Best bang for buck CPU - i7 4790k upgrade

[dlockers]

Hi folks,

It has been a while since I upgraded, and it was a pretty simple task from what I remember (went from an i7 920 D0 Stepping to an i7 4790k). Both were "top end" CPUs easily identified and paired to a Mobo, RAM. Maybe I am just getting older, thicker, or the brand naming schemes have indeed got way more complicated to follow but I am feeling a bit lost .

I think I am looking for an inexpensive mobo, RAM, CPU jobbie that is at least comparable for single core performance but offers something in higher productivity loads (usual home worker stuff - PPT, XLS, streams etc). I love CS:GO which is pretty low end but I may get into something higher end as my kid grows up and I get some time back.

I was tempted by the 5600X but I can see it is slightly worse for single thread performance. I then looked at the Ryzen 7700 but it is quite spenny. I have then looked at the 7600 which seems to be a significant jump over my i7 but once I add mobo, RAM, etc. I am into £500 territory.

Ideally I'd like to stay at £350 total. Is there a workhorse CPU I should be looking out for? Intel or AMD to be fair; although I hear horror stories about BSOD on the newer Intel stuff.

 

[Glanza]

With the price of the 12700k currently something like this:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Intel Core i7-12700K 3.60GHz (Alder Lake) Socket LGA1700 Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-69Z-IN) = £199.99
• 1 x MSI B760 Gaming Plus WIFI (LGA 1700) DDR4 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-MSI-03047) = £124.99
• 1 x Team Group 8Pack Edition 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit (SKU: MEM-8PK-02585) = £39.95

Total: £364.93 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

 

[Tetras]

Ideally I'd like to stay at £350 total. Is there a workhorse CPU I should be looking out for? Intel or AMD to be fair; although I hear horror stories about BSOD on the newer Intel stuff.

You can get a 14400F for around £150, which performs similar to the 12600K and then pair with a cheap B760 board and 32GB of DDR4:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Asus Prime B760-Plus D4 (LGA 1700) DDR4 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6KF-AS) = £116.99
• 1 x Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0AJ-TG) = £55.99

Total: £176.98 (includes delivery: £3.99)​

About £20-£30 over budget and there's a cooler in the CPU box.

I was tempted by the 5600X but I can see it is slightly worse for single thread performance.

It shouldn't be, the single thread performance of a 5600X is way higher than a stock 4790K.

 

[dlockers]

With the price of the 12700k currently something like this:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Intel Core i7-12700K 3.60GHz (Alder Lake) Socket LGA1700 Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-69Z-IN) = £199.99
• 1 x MSI B760 Gaming Plus WIFI (LGA 1700) DDR4 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-MSI-03047) = £124.99
• 1 x Team Group 8Pack Edition 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit (SKU: MEM-8PK-02585) = £39.95

Total: £364.93 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

Wowza - that 12700K does seem like great value. Is there any benefit to go sans graphics (I assume that is what the KF means?).

You can get a 14400F for around £150, which performs similar to the 12600K and then pair with a cheap B760 board and 32GB of DDR4:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Asus Prime B760-Plus D4 (LGA 1700) DDR4 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6KF-AS) = £116.99
• 1 x Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0AJ-TG) = £55.99

Total: £176.98 (includes delivery: £3.99)​

About £20-£30 over budget and there's a cooler in the CPU box.


It shouldn't be, the single thread performance of a 5600X is way higher than a stock 4790K.

I will check that out - is £50 "top-up" worth it for the 12700k that Glanza suggested?

And you're right RE: 5600X, I misread the graph!

Thanks both. Helped me immensely

 

[Tetras]

I will check that out - is £50 "top-up" worth it for the 12700k that Glanza suggested?

I'd say so, IGP and 2 P-Cores isn't a bad deal for £50.

12700K has 8 P-Cores and 4 E-Cores.
14400F has 6 P-Cores and 4 E-Cores.

They're likely to have the same die, despite the name.

 

[dlockers]

With the price of the 12700k currently something like this:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Intel Core i7-12700K 3.60GHz (Alder Lake) Socket LGA1700 Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-69Z-IN) = £199.99
• 1 x MSI B760 Gaming Plus WIFI (LGA 1700) DDR4 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-MSI-03047) = £124.99
• 1 x Team Group 8Pack Edition 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit (SKU: MEM-8PK-02585) = £39.95

Total: £364.93 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

Sorry to bother you again - I think I am going to pull the plug on this except with this RAM:
Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0AJ-TG)

And the board you have listed is now out of stock. I assume this is the direct replacement? I can't see any discernible differences.

MSI Pro B760-P WIFI DDR4 (LGA 1700) DDR4 ATX Motherboard

Order MSI Pro B760-P WIFI DDR4 (LGA 1700) DDR4 ATX Motherboard now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

Not looking to creep here but presume there is nothing exponentially better RAM/Mobo wise for a little more cost? I won't be upgrading or overclocking.

 

[Armageus]

Sorry to bother you again - I think I am going to pull the plug on this except with this RAM:
Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0AJ-TG)

For £4 more you may as well have 3600Mhz RAM especially if not overclocking

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Team Group 8Pack Edition 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-28800C18 3600MHz Dual Channel Ki (SKU: MEM-8PK-02586) = £59.99

Total: £63.98 (includes delivery: £3.99)​

 

[dlockers]

For £4 more you may as well have 3600Mhz RAM especially if not overclocking

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Team Group 8Pack Edition 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-28800C18 3600MHz Dual Channel Ki (SKU: MEM-8PK-02586) = £59.99

Total: £63.98 (includes delivery: £3.99)​

Thanks - updated

 

[jigger]

A 5800X, A520/B550 plus 32gb of 3600mhz memory can be done for £250 which sips power, offers a silly amount of performance for the money and doesn’t require much in way of cooling.

 

[dlockers]

A 5800X, A520/B550 plus 32gb of 3600mhz memory can be done for £250 which sips power, offers a silly amount of performance for the money and doesn’t require much in way of cooling.

Is that second hand?

I think the 12700 is tempting because it seems extremely cheap (£200) but the power consumption did put me off placing an order yesterday hastily.

 

[Minstadave]

Is that second hand?

I think the 12700 is tempting because it seems extremely cheap (£200) but the power consumption did put me off placing an order yesterday hastily.

5700X3D - £175 or cheaper if you order from China
ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS (WI-FI II) - £90
32GB DDR - £50
Cooler of your choice.

That'd be my play. You lose some MT performance but the gaming performance and efficiency is excellent.

 

[jigger]

Is that second hand?

I think the 12700 is tempting because it seems extremely cheap (£200) but the power consumption did put me off placing an order yesterday hastily.

No those are new.

 

[dlockers]

5700X3D - £175 or cheaper if you order from China
ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS (WI-FI II) - £90
32GB DDR - £50
Cooler of your choice.

That'd be my play. You lose some MT performance but the gaming performance and efficiency is excellent.

Great minds and all that -- just assembled:

Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 32GB - £60
Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus - £106
AMD Ryzen 5800X - £150

I am very suss about the 5800X at that price; but it seems the going rate for "new" second hand ones.

Edit: 5800X is too suss at £150 so back to drawing board

Edit: Locked in 5800X at £168 - so £333.95 total.

Do I need to buy a cooler separately?

 

[Minstadave]

Great minds and all that -- just assembled:

Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 32GB - £60
Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus - £106
AMD Ryzen 5800X - £150

I am very suss about the 5800X at that price; but it seems the going rate for "new" second hand ones.

Edit: 5800X is too suss at £150 so back to drawing board

Edit: Locked in 5800X at £168 - so £333.95 total.

Do I need to buy a cooler separately?

Yes I think you need a cooler. Thermalright Assassin Spirit 120 is a bargain.

I wouldn't personally take the 5800X over the 5700X3D if you're into gaming.

 

[dlockers]

Yes I think so.

I wouldn't personally take the 5800X over the 5700X3D if you're into gaming.

How come? Cost saving or is there something significant I am missing?

Edit: its £20 more for the 5700X3D. I can see gaming performance is better on the 5700X3D vs. 5800X.

Worth it for 20?

 

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

A Ryzen 5 7600,ASRock B650M/HDV and 32GB of 6000MHZ RAM is around £350.

 

[jms198]

If you are spending £300 you might as well get am5 if using imports for the cpu.
Ram £90
650 Mobo is £110ish
7500f <£100 of 7700 ~£120
Cooler £15 (postage!)

Edit: beaten by the cat!

 

[dlockers]

If you are spending £300 you might as well get am5 if using imports for the cpu.
Ram £90
650 Mobo is £110ish
7500f <£100 of 7700 ~£120
Cooler £15 (postage!)

Not using imports.

 

[dlockers]

A Ryzen 5 7600,ASRock B650M/HDV and 32GB of 6000MHZ RAM is around £350.

Is the 7600 "better" than the 5800X, or are you just thinking of upgradeability?

 

[dlockers]

This is stressful, lol.

I can do an AM5 build for £45 more than the AM4 build. Is this really "better"? I can see power is much better and therefore heat may be easier to manage...

Corsair 32GB 6000mHZ - 88
Asrock B650M - 111
7600 Ryzen - 180
+cooler

I plan to use my 5700XT as well; I presume that isn't an issue with any of my ideas so far.