Good time to move from the 6600k

[DHR]

I won't lie, I'm not a huge PC gamer anymore, spend all day at a desk anyway so it's not my go to after work. I do have the occasional dip into it still so like something capable. The combination of 6600k oc'd and RX480 do me pretty well, if it weren't for Windows 10 being wound up.

As tempted as I am, it's got to be close to 8-9 years now since I built this one, and although I'm on the fence about changing OS, it's probably time either way.

What would you consider a decent step forward on this front, not really got budgets in mind yet, don't mine pre-owned stuff (especially this time of year), thinking bracket wise £250-300, £400-600 for my use these days.

Keep getting tempted chucking money at water-cooling too for the hell of it, even though it's aesthetic, so older gen is probably the best idea there given I've not done that before.

 

[DHR]

I've been tempted but it is starting to creak a little, hmm worth giving a go though I suppose first. I'm used to an i7 ultra during the day which is what's made me realise it's starting to chug now

 

[DHR]

Sometimes all it takes is a fresh windows (re)install

It has crossed my mind I'm on air with it overclocked at the moment, you've got me thinking... get an aio on it and give it a bit of a push. It does the games I generally play as well. I like your reasoning.

Edit - I may give it a bash for the fun of it anyways now

 

[DHR]

What's the most demanding task your planning to do as this is a good indication on where to go in terms of upgrading as @tamzzy mentioned a fresh install often breaths new life into it.

In fairness not a huge amount, gaming wise I love my older stuff anyway and I can run most things I want at a good res now for the pc gaming I do.

From a raw processing point of view, 3D printing stuff, slicing, bit of modelling (eventually), mess with large GB sets of zip files periodically too.

 

[DHR]

I have separate work and leisure machines, spent a bomb on a monitor during the pandemic then decided to stop using it for work and bought another so it sits not getting much use, which I'd like to change. I'll be sticking with that 480 at the moment which I've settled on (for now...)