Question Worth upgrading CPU?

[Rick_Cottontree]

Hi all,

I'm using a desktop PC I built back in around 2018 (it was my first build). At the time it was a decent mid-tier budget build and it has served me well in the five or so years that I've had it, though obviously it's starting to show its age a bit. I can still perform most tasks I want to do and play most of the games I'm interested in at mid-to-high settings. However, my dual core CPU has a hard time keeping up, especially when I have multiple programs running at the same time. Especially recently, I'm noticing I hit max CPU usage quite regularly and I've experienced game lag because of it.

Here are my specs:

CPU: Intel Premium G4560 3.50 GHz (2 cores, 4 logical processors)
RAM: 16GB
Motherboard: B250 Gaming M3 (MS-7A62)
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti

I've thought about it maybe being time to build a whole new rig, but given my current financial situation and the still inflated GPU market, I'm wondering if there's a cheaper way I can squeeze a bit more performance out of what I have. I know my options are a bit limited given my motherboard, but I wouldn't mind spending a few hundred dollars on a new CPU if that would make sense. Would upgrading my CPU be worth the cost and effort? And if so, what compatible CPU would you recommend? Thanks!

Edit: I'm using the stock CPU fan, no extra cooling.

 

[Nine Layer Nige]

A few hundred dollars is quite a range 300 - 900. Also your psu may need upgrading too

 

[Darkbreeze]

Something like this is probably worth doing considering what you have now and your financial situation.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZZJ1P0?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

However, since you already have some DDR4 RAM, this would be a FAR better alternative that would give you MILES better performance and a lot longer return on your investment.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i3-12100 3.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B660 Steel Legend ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $234.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-13 14:08 EDT-0400



The performance difference you'd see from ANYTHING you can upgrade to on that Kaby lake platform, is just pretty immense. Not to mention from what you have now.

Intel Pentium G4560 @ 3.50GHz vs Intel Core i3-12100 [cpubenchmark.net] by PassMark Software

And if you wanted to spend a little more than that to go with some flavor of i5 from the 12th or 13th gen platforms, you'd see an even bigger single core performance bump, but even with the 4/8 i3 you're already jumping like 66% increase in single core and 294% in multicore performance with that type of upgrade.

 

[Misgar]

I've upgraded numerous old machines by the simple expedient of buying a faster CPU. The CPU list for your motherboard goes all the way up to i7-7700K, 4.2GHz, 4-cores, 8-threads. A CPU of this power might put a strain on your motherboard's VRMs and CPU cooler, but you could select a CPU with lower performance.

I'm quite happy to buy second hand CPUs on eBay. If they don't work, I can always get my money back. Most of the time you get a perfectly good working CPU. Alternatively there are still some brand new "old" CPUs for sale if you don't fancy taking a risk.

This would be a very cheap way to get a bit more life out of an old system without spending too much money.

 

[Darkbreeze]

True, but even used most of the 7700k samples I see on Ebay are going for around 100 dollars. When you can get a brand new one for 125 dollars it makes very little sense. More importantly though, when you can spend about 125 bucks more than the cost of that six year old CPU, by itself, and move forward 6 years and substantially increase your performance, there is absolutely no reason not to if you were already willing to spend "a couple hundred dollars" on just upgrading the CPU alone. It's like buying a 1974 Ford Pinto for 250 bucks when you could get an 80's Camaro for 100 dollars more.

Anybody already willing to spend "a couple hundred dollars" on just a CPU upgrade for a six year old platform should have no second thoughts about moving to an upgrade with magnitudes better performance than anything you could upgrade to on that platform, and still be within that same price range. Just really doesn't make sense. Especially since you then have the option to recover some of that investment by selling the parts you have now for whatever you can get for them, or simply keeping them as backups or for a secondary system.

 

[Rick_Cottontree]

True, but even used most of the 7700k samples I see on Ebay are going for around 100 dollars. When you can get a brand new one for 125 dollars it makes very little sense. More importantly though, when you can spend about 125 bucks more than the cost of that six year old CPU, by itself, and move forward 6 years and substantially increase your performance, there is absolutely no reason not to if you were already willing to spend "a couple hundred dollars" on just upgrading the CPU alone. It's like buying a 1974 Ford Pinto for 250 bucks when you could get an 80's Camaro for 100 dollars more.

Anybody already willing to spend "a couple hundred dollars" on just a CPU upgrade for a six year old platform should have no second thoughts about moving to an upgrade with magnitudes better performance than anything you could upgrade to on that platform, and still be within that same price range. Just really doesn't make sense. Especially since you then have the option to recover some of that investment by selling the parts you have now for whatever you can get for them, or simply keeping them as backups or for a secondary system.

I appreciate your suggestions. I was kind of trying to avoid replacing the motherboard since that will require a re-install of Windows, correct? Also, in line with what Nine Layer Nige posted, will I need to upgrade my PSU as well? I have a 500w bronze from EVGA. That's why I thought just replacing the CPU was my best bet, first, to make the upgrade simpler/easier, and also to avoid a pricing/upgrade cascade. Even still, I really do like your idea, I just really hate the thought of having to mess around with my operating system.

 

[thestryker]

Looking at ebay prices if you're in the US getting a used 6700K would probably be the best drop in solution. If you're running a stock cooler you would need to buy a new one for any meaningful CPU upgrade on your existing platform. This doesn't have to be expensive as Thermalright has some spectacular price v perf options.

Generally speaking I don't think piecemeal upgrades are a great way to do it if you have a plan for doing a more meaningful upgrade down the road.

edit: you don't technically have to reinstall windows, but it's generally advisable when switching entire platforms

 

[Darkbreeze]

Doing a clean install of Windows is a very simple process really. The only time it's really not is if you have loads of applications installed that you'd have to reinstall, or are not sure if you still have installers for, and things of that nature.

The installation process itself, is not a major deal.

What Windows version are you running?

 

[Misgar]

On a modern system with a fast M.2 NVMe drive, it takes less than 30 minutes to install Windows, but it could take twice as long to configure everything to your liking. Next, download and install all the Windows Updates not contained the USB ISO image. Time so far one to two hours.

You may have to hunt down drivers for a few awkward devices not found by Windows during installation. Check the motherboard manufacturer's web site. Similarly, you may decide to install the latest drivers for your GPU. If you have slow broadband, this can take time because the files can be quite large.

Finally comes the "fun" task of installing all your favourite programs. This can take ages, especially if you've lost the piece of paper with the code to unlock a program you bought several years ago. I make a list of all the programs I want to install and keep many of the installation files on a set of USB memory sticks and a portable USB SSD.

If you're methodical, it shouldn't take more than a day to build a completely new working system with dozens of programs. Don't be put off by the task. A new installation of Windows isn't that difficult.

One proviso. A new machine normally requires a new Windows licence, if the old machine came with an OEM license linked to the hardware. Yes I know you can run Windows without a licence, but a few features are locked out.

If you're tempted to buy one of these amazingly cheap "Genuine" copies of Windows 11 for $12, remember the 25-character alpha-numeric code that unlocks Windows does not constitute a Microsoft license.

What you're buying is probably part of a Volume Licence build of Windows intended for use by large companies or an Educational build intended for students.

Microsoft don't seem to be too worried about home users running these dodgy copies of Windows, but you might find a message saying your OS is unlicenced if they recind the unlock code. Edd Bott at ZDNet has several interesting articles about this subject.

Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[Rick_Cottontree]

Doing a clean install of Windows is a very simple process really. The only time it's really not is if you have loads of applications installed that you'd have to reinstall, or are not sure if you still have installers for, and things of that nature.

The installation process itself, is not a major deal.

What Windows version are you running?

Windows 10.

Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

Thanks! Appreciate the information.

 

[Darkbreeze]

How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10, the RIGHT way​