I7 9700k + rtx 2060 upgrade

saf34 · 1 Feb 2023 at 01:13

Hi, first post here - hoping for some advice from your experience if possible?

I have a small form factor PC I'd like to upgrade to bigger desktop to maximise performance. Current build:

i7 9700k + Noctua NH l9i
Inno3d rtx 2060
Asrock z370 mini-ITX phantom gaming mb
32gb ddr4 ram
1tb + 512gb samsung m.2 ssd
2x4tb samsung ssd
HDplex 400w psu
NFC S4mini SFF case

I just bought a laptop so thinking to build this up into a proper desktop and overclock. So a new PSU and case. Maybe new CPU cooler if necessary.

What do you think? Any suggestions on specific components? Best bang for buck to get most performance out it?

Thanks,

Stewart

Tykey · 1 Feb 2023 at 04:35

Budget? What will the PC be used for?

saf34 · 1 Feb 2023 at 08:42

Budget: as little as possible, but enough to get the most out of current hardware. (Sorry, annoyingly vague I know). Let's say a few hundred UK pounds. Unless you think I'm missing an opportunity to do a more expensive, much better value upgrade - I'd consider it.

Use: video rendering on Davinci resolve and gaming (including VR). System is currently capable of this, but I spend most of the time at 3.6ghz and it's not entirely stable (I think the power is on the low side when GPU ramps up). I'd prefer to get up to 4.9ghz with sensible temps and power stability.

mickyflinn · 1 Feb 2023 at 10:34

What's the likely hood you upgrade your gpu i tge future as this will determine psu size ?

You mite as well pick a case you like rather than just go to cheap but there are plenty good cases around the £50 to £60 Mark.

Thermalright peerless assassin 120 se is a brilliant cooler for the money but may look silly on your itx board.

saf34 · 1 Feb 2023 at 10:41

Yes, I would like to upgrade the GPU at some point while the rest of the system isn't bottlenecking it (not sure when this point will be). If the i7 9700k remains a respectable chip, I'd be happy to keep it as long as possible.

What's sensible in this scenario? Is 850w enough to enable a sensible GPU upgrade path, assuming 1 GPU upgrade in the next couple of years?

Thanks for the cooler recommendation. I'll take a look now.

tamzzy · 1 Feb 2023 at 11:04

saf34 said:
but I spend most of the time at 3.6ghz and it's not entirely stable (I think the power is on the low side when GPU ramps up)

it's the cpu cooler i'm afraid. the l9i is simply not a cooler i would pair with a 9700k tbh
the l9i is, for all intents and purposes, no better than the intel stock cooler for 65w
the 9700k when fully unleashed can pull 160-170w

mickyflinn · 1 Feb 2023 at 11:05

saf34 said:
Yes, I would like to upgrade the GPU at some point while the rest of the system isn't bottlenecking it (not sure when this point will be). If the i7 9700k remains a respectable chip, I'd be happy to keep it as long as possible.

What's sensible in this scenario? Is 850w enough to enable a sensible GPU upgrade path, assuming 1 GPU upgrade in the next couple of years?

Thanks for the cooler recommendation. I'll take a look now.

I would definately reuse the 9700k parts there still pretty good and the new parts you get , psu, case ,etc cam be used in future build.

850w is a sensible option 1000w if you want cover all bases.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 850w is good Value for money but make sure it fits the case you get.

This is a good cheap case , it's Matx but plenty of space wiyh decent cooloin, they do an rgb version also

Kolink Citadel Mesh Micro-ATX Case - Black

Order Kolink Citadel Mesh Micro-ATX Case - Black now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

Kolink Citadel Mesh RGB Micro-ATX Case - Black

Order Kolink Citadel Mesh RGB Micro-ATX Case - Black now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

tamzzy · 1 Feb 2023 at 11:06

saf34 said:
NFC S4mini SFF case

that case, whilst brilliant for a small htpc build, is not really one i would consider adequate for a high powered gaming pc
you'd be chucking out 500-600w of heat and you can't bend the laws of physics

tamzzy · 1 Feb 2023 at 11:11

mickyflinn said:
This is a good cheap case , it's Matx but plenty of space wiyh decent cooloin, they do an rgb version also

Kolink Citadel Mesh Micro-ATX Case - Black

Order Kolink Citadel Mesh Micro-ATX Case - Black now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

Kolink Citadel Mesh RGB Micro-ATX Case - Black

Order Kolink Citadel Mesh RGB Micro-ATX Case - Black now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

these cases are cheaply built and not worth the asking price imo
if they were £10, maybe £15 cheaper i would recommend them, but not at those prices
(yes i've built in this case before, so first hand experience)
the rgb fans are the el-cheapo ones - the ones that i had failed within a year due to grinding ball bearings

i would get the lian li 205m for only a couple quid more
(again, yes i've built in this case before, so first hand experience)

the lian li 205m has a much better build quality (and better fans) than the kolink citadel mesh

saf34 · 1 Feb 2023 at 12:10

Thanks both, I'll check out these case, PSU and fan recommendations.

Out of curiosity: if you were going to upgrade this system with a GPU today, which would you go for? I mean, is there a point where the 'best' GPUs are too good for this existing CPU?

mickyflinn · 1 Feb 2023 at 12:39

saf34 said:
Thanks both, I'll check out these case, PSU and fan recommendations.

Out of curiosity: if you were going to upgrade this system with a GPU today, which would you go for? I mean, is there a point where the 'best' GPUs are too good for this existing CPU?

That depends what resoloution you game at , which is ?

4k gaming is mainly gpu bound but a decent cpu helps with the mininmum fps so less game dips , a fast cpu is needed at lower res to.push the fps.

The 9700k is still a solid performing cpu .

saf34 · 1 Feb 2023 at 12:45

Thanks Micky. Yes 4k. Ok, so, I haven't hit the old-tech bottleneck yet - that's good news.

tamzzy · 1 Feb 2023 at 12:51

mickyflinn said:
The 9700k is still a solid performing cpu .

Agreed

saf34 said:
Yes 4k

Unfortunately you'll be looking at a 3080/6800xt and above.
And a corresponding PSU to power it

saf34 · 1 Feb 2023 at 12:57

Ok, will mull that GPU idea over. Sounds like I'll be safe with 850w PSU, new case, new cooler from your recommendations for now (assuming GPU would be 3080 if I did bite the bullet).

Thanks both - really appreciate the n00b help!

tamzzy · 1 Feb 2023 at 13:00

Yeah 850w would be sufficient. As much as I hate overspending on parts, some of the 1kw PSUs are near the price of their 850w counterparts. If the price difference is minimal (£10-20) then may be worth opting for the 1kw version...just because...

saf34 · 1 Feb 2023 at 13:02

Lol makes sense

throwaway4372 · 1 Feb 2023 at 13:02

850w psu, good brand: corsair, seasonic, etc.
whatever £100ish case you like the look of, I like fractal design but it's personal preference mostly.
gpu market makes it a "get as much life out of your gpu as possible" situation - so overall this thread is a good move.