Question What should I upgrade to? Currently on i5 8600k

theoneRISA15

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Aug 16, 2019
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Hi everyone, I am considering upgrading my CPU (as well as mobo) and wanted some suggestions that won't break the bank. I am currently on an EVGA Z370 board with an i5 8600k @ 5GHz all-core. At this point, 6c/6t just isn't cutting it anymore so what would be some solid value upgrades? If I upgrade to another Intel CPU, is DDR4 still viable for a while so I can save money on RAM or should I just bite the bullet and upgrade RAM too? I currently have 16GB DDR4 @ 3000 MHz.

Thanks for any help!
 
Hi everyone, I am considering upgrading my CPU (as well as mobo) and wanted some suggestions that won't break the bank. I am currently on an EVGA Z370 board with an i5 8600k @ 5GHz all-core. At this point, 6c/6t just isn't cutting it anymore so what would be some solid value upgrades? If I upgrade to another Intel CPU, is DDR4 still viable for a while so I can save money on RAM or should I just bite the bullet and upgrade RAM too? I currently have 16GB DDR4 @ 3000 MHz.

Thanks for any help!
What is the maximum dollar level that won't "break the bank"?

6c/6t isn't cutting it for what purpose?

DDR 4 is "viable" today, but probably will not be compatible with 14th gen Intel and later boards. That may not matter to you. Price differential between DDR 4 and 5 continues to decline.

Do you need/want new parts other than motherboard, CPU, and possibly RAM?

Are you the type who tends to buy a set of parts and live with them for a few years if they don't fail? Rather than upgrading CPUs without changing motherboards.
 

theoneRISA15

Reputable
Aug 16, 2019
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0
4,510
What is the maximum dollar level that won't "break the bank"?

6c/6t isn't cutting it for what purpose?

DDR 4 is "viable" today, but probably will not be compatible with 14th gen Intel and later boards. That may not matter to you. Price differential between DDR 4 and 5 continues to decline.

Do you need/want new parts other than motherboard, CPU, and possibly RAM?

Are you the type who tends to buy a set of parts and live with them for a few years if they don't fail? Rather than upgrading CPUs without changing motherboards.
I was hoping to be under or around the $600 mark. I have been using my current PC without any major upgrades for around 5 years now so yes, whatever I buy now I will look to get around another 5 years out of. I would probably look to upgrade GPU later this year, but not right now.
 

xx12amanxx

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Oct 27, 2007
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Hi everyone, I am considering upgrading my CPU (as well as mobo) and wanted some suggestions that won't break the bank. I am currently on an EVGA Z370 board with an i5 8600k @ 5GHz all-core. At this point, 6c/6t just isn't cutting it anymore so what would be some solid value upgrades? If I upgrade to another Intel CPU, is DDR4 still viable for a while so I can save money on RAM or should I just bite the bullet and upgrade RAM too? I currently have 16GB DDR4 @ 3000 MHz.

Thanks for any help!
What are you primarily going to use the system for? $600 is more then enough to get a AM5 or new Intel system if all your buying is the cpu, mobo and ram.
 
Intel 13600K plus MSI Mag B760M Mortar currently 517 dollars at Amazon.

You can add 16 GB of DDR 5 for about 75; or 32 GB of DDR 5 for a bit more.

If you stay with your current DDR 4, you can reduce total price accordingly.

You would pay a little more if you insist on a full ATX board or a Z series chipset.
 
Last edited:

Zerk2012

Titan
Ambassador
I was hoping to be under or around the $600 mark. I have been using my current PC without any major upgrades for around 5 years now so yes, whatever I buy now I will look to get around another 5 years out of. I would probably look to upgrade GPU later this year, but not right now.
83 over but you could sell your board, CPU, and memory.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-13700 2.1 GHz 16-Core Processor ($379.00 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($46.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI MAG B760 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $683.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-05-13 17:12 EDT-0400
 
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PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: *Intel Core i7-13700F 2.1 GHz 16-Core Processor ($362.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: *Deepcool AG620 67.88 CFM CPU Cooler ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: *MSI PRO B760-P WIFI DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($159.94 @ Amazon)
Memory: *G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $639.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-05-13 20:17 EDT-0400


A better look at those components.

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-B760-P-WIFI-DDR4

https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...-30m-cache-up-to-5-20-ghz/specifications.html

 

jnjnilson6

Distinguished
Hi everyone, I am considering upgrading my CPU (as well as mobo) and wanted some suggestions that won't break the bank. I am currently on an EVGA Z370 board with an i5 8600k @ 5GHz all-core. At this point, 6c/6t just isn't cutting it anymore so what would be some solid value upgrades? If I upgrade to another Intel CPU, is DDR4 still viable for a while so I can save money on RAM or should I just bite the bullet and upgrade RAM too? I currently have 16GB DDR4 @ 3000 MHz.

Thanks for any help!
You may look into the following CPUs (I have sorted them out based upon performance; the CPUs in the beginning harbor less performance than those following them):

Mid-High Range:

Intel Core i5-12600
Intel Core i5-12600K
Intel Core i5-13400
Intel Core i5-13500
Intel Core i7-12700
Intel Core i7-12700K
Intel Core i5-13600
Intel Core i5-13600K

High-Enthusiast Range:

Intel Core i7-13700
Intel Core i9-12900
Intel Core i9-12900K
Intel Core i7-13700K

Now, based upon these CPUs, which are both 12 and 13 gen Intel CPUs (LGA1700 socket), you may summarily decide what would be the practical move (based upon price and exhibited performance).

For example, the Core i5-12600K is this much better than your current CPU - the Core i5-8600K:

Screenshot-2023-05-14-093132.png


Simultaneously, the Core i7-13700K is better than the Core i5-8600K by the margins that follow:

Screenshot-2023-05-14-093433.png


You would need an LGA1700 motherboard and consequently to make sure that its BIOS version supports the Processor you'll be installing onto the system. Both 12 and 13 gen CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, so if the motherboard provides support for both as well, it would be simply a choice of whether to insert your current RAM in (which would be a good choice in order to save up on the budget) or whether to get some DDR5 sticks and insert them.

The prognostications, variable and ever a little opaque, would be very much favorable in terms of any of the faster CPUs that you may upgrade to from the newer generations (Core i5s, Core i7s and Core i9s from the 12th and 13th generations). It would be candidly and openly a good upgrade in terms of future times and the aforementioned CPU you're running on currently would well be shadowed by the newer models in hardware.

Thank you! And do write up if there is any concern upon anything I have written.