Upgrade advice.

Space-Cowboy

Space-Cowboy

Space-Cowboy

Associate
Joined
7 Dec 2021
Posts
15
Location
Edinburgh
Hello everyone,

Couple questions about upgrading my current setup.

So I'm limited what I can move to, due to AIO cooler for CPU.

AIO: ROG STRIX LC 360.
CPU: I5-8600k (overclocked- 5.3)
GPU: ZOTAC 3070ti
MB: ROG STRIX Z370-F GAMING
RAM: Team Group Vulcan T-Force 16GB 3000MHz Duel Channel

So what I'm after is something that might give me more FPS-smoother.
I currently play on 2k monitor, though my FPS on most modern games, ranges around 40-60fps. I do like to have my graphic settings at maximum, I turn down certain settings to help with FPS drops.

The current prices for upgrades are all over the place and now we've got DDR5, PCIe Gen5. Like the new 12th gen CPU. The I5 is cheap, though it's new socket means, I can't use my current AIO.

My budget is around £600 mark.

Any Advice would be very much appreciated.
 
Space-Cowboy said:
Hello everyone,

Couple questions about upgrading my current setup.

So I'm limited what I can move to, due to AIO cooler for CPU.

AIO: ROG STRIX LC 360.
CPU: I5-8600k (overclocked- 5.3)
GPU: ZOTAC 3070ti
MB: ROG STRIX Z370-F GAMING

So what I'm after is something that might give me more FPS-smoother.
I currently play on 2k monitor, though my FPS on most modern games, ranges around 40-60fps. I do like to have my graphic settings at maximum, I turn down certain settings to help with FPS drops.

The current prices for upgrades are all over the place and now we've got DDR5, PCIe Gen5. Like the new 12th gen CPU. The I5 is cheap, though it's new socket means, I can't use my current AIO.

My budget is around £600 mark.

Any Advice would be very much appreciated.
Click to expand...
You seem like an ASUS fan and I think a lot of Asus boards allow fitment for new and older coolers on their z690 boards, failing that, Asus might release a bracket if not!

The source of that was a reddit post I haven't actually checked myself!
 
Defy Belief said:
You seem like an ASUS fan and I think a lot of Asus boards allow fitment for new and older coolers on their z690 boards, failing that, Asus might release a bracket if not!

The source of that was a reddit post I haven't actually checked myself!
Click to expand...
Well getting the new 12th Gen MB, puts me at my maximum limit, as I'd have to get new RAM and that bracket if it's ever available, also the CPU. That would bring me around £700-800.
 
Defy Belief said:
Bios update will support the 9900k, vrms might struggle though. Check your vrm quality if you want to overclock.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't I see better performance upgrading MB and CPU, allowing me to use PCIe 4th gen?
Even looking at all these upgrades, do you think I'd see higher performance, or do you think it's best to wait until the newer gen comes down in price?

Just with the new 12th gen intal only being under £300 and I'd get so much more than a I9-9900k (which is hardly available) and high in price. All I'd need to do is wait for DDR5 Ram sticks and fork out extra on the new Mb?
 
why not a z690 mobo with ddr4 ram. with ddr5 ram being double the price but no real improvement in gaming, get a ddr4 board...you'll benefit from a pciegen5 gpu socket for future gpu upgrade, 4 nvme slots on board, and a much better cpu..by time ddr5 comes down in price/becomes faster, the money saved now with selling a ddr4 z690/ddr4 ram would probably cover buying a new ddr5 board with better ddr5 ram in the future
your current aio will fit any asus board as they come will 1200 compatible mounting holes

https://edgeup.asus.com/2021/z690-motherboard-guide/

snippet below
Have a CPU cooler that you’re not quite ready to retire yet? To ensure backwards compatibility with as many coolers as possible, our motherboards include LGA 1200-compatible mounting holes in addition to mounting holes for next-gen kits.
 
Craig_d1 said:
why not a z690 mobo with ddr4 ram. with ddr5 ram being double the price but no real improvement in gaming, get a ddr4 board...you'll benefit from a pciegen5 gpu socket for future gpu upgrade, 4 nvme slots on board, and a much better cpu..by time ddr5 comes down in price/becomes faster, the money saved now with selling a ddr4 z690/ddr4 ram would probably cover buying a new ddr5 board with better ddr5 ram in the future
your current aio will fit any asus board as they come will 1200 compatible mounting holes

https://edgeup.asus.com/2021/z690-motherboard-guide/

snippet below
Have a CPU cooler that you’re not quite ready to retire yet? To ensure backwards compatibility with as many coolers as possible, our motherboards include LGA 1200-compatible mounting holes in addition to mounting holes for next-gen kits.
Click to expand...

I have seen this page before. You know the Z690 is DDR5 right? it's not compatible with DDR4.
 
As others have said a cheap 9900k would be a solid upgrade and give you 98% of the performance that you would get by going with a whole brand new set up.
 
Space-Cowboy said:
Wouldn't I see better performance upgrading MB and CPU, allowing me to use PCIe 4th gen?
Even looking at all these upgrades, do you think I'd see higher performance, or do you think it's best to wait until the newer gen comes down in price?

Just with the new 12th gen intal only being under £300 and I'd get so much more than a I9-9900k (which is hardly available) and high in price. All I'd need to do is wait for DDR5 Ram sticks and fork out extra on the new Mb?
Click to expand...
Minimal, 9900k is still powerful, just wait for the right priced one, OCUK I got a b Grade one for £150 :p
 
Thanks everyone.
I'm looking at,
Asus ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WIFI D4 - Intel Z690 DDR4 ATX Motherboard
CORE I5-12600K 3.70GHZ (ALDER LAKE) SOCKET LGA1700 PROCESSOR - RETAIL

with this upgrade it's a better CPU, Mobo is a lot better than mine and also PCIe 4. So my GPU and M.2 will preform better.

I'm not really bothered about upgrading to DDR5, until the prices come down from that high premium that they are.
 
Space-Cowboy said:
Thanks everyone.
I'm looking at,
Asus ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WIFI D4 - Intel Z690 DDR4 ATX Motherboard
CORE I5-12600K 3.70GHZ (ALDER LAKE) SOCKET LGA1700 PROCESSOR - RETAIL

with this upgrade it's a better CPU, Mobo is a lot better than mine and also PCIe 4. So my GPU and M.2 will preform better.

I'm not really bothered about upgrading to DDR5, until the prices come down from that high premium that they are.
Click to expand...


I would get a cheaper board and bump the cpu up to the 12700K/KF.

There is also the MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4 version if you want to save some money, but it isn't sold on here so you would have to Google it.


My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £620.48 (includes shipping: £10.50)​
​
 
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