Question Upgrade recommendations from Intel Core i5 4690k

[tomtoms1234]

Hey guys,

I am looking to upgrade my gaming rig that I put together back in 2014.
I play overwatch 2, and I am getting horrible FPS with my current rig, even at the lowest settings
Here is my current setup:

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z97X-Gaming 3
Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K
RAM: 12gb DDR3
Cooling: Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H60 CPU Cooler System
Power Supply: Corsair HX650


I was doing some research, and it seems like spending money in a better CPU will help with FPS. So I was looking into the Intel core i5-12400 as I am running on a budget, and this should be a massive upgrade for me regardless.
My question is, would you recommend this CPU for me, and if so, can I use my current motherboard and RAM for this CPU? Or do I have to purchase another motherboard and new set of RAM.

Thank you!

 

[Lafong]

Good CPU. Better available, but at higher cost.

You have to change motherboard and RAM to use it.

You need DDR 4 RAM and a socket 1700 Intel motherboard with maybe a B660 or Z690 chipset.

 

[tomtoms1234]

Can you recommend me the products that are budget friendly?

 

[Lafong]

Probably a micro ATX motherboard rather than full ATX. Those boards usually have an M at the end of the model number.

Probably a board with a B660 chipset; not Z690. Maybe Gigabyte or MSI?

Possibly reduce the CPU to an i3-12100 if that would free up some money to spend on other parts.

Probably a kit of two 8 gb sticks of DDR 4 RAM, sold at one price in one package. 16 total. Possibly only 8 total (two 4 GB sticks) if forced by budget.

Decide if you need any other parts....cooler, case, drives, video card, power supply.

You didn't mention your power supply, so that is up for grabs.


I have no idea about whether you should carry over your liquid cooler or video card.

Your absolute maximum budget is what?

 

[doctorlans]

I had FPS drops in Overwatch-2 on my Intel i5-9400f as well. Upgraded to 12400 and it works perfectly now, great CPU.

Motherboard MSI b660 Mortar ddr4, it has huge power supply and can run top CPUs like i5-i7 K, so you have upgrade potential. You can even look for Max-version has unique ability to overclock unoverclockable 12400 by base clock and get ~12600K level perfomance. But it requires a good cooler.

 

[tomtoms1234]

I assume my current motherboard is not a microboard, I assume a micro board is cheaper than a full size board, but what does it lack that a full board has? I think I would like a full sized motherboard, I don't want any issues of graphics cards not fitting, etc...
Why do you suggest not a Z690?
my Power Supply: Corsair HX650.

I would like to shoot for the upgrade to be less than $1000 CAD
I am primarily looking at canadacomputers.com, newegg.ca, and bestbuy.ca websites for the parts.

Do you think my current graphics card is sufficient?

 

[tomtoms1234]

I had FPS drops in Overwatch-2 on my Intel i5-9400f as well. Upgraded to 12400 and it works perfectly now, great CPU.

Motherboard MSI b660 Mortar ddr4, it has huge power supply and can run top CPUs like i5-i7 K, so you have upgrade potential. You can even look for Max-version has unique ability to overclock unoverclockable 12400 by base clock and get ~12600K level perfomance. But it requires a good cooler.

What graphics card are you running?
If I were to hypothetically get the same motherboard and CPU, would there be anything else that I would need to change in my rig other than the RAM

 

[tomtoms1234]

I think I am leaning towards an i5-12400 with a b660 motherboard. How much of an upgrade is that with my current setup?

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Put it this way, your current i5 is a quad core cpu that’s 8 years old. The 12400 is 6 cores 12 threads I think, plus single core improvements from the last 8 years.

Just keep in mind at minimum you’ll need a new board, cpu and ram. But ddr4 ram is pretty cheap at the moment.

 

[Why_Me]

I assume my current motherboard is not a microboard, I assume a micro board is cheaper than a full size board, but what does it lack that a full board has? I think I would like a full sized motherboard, I don't want any issues of graphics cards not fitting, etc...
Why do you suggest not a Z690?
my Power Supply: Corsair HX650.

I would like to shoot for the upgrade to be less than $1000 CAD
I am primarily looking at canadacomputers.com, newegg.ca, and bestbuy.ca websites for the parts.

Do you think my current graphics card is sufficient?

Pick parts. Build your PC. Compare and share.

ca.pcpartpicker.com

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX00119937
MSI PRO B660-A DDR4 $149.99

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-B660-A-DDR4

https://www.newegg.ca/intel-core-i5-12400f-core-i5-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118360
Intel Core i5-12400F $239.99

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX00120087
DeepCool GAMMAXX 400 V2 Blue CPU Cooler $26.99

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX61227
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200MHz 16GB (2x8GB) CL16 $77.99

 

[Lafong]

I think I am leaning towards an i5-12400 with a b660 motherboard. How much of an upgrade is that with my current setup?

On a standard benchmark:

Single thread score: 12400 is 61% faster than 4690K.

Multi thread score: 12400 is about 2.5 times faster.

How much you'd notice that in gaming is another question.

 

[tomtoms1234]

Pick parts. Build your PC. Compare and share.

ca.pcpartpicker.com

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX00119937
MSI PRO B660-A DDR4 $149.99

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-B660-A-DDR4

https://www.newegg.ca/intel-core-i5-12400f-core-i5-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118360
Intel Core i5-12400F $239.99

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX00120087
DeepCool GAMMAXX 400 V2 Blue CPU Cooler $26.99

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX61227
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200MHz 16GB (2x8GB) CL16 $77.99

Would I be able to continue using my current power supply?

 

[Why_Me]

Would I be able to continue using my current power supply?

I don't see why not.

 

[John Chesterfield]

Would I be able to continue using my current power supply?

If it's the same age as the rest of the system, then maybe at a push because it was quality when new but I'd be looking to replace that too fairly soon.

 

[tomtoms1234]

Pick parts. Build your PC. Compare and share.

ca.pcpartpicker.com

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX00119937
MSI PRO B660-A DDR4 $149.99

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-B660-A-DDR4

https://www.newegg.ca/intel-core-i5-12400f-core-i5-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118360
Intel Core i5-12400F $239.99

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX00120087
DeepCool GAMMAXX 400 V2 Blue CPU Cooler $26.99

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX61227
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200MHz 16GB (2x8GB) CL16 $77.99

how much better is a z690 vs a b660? I'm wondering if it's worth to fork out a little extra for it?

Edit: Seems as though z690 meant for overclocking purposes.. don't think I'll utilize that

 

[Why_Me]

how much better is a z690 vs a b660? I'm wondering if it's worth to fork out a little extra for it?

Edit: Seems as though z690 meant for overclocking purposes.. don't think I'll utilize that

The Z690 chipset has more PCIe lanes thus allowing for dual M.2 PCIe SSD's ... and it allows for overclocking. Lots of peeps these days just use one M.2 SSD and if they're worried about losing any docs, photos, etc .. if they ever have to a full reformat they can always get themselves a cheap SATA SSD.

 

[tomtoms1234]

My other question is then, would the b660 motherboard be able to handle a 13600K CPU? How much better is the 13 generation CPU vs the 12400?

 

[Why_Me]

My other question is then, would the b660 motherboard be able to handle a 13600K CPU? How much better is the 13 generation CPU vs the 12400?

The 13600K runs hot compared to the 12 gen cpu's so if you go with a B660 board you want one with decent VRM's so your system doesn't throttle down when that cpu hits turbo boost mode. The cpu to keep your eyes on if you do wait until January is the 13400 / 13400F. That cpu will have similar specs as the current 12600K ... 6 P-cores and 4 E-cores. With that said the 12400 / 12400F is a decent cpu. it runs cool and isn't expensive.

 

[tomtoms1234]

I am in the market for hardware upgrades now since everywhere is running a black friday sale.
I believe the 12400F that you recommended to me would be a massive upgrade to my i5-4690K, but as Lafong mentioned earlier:

"On a standard benchmark:

Single thread score: 12400 is 61% faster than 4690K.

Multi thread score: 12400 is about 2.5 times faster.

How much you'd notice that in gaming is another question. "

Worries me that I may not notice THAT much of a difference than if I were to upgrade to a 13th gen processor

 

[Lafong]

13600k single thread benchmark is 19 percent above 12400

13600k multi thread benchmark ; 96 percent above 12400

My opinion: you are better off with an upper level B660 or B660M board than a mid level Z690 unless you have a specific need for the specific features of the Z690.

 

[tomtoms1234]

13600k single thread benchmark is 19 percent above 12400

13600k multi thread benchmark ; 96 percent above 12400

My opinion: you are better off with an upper level B660 or B660M board than a mid level Z690 unless you have a specific need for the specific features of the Z690.

I am not quite familiar with what a multithread or singlethread benchmark is, but looking at that multithread benchmark increase of 96% above 12400 is quite drastic?

 

[tomtoms1234]

13600k single thread benchmark is 19 percent above 12400

13600k multi thread benchmark ; 96 percent above 12400

My opinion: you are better off with an upper level B660 or B660M board than a mid level Z690 unless you have a specific need for the specific features of the Z690.

Can you link me to an upper level B660 board?
Using Canadacomputers.com, memoryexpress.com, or bestbuy.ca

Thanks!

 

[Lafong]

I am not quite familiar with what a multithread or singlethread benchmark is, but looking at that multithread benchmark increase of 96% above 12400 is quite drastic?

It's just a benchmark. Passmark. A synthetic representation of a bag of PC tasks.

96 percent certainly does NOT mean your FPS in games will go up that much.

Most stuff the average user would do will be highly affected by single thread and less so by multi thread. If you were typing up a chicken soup recipe or posting on this forum, you likely couldn't tell the difference between 12400 and 13600K.

Price differential is what? 100 to 125?

 

[tomtoms1234]

Pick parts. Build your PC. Compare and share.

ca.pcpartpicker.com

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX00119937
MSI PRO B660-A DDR4 $149.99

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-B660-A-DDR4

https://www.newegg.ca/intel-core-i5-12400f-core-i5-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118360
Intel Core i5-12400F $239.99

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX00120087
DeepCool GAMMAXX 400 V2 Blue CPU Cooler $26.99

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX61227
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200MHz 16GB (2x8GB) CL16 $77.99

You also linked me to another CPU cooler, should I upgrade my current Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H60 CPU Cooler System? Or can I just re-use it

 

[Lafong]

Can you link me to an upper level B660 board?
Using Canadacomputers.com, memoryexpress.com, or bestbuy.ca

Thanks!

Gigabyte B660M AORUS PRO AX; I think there are 2 versions; DDR 4 and DDR 5

MSI MAG B660M MORTAR WIFI; I think there are 2 versions of this also DDR 4 and 5

That’s 4 upper level. Good VRM support, micro ATX.

I think each of those 4 has a full ATX variation that would be cost more.

That’s up to 8 I wouldn’t have any issues with.

I have no idea where you can find them in Canada, but they aren’t rare.

They will vary slightly in features…M.2 ports, case fan connectors; USB ports, etc. You have to wade through the spec sheets if you need that level of detail.