhaps ddr5 ram.
AMD is supposed to respond early next year, also requiring a new motherboard and possibly ddr5 ram.
If you buy now, you can count on buyer's remorse.

Love the SOLO case, it was one of my first.

If you have the itch to upgrade can you look elsewhere?

If windows is not on a ssd, that would be my first upgrade.

Perhaps a second larger higher res monitor?

Windows is on a SATA SSD and I have 3 HDDs for data, one of which is used as a backup. I also have a NAS which I may start using as my backup instead... As part of the upgrade, I am considering upgrading the SATA SSD to an M.2, but to keep some of the costs down, I think I'll likely just stick with the storage I have and upgrade that a few years down the line.

In terms of looking elsewhere, what do you mean? I'm willing to buy from other sources, as long as the parts remain genuine. And buyer's remorse? That's going to happen regardless of when I upgrade. There's always something new or more powerful to salivate over! I'll be very happy with whatever I end up with, although waiting for whatever Intel/AMD release this fall/spring is enticing.

My desk is shared with my work computer. I have 2 ultrawide monitors for that one, stacked, taking up most of the real estate I would need for a new/second monitor for my home PC.

 

[geofelt]

Sounds like you are in good shape and need to do nothing.
m.2 is a size format, not a performance spec.
In actuality, upgrading to a m.2 pcie drive will not make a noticeable difference.
Yes, sequential benchmarks do look wonderful. but you would be hard pressed to detect any difference.

 

[Horadin]

I appreciate the insights! Since Zen 4 is expected to be released in Q1 2022, perhaps I'll wait a few more months and see if that holds true. Theoretically, I should be able to get something more powerful for a similar amount of money... The other possibility is that the 5000 series could drop in price with the new release. Sounds like it could be a win/win.

Thanks guys!

 

[drea.drechsler]

....
Theoretically, I should be able to get something more powerful for a similar amount of money... The other possibility is that the 5000 series could drop in price with the new release.
...

Considering the current state of things and how nobody expected it to be this way, this far into the current product release cycles of CPU's and GPU's, it's not just the cynic in me thinking that may not happen. If Zen 4 proves out and Alder Lake does NOT hit hard I have a serious notion AMD is done being the value leader and will take over as the premium, boutique, brand for CPU's and discrete GPU's.

I would expect their "affordable" CPU's will be APU's, as will their "affordable" GPU's.