Question Need to upgrade CPU and Motherboard for 9070XT

[Yahzi]

Hi everyone,

Some background. I recently upgraded my GPU from a 6700XT to a 9070XT however my CPU - don't laugh - is a 10 year old Intel i6600K.

My thought process was, put the bulk of my budget into the GPU upgrade which is what I did. However I'm now discovering how much of a bottleneck the CPU is especially when it comes to FSR upscaling. I didn't know how much the CPU had an impact.

In Cyberpunk 1440p, fully maxed out with pathtracing I get 24FPS (average) native. If I use FSR4 quality I get 37 FPS average, max 45 FPS. If I use anything after quality, my FPS just goes down. Ultra Performance gives me like 24 FPS average.

I'm pretty sure you guys have much better results with your 9070XT with more modern CPUs at the same settings.

So I'm here to ask - what CPU would you recommend that offers good bang for your buck performance that won't bottleneck the 9070XT too much. I was thinking along the lines of AM4 rather than AM5 because of the ludicrous price increases on DDR5 memory, but CPU models are kinda confusing to me. Quite a list.

Your help would be appreciated.

 

[marokra]

AM4 limits you to the Ryzen 5000 series, which is still more than adequate (I'm not much of a gamer, but I still play Cyberpunk 2077 on a Ryzen 9 3950X with a RX 6900 XT), but you won't be able to upgrade past that. From my understanding the Ryzen 7 (8-core) CPUs are the sweet spot, since most games don't effectively use more cores.

The wikipedia table should help make sense of the different models:

List of AMD Ryzen processors - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[daveybrat]

I'd go with a solid AM4 motherboard and probably a Ryzen 7 5800XT. Would be a massive upgrade over that old 6th gen Intel.

 

[Yahzi]

Your system is probably faster than mine with a 3060TI even though I'm using a 9070XT. Which is quite embarrassing for me.

 

[511]

If you want to keep the same Ram go with AM4 5800X/LGA 1170 with 12600K/12700K

 

[ToTTenTranz]

You could also get a Raptor Lake with a B760 or Z790 DDR4.

The i7 14700K actually comes really close to Zen4 X3D in gaming performance and it's around 33% faster than the 5800X non-3D.

The only issue is making sure your PSU and cooling system handle those massive transient spikes in power consumption.

 

[Yahzi]

I have a 750W PSU / Bronze certified I think. I don't use my PC for productivity really - it's 99% gaming.

 

[511]

You could also get a Raptor Lake with a B760 or Z790 DDR4.

The i7 14700K actually comes really close to Zen4 X3D in gaming performance and it's around 33% faster than the 5800X non-3D.

The only issue is making sure your PSU and cooling system handle those massive transient spikes in power consumption.

You can always power limit

I have a 750W PSU / Bronze certified I think. I don't use my PC for productivity really - it's 99% gaming.

14700K would be decent but with the caveat buy a new one and make sure to apply the latest microcode and you can always power limit to 125/126W PL1/2.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

If you want to keep the same Ram go with AM4 5800X/LGA 1170 with 12600K/12700K

While LGA 1700 takes a big performance hit with DDR4, if OP lives in a market where the pricing is significantly better than AM4, it will get the job done. My 12600kf with DDR4 4000 is no slouch.

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the forums.

Zen 3 and LGA 1700 are definitely great picks for keeping your ram, and the cost down.

The i7 14700K actually comes really close to Zen4 X3D in gaming performance and it's around 33% faster than the 5800X non-3D.

That has to be with DDR5. OP likely has 3000 or slower DDR4. Going to hold raptor back massively.

Also, pricing on the 14700K is terrible here in the U.S. can't speak for elsewhere. I would not go near it for a DDR4 build.

 

[511]

Can't believe we live in a time where RAM consideration is more of a priority than CPU lol

 

[ToTTenTranz]

That has to be with DDR5. OP likely has 3000 or slower DDR4. Going to hold raptor back massively.

Also, pricing on the 14700K is terrible here in the U.S. can't speak for elsewhere. I would not go near it for a DDR4 build.

It's true that we don't know what speed are OP's dimms, but Raptor Lake actually hurts a bit less than Alder Lake with DDR4.







Which makes sense because Raptor Lake has +60% L2 per P core, twice the L2 per E core and +20% L3 per core.
At least in Euroland, the i5 14600K is decently priced (<250€) and readily available. Apply the -16% formula to a regular 14600K review and OP would get a performance that is halfway between the 5800X and the 5800X3D. Probably even closer since the 9070 XT is a lot less dependent on CPU performance than a 4090.

A B760M goes for ~100€, so the full CPU + motherboard upgrade would cost 350€ which is around the price of a 32GB kit, at the moment (lol).

We can also find stuff like the i5 14400F which doesn't lose all that much performance (-8% or so?) and goes for as little as 175€ at the moment. That would already be a giant upgrade in CPU performance compared to the 6600K.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

My brother in spaghetti monster; That tech spot review is a year and a half old, and predates the degradation mitigations. The TPU relative performance chart you linked is from 2023.

24H2 released after everything you are basing the numbers on, In that time, Zen 3 has gone from 5% slower, to 20-25% faster vs Alder with ddr4, depending on settings. That's generations of CPUs worth of performance differences. LGA 1700 is worth considering with a DDR4 board, but only if the price makes it a better option over AM4. It's why I bought the 12600kf combo recently.

The reality in 2026 -

 

[Markfw]

Buying ANY raptor lake is an accident waiting to happen literally. Just google it. I would not get alderlake either, as even Zen 3 beats it. Zen 4 would be better, but memory $$$$

 

[511]

Buying ANY raptor lake is an accident waiting to happen literally. Just google it. I would not get alderlake either, as even Zen 3 beats it. Zen 4 would be better, but memory $$$$

only Zen 3 X3D really beats Alder in games

 

[Markfw]

only Zen 3 X3D really beats Alder in games

and power usage ???? But yes, the x3d if doing games.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

only Zen 3 X3D really beats Alder in games

Since the OP is looking to keep their DDR4, no it's not. GN's 5500X3D review has all the CPUs.

Spoiler

Take the Alder numbers then deduct 20%-25% on average. That's how much things have changed since 12th gen launched. Zen 3 also has the advantage of the cheaper 6 core being only margin of error slower than the 8 core. Alder performance OTOH, increases as you go up the stack. I.E. you have to pay more to get more. No way it is worth any premium for a DDR4 gaming build.

All that said; Either will be a OMGWTFBBQ upgrade over that old 4c.

 

[coercitiv]

only Zen 3 X3D really beats Alder in games

We're talking Alder+DDR4 and we'd have to take into account current prices for both Alder and Zen3, which would leave us with 5800X vs. 12600KF or 5700/5600X vs. 12400F. When using DDR5, the 12400F matches the 5800X in gaming, so the 12600K would win. When using DDR4 the 12400F is at a major disadvantage, so the 12600KF would have trouble recouping the difference with higher clocks and more cache.

The budget gamer's landscape today looks as follows:

• Zen3D would be amazing, but it's dead Jim
• Zen3 is fine but meh
• Alder Lake would be fine(r), but they made it expensive because "availability"
• Arrow Lake would be yummi, but DDR5 is alien acid dripping through wallets
• Zen5 is a bitter reminder you should have upgraded last Christmas

The only path forward I see for the OP is to either hunt a second hand Alder Lake or go with a new AM4 build. If by some miracle they stumble on a cheap 12600K, then go for it. The end result is very similar, if I were the OP I would focus on what motherboard I like more instead.

 

[Kryohi]

Honestly, if OP is ok with 16GB of ram and they can find a not too ludicrously priced DDR5 kit, an AM5 build with a humble (but great for gaming) 7600X would be probably a great choice as well, so that you can upgrade in a few years to something much better without replacing everything again.
I guess it depends where you live OP.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Honestly, if OP is ok with 16GB of ram and they can find a not too ludicrously priced DDR5 kit, an AM5 build with a humble (but great for gaming) 7600X would be probably a great choice as well, so that you can upgrade in a few years to something much better without replacing everything again.
I guess it depends where you live OP.

That is a really good suggestion. With what DDR4 is selling for, OP could recoup a significant portion of the DDR5 cost. AM5 CPU and board can be had for not much more than AM4.

 

[coercitiv]

Not sure about other posters' local options, but in my corner of the world 16GB of any DDR5 pretty much equals 5800X + AM4 mobo. Actually I'm "wrong", it's 5700+AM4 mobo.

 

[Markfw]

How about this combo ?


And this memory

 

[ToTTenTranz]

My brother in spaghetti monster; That tech spot review is a year and a half old, and predates the degradation mitigations. The TPU relative performance chart you linked is from 2023.

24H2 released after everything you are basing the numbers on, In that time, Zen 3 has gone from 5% slower, to 20-25% faster vs Alder with ddr4, depending on settings.

But I was suggesting Raptor Lake, not Alder Lake. And the review you linked to shows the 14700K beating the 5800X3D:



Sure, take away some 15% and it gets to 12600K levels, but it's still a pretty great upgrade and it's a CPU the OP can actually buy (unlike the 5700X3D).

 

[Markfw]

But I was suggesting Raptor Lake, not Alder Lake. And the review you linked to shows the 14700K beating the 5800X3D:

View attachment 136767

Sure, take away some 15% and it gets to 12600K levels, but it's still a pretty great upgrade and it's a CPU the OP can actually buy (unlike the 5700X3D).

and as I said, it will self-destruct in a short while. Buying that is like buying a time-bomb.

 

[511]

We're talking Alder+DDR4 and we'd have to take into account current prices for both Alder and Zen3, which would leave us with 5800X vs. 12600KF or 5700/5600X vs. 12400F. When using DDR5, the 12400F matches the 5800X in gaming, so the 12600K would win. When using DDR4 the 12400F is at a major disadvantage, so the 12600KF would have trouble recouping the difference with higher clocks and more cache.

The budget gamer's landscape today looks as follows:

• Zen3D would be amazing, but it's dead Jim
• Zen3 is fine but meh
• Alder Lake would be fine(r), but they made it expensive because "availability"
• Arrow Lake would be yummi, but DDR5 is alien acid dripping through wallets
• Zen5 is a bitter reminder you should have upgraded last Christmas

The only path forward I see for the OP is to either hunt a second hand Alder Lake or go with a new AM4 build. If by some miracle they stumble on a cheap 12600K, then go for it. The end result is very similar, if I were the OP I would focus on what motherboard I like more instead.

You have to stick HUB Results that were running Ram at wrong settings(1:2) and are now rare as hell it's better to stick to JEDEC and here are the results it's like 3% for 5600 vs 3200 (not counting 6000 since it's JEDEC).

https://www.tomshardware.com/features/ddr5-vs-ddr4-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-ram

And this memory
View attachment 136770

This somehow feels a good deal on RAM.

 

[burninatortech4]

We're talking Alder+DDR4 and we'd have to take into account current prices for both Alder and Zen3, which would leave us with 5800X vs. 12600KF or 5700/5600X vs. 12400F. When using DDR5, the 12400F matches the 5800X in gaming, so the 12600K would win. When using DDR4 the 12400F is at a major disadvantage, so the 12600KF would have trouble recouping the difference with higher clocks and more cache.

The budget gamer's landscape today looks as follows:

• Zen3D would be amazing, but it's dead Jim
• Zen3 is fine but meh
• Alder Lake would be fine(r), but they made it expensive because "availability"
• Arrow Lake would be yummi, but DDR5 is alien acid dripping through wallets
• Zen5 is a bitter reminder you should have upgraded last Christmas

The only path forward I see for the OP is to either hunt a second hand Alder Lake or go with a new AM4 build. If by some miracle they stumble on a cheap 12600K, then go for it. The end result is very similar, if I were the OP I would focus on what motherboard I like more instead.

Can't agree enough on the last point. Missed some amazing 9700X deals last Christmas.