CPU + Mobo upgrade to pair with 6700XT

[Grumbledook]

I upgraded my GPU to a 6700XT a couple of years ago and I believe my current CPU setup from 2016 is bottlenecking it. I was only playing older games at the time but I'm starting to play some more demanding ones so it's probably time to upgrade my CPU. I also do some video editing, 3D modelling and possible want to use it for streaming (though if I get another case I would have enough parts to set up a separate streaming PC).

My current CPU is a i7 6700K with 32GB DDR4 (though it's only 2400MHz).

From the research I've done over the last couple of weeks I think it makes sense to get an AM5 platform as I'll have the option to just drop in another chip in the future. It also looks like DDR5 RAM has dropped massively in price since I got the GPU and I'd like to get 64GB as I tend to run a lot of stuff at the same time and it will help with some of the non gaming stuff I use my machine for.

What I'm not sure about is where to really go with the CPU as there is so much choice. I could be tempted to spend up to £400 (though I'll probably wait for Black Friday deals). I see the 7800X3D seems a powerhouse for gaming for the money right now, though the 7900 might be a better all rounder for the budget.

The other option is to go cheap now and then just get a Zen 5 next year, selling on the first chip? Would the Ryzen 5 7600 hold back the 6700XT? It should still be quite a performance boost over my i7 6700k.

 

[Tetras]

What I'm not sure about is where to really go with the CPU as there is so much choice. I could be tempted to spend up to £400 (though I'll probably wait for Black Friday deals). I see the 7800X3D seems a powerhouse for gaming for the money right now, though the 7900 might be a better all rounder for the budget.

The 7600 would be plenty for the 6700 XT, I wouldn't worry about it bottlenecking at all, but for mixed usage I think the 7900 non-X is a great option and it would last you a long time. That is assuming that the apps you use actually make better use of the CPU than the GPU, which isn't guaranteed nowadays.

If I was getting a stopgap CPU, I'd consider a 7500F bundle instead.

My current CPU is a i7 6700K with 32GB DDR4 (though it's only 2400MHz).

DDR4 can usually be overclocked to 3000 very easily, so you might want to try that before upgrading, since it could help if you're CPU bottlenecked. I doubt it would do anything for video editing and 3D modelling.

 

[Noughtboy]

You don't mention if you have an MATX setup and whether you can fit an ATX board.

However, for point of reference the cheapest AM5 board (ASUS Prime II B650-A which I would avoid unless it addresses the issues of the original) is £140. Add the cheapest 5600 DDR RAM for £100. That leaves you £160 for your CPU. It may be possible depending on what price the 7500F @Tetras mentions above comes in at however, I think is will be too tight and not be the best option.

Your best bet, seeing as you mention staying on AM5 for a while, is to get a board between £180- £200 (MSI Mortar/ Gigabyte Gaming X/ MSI Pro-P/MSI Tomahawk) , the 6000Mhz C30 DDR5 kit from Teamgroup Delta for £140 and then the best CPU you can find during Black Friday. You may find a 7600 for £180 or the 7900 for £350

Either way, you best budget for a minimum of £500 and another £30-£50 for a decent air cooler. During BF it may be dooable.

 

[mickyflinn]

Another option is going for a 13700 then you can reuse your dddr4, the 13700 is a decent gaming CPU and with multiple cores great for editing, etc

 

[Grumbledook]

The 7600 would be plenty for the 6700 XT, I wouldn't worry about it bottlenecking at all, but for mixed usage I think the 7900 non-X is a great option and it would last you a long time. That is assuming that the apps you use actually make better use of the CPU than the GPU, which isn't guaranteed nowadays.

If I was getting a stopgap CPU, I'd consider a 7500F bundle instead.



DDR4 can usually be overclocked to 3000 very easily, so you might want to try that before upgrading, since it could help if you're CPU bottlenecked. I doubt it would do anything for video editing and 3D modelling.

Thanks for the heads up on the 7500F. I'd only been looking at the CPUs listed on Overclockers so hadn't seen this one, just done some reading and watched some info on it.

I'll have to check whether I need the integrated graphics as I am running 3 screens and my TV off my current machine. Think I've got one more available port on the GPU which I could potentially use.

 

[Grumbledook]

You don't mention if you have an MATX setup and whether you can fit an ATX board.

However, for point of reference the cheapest AM5 board (ASUS Prime II B650-A which I would avoid unless it addresses the issues of the original) is £140. Add the cheapest 5600 DDR RAM for £100. That leaves you £160 for your CPU. It may be possible depending on what price the 7500F @Tetras mentions above comes in at however, I think is will be too tight and not be the best option.

Your best bet, seeing as you mention staying on AM5 for a while, is to get a board between £180- £200 (MSI Mortar/ Gigabyte Gaming X/ MSI Pro-P/MSI Tomahawk) , the 6000Mhz C30 DDR5 kit from Teamgroup Delta for £140 and then the best CPU you can find during Black Friday. You may find a 7600 for £180 or the 7900 for £350

Either way, you best budget for a minimum of £500 and another £30-£50 for a decent air cooler. During BF it may be dooable.

Thanks for your inputs.

I'm looking at ATX form factor and £400 was just for the CPU on it's own.

I've already factored in spending ~£150 to get 64GB DDR5. This essentially came about as a work colleague mentioned he got given more memory and when I looked at the prices of adding more to my current build and seeing DDR5 prices had come down massively I started at looking at upgrading the core of the machine entirely.

I'm debating getting a X670E mobo though I'm shocked how much motherboards cost these days. As I will probably keep this for quite a while, the extra lanes, M.2 slots seem useful as I usually have a number of drives and prices of nvme have fallen a lot. I also have a lot of USB peripherals and these boards seem to offer a lot more ports.

Presumably I'll be able to just drop in either a Zen 5 or possibly even a Zen 6 if the AM5 platform is going to be used for the next 2 generations?

I've already got a Noctua air cooler that I can just buy an AM5 mounting kit for and reuse that. I'll just be getting the mobo CPU and RAM, everything else I already have.

 

[Grumbledook]

Another option is going for a 13700 then you can reuse your dddr4, the 13700 is a decent gaming CPU and with multiple cores great for editing, etc

I did look at going intel but as I want to get new RAM anyway to go up to 64GB it makes sense to go straight for DDR5 given the price difference currently. Then I can use my existing kit in a new case, either as a streaming PC or just sell it on as a bundle.

I'd still have to buy a new mobo for a 13700 and then other than the imminent Raptor Lake I wouldn't be able to just put in a newer CPU for the next upgrade and have to change the mobo again and then likely buy DDR5 at that point.

Based on that line of thinking was why I was leaning towards the AM5 platform even though some of the intel chips have better productivity performance.

 

[Noughtboy]

Thanks for your inputs.

I'm looking at ATX form factor and £400 was just for the CPU on it's own.

I've already factored in spending ~£150 to get 64GB DDR5. This essentially came about as a work colleague mentioned he got given more memory and when I looked at the prices of adding more to my current build and seeing DDR5 prices had come down massively I started at looking at upgrading the core of the machine entirely.

I'm debating getting a X670E mobo though I'm shocked how much motherboards cost these days. As I will probably keep this for quite a while, the extra lanes, M.2 slots seem useful as I usually have a number of drives and prices of nvme have fallen a lot. I also have a lot of USB peripherals and these boards seem to offer a lot more ports.

Presumably I'll be able to just drop in either a Zen 5 or possibly even a Zen 6 if the AM5 platform is going to be used for the next 2 generations?

I've already got a Noctua air cooler that I can just buy an AM5 mounting kit for and reuse that. I'll just be getting the mobo CPU and RAM, everything else I already have.

If you can justify a use case for the extras on a X670e then it may be worth the extra outlay seeing as it will last you 4-6 years (7xxx and 9xxx + 2-3 years). Otherwise stick with a decent B650.

Your logic on AMD mirrors mine as I have a B350 bought in 2017 still serving well in the kids' PC and now rocking a R5 5600 (Asus ROG Strix). My B450 is fitted with a 5700X so to me a much better longer term prospect than Intel which changes sockets more often than African countries change dictators!