Question Worth updating the whole computer?

[Minion Bob]

Hi, I currently have:

Intel Core i5-3450 @ 3700 MHz
MSI Z77A-G41
16 GB DDR3 of 4x Corsair Vengeance LP CML8GX3M2A1600C9
GeForce GTX 960 with 2 GB VRAM
2 TB SATA2 HDD 7200 rpm

I was thinking to get a complete upgrade, but I was quite surprise when I saw that according to userbenchmark.com by upgrading the CPU (and obviously together with MB and RAM) to AMD RYZEN 5 2600 I would get only 9% increase. For me it was a bit shocking as i5-3450 is 7 years old CPU and the Ryzen has 6 cores, comparing to 4 for the i5.

Comparing to i5 10400F, it is still “just” 25%, which again, taking into the account that the i5-3450 is 7 years old and only 4 cores is, at least, for me quite surprising.

But when I compare GPU´s I get completely different outcomes. For example, GTX 960 vs. GTX 1660S shows me according to the website mentioned above nice looking 108% difference.

Would be enough to upgrade the GPU to GTX 1660S together with SDD HDD for system and games or is it worthy to update the whole computer?

I´m bit afraid that the “old” i5-3450 can become a “brake” or the “thin point of the funnel”. I´m not supper gamer and I got quite nice performance playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey at Medium with 1600x900 at the current configuration, so now I would be looking for High at Full HD.

Thanks for your opinions!

 

[rgd1101]

what the budget?

 

[Minion Bob]

The budget is to have the right price/performance balance. If I really could see the difference between i5-3450 and i5-10400F then I go for it. If not and most of the "magic" is done by the GPU, then I keep the i5-3450.

So really, the budget does not have a solid border, but you probably can see how much i5-10400F and GTX1660S cost, so something at that level, but if there is a magical CPU which cost 20% price increase comparing to i5-10400F and give a 60% performance increase comparing to i5-3450 than I go for it.

But I would like to have a straight answer to the question, without making millions of possible combinations, possibilities and solutions.

 

[Viking2121]

It depends on what games and what else you might do with the system, playing games such as Dead by Daylight or Fortnight for example, your 3450 will probably keep up pretty well with a 10400F as them games really don't need a ton of CPU, You could get away with a graphics card upgrade.

Now if you play Call of Duty Cold War, or Warzone, your 3450 will probably be maxed out the entire time, possible limiting any new GPU you throw into it, thats when a 10400F will shine and blow past the 3450 with ease.

If you plan to stream, you'd probably want something a bit more than the 3450.

Now I would personally recommend getting something newer, a Ryzen 5 3600x is cheaper, may not be the fastest, but if you pair with a B450 or B550 board, you'll have a really good upgrade path and you'd have enough CPU to support all the newer games and keep up with strong graphics cards. Its just recommendation, AMD is doing pretty good now a days.

With your current config, I'm stuck on recommending you upgrade the GPU and possible get 50 - 60% uplift in performance in some games or bottleneck and get next to no performance, or just upgrade the entire rig and see the uplift in everything but of course costs more. Your 3450 is still strong, but 4 cores and 4 threads really become and issue with many newer games.

 

[Minion Bob]

i3450 vs Ryzen 5 3600x is 20% increase https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-3450-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-3600/m161vs4040 and is more expensive that 10400F which gives 26% https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-3450-vs-Intel-Core-i5-10400F/m161vs4079

Or is there any hidden feature with the AMD which can not be seen at the performance test?

I do not plan to stream anything from my computer. Basically it´s just a home computer for everyday use and when I get appetite for gaming I occasionaly play single player only. Assassin Creed is my best, then GTA, WatchDog, FIFA, but also I like Call of Duty. So do you think that ColdWar woud be completely unplayable on i5-3450? I dont mind to keep medium details in fullHD at this particular game.

 

[punkncat]

IMO, source a 3770, move to an SSD option for boot drive, and buy a GPU/PSU combo appropriate to this and your possible future build.

 

[Minion Bob]

3770 is around 100 EUR second-hand without guarantee. PSU I have sufficient enough for sure.

Anyway I was away from building or having deeper interest in HW for a while. What the threads is? I understand what the core is and how it makes the difference, but thread? Almost only difference which I can see between 3450 and 3770 is 4 vs 8 treads, cores are 4 with both CPUs. How does it make the difference?