Question Should I upgrade 3770k 4.6ghz to Core i5 9400f

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felang

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Feb 17, 2007
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So for a pure gaming system I have the opportunity to upgrade from a WC 3770k with 16gb of 1600 mhz DDR3 running at 4.6ghz to a Z370 mb and Core i5 9400f with 16gb of 3000mhz DDR4 for about $150. My GPU is a GTX 1080.

I don't game as much as I used to but it seems to me like a worthwhile update. I like the idea of replacing my SATA SSD with an M.2 SSD pretty soon.

I game at 1440p on a 60hz monitor. Mostly BF5 and looking at getting into MW5 when it comes out.

What do you guys think?
 
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ondma

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Mar 18, 2018
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The i5 8400/9400 was once a great budget gaming chip. But with only six threads, modest (for intel) clockspeed, and no overclocking, I would hesitate to recommend it now, especially as an "upgrade" from an 8 thread cpu at 4.6.

If you were to upgrade, I would recommend either the i7 8700 or the Ryzen 3600/3700X. Any of those will cost a bit more, but I think will be well worth it in the long run.
 
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GaiaHunter

GaiaHunter

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Jul 13, 2008
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I doubt you will see much improvement at 1440p.

It is an upgrade but it will not be a very long lasting one.

If you are playing with no problems (read stutters and other things that break your fun) I would save the money towards a future upgrade - I believe a 8c/16t is the minimum you should buy today (others will say 6c/12t are enough).

A 3700X with a MSI B450 tomahawk max and 16GB of 3200 DD4 is around $475. A 3600 is $365. I can see how a $150 upgrade sounds tempting but I fear it might be a money trap in the medium/long run with very little to show off in the sort run.

About the SSD change - unless you have a specific workload, I doubt you will see much difference between a SATA SSD and M.2 NVMe SSD (M.2 SATA SSD are capped the same as SATA SSD btw) in gaming and general usage.
 
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fleshconsumed

fleshconsumed

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Feb 21, 2002
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felang said:
So for a pure gaming system I have the opportunity to upgrade from a WC 3770k with 16gb of 1600 mhz DDR3 running at 4.6ghz to a Z370 mb and Core i5 9400f with 16gb of 3000mhz DDR4 for about $150. My GPU is a GTX 1080.

I don't game as much as I used to but it seems to me like a worthwhile update. I like the idea of replacing my SATA SSD with an M.2 SSD pretty soon.

I game at 1440p on a 60hz monitor. Mostly BF5 and looking at getting into MW5 when it comes out.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
IMO you got a fairly well balanced system. I would say keep it, and only upgrade if you need more cores.
 
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felang

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Feb 17, 2007
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Thanks guys. I guess I'll wait a bit longer. I have been thinking about maybe going for a 9600KF and trying to overclock to around 5Ghz. Heat shouldn't be a problem, my current WC loop keeps my 3770k under control. Also, it seems I can even reuse my waterblock, apparently socket 1155 and 1151 mounting mechanisms are the same.
 
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DAPUNISHER

DAPUNISHER

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What is the new and used market like where you live? In some countries that would be a good value. And you can always upgrade the CPU later. If you are in the U.S., then heck no.
 
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ehume

ehume

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Nov 6, 2009
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I think the consensus is to stay with your system because modern systems have little better to offer . . . unless you have the upgrade itch.
 
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felang

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Feb 17, 2007
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DAPUNISHER said:
What is the new and used market like where you live? In some countries that would be a good value. And you can always upgrade the CPU later. If you are in the U.S., then heck no.
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Nonexistent, would probably just chuck the old stuff in a closet

ehume said:
I think the consensus is to stay with your system because modern systems have little better to offer . . . unless you have the upgrade itch.
Click to expand...

Starting to get a really bad itch...
 
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DAPUNISHER

DAPUNISHER

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His situation is one in which he has no used market to unload his current setup. But he can exchange it with $150 an be on a modern platform capable of a CPU upgrade that will crush his current one. Seems like a good investment to me, as opposed to the parts ending up unused in a closet. Rather be facing just the 9400f being useless down the road, personally. And the upgrade would cost about as much as the CPU goes for with the ram and board being a bonus considering the fate of his current setup otherwise.
 
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Magic Carpet

Magic Carpet

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Oct 2, 2011
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Ryzen 5 3600 would make the cheapest "upgrade" in his/her case, and a practical one since AM4 is likely to see one more CPU family in 2020 and the current 1151 v2 is basically dead. OP should see if eBay can help with offloading old gear, available in most countries in the world. The numbers below should give you a general idea where things are heading to. Personally, if I was mad about gaming, I'd just ask Santa for 9900k and call it a day; no point to stare at these charts too much :)

1575486785564.png
 
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john3850

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Oct 19, 2002
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I just sold a nice Mannlicher Schoenauer rifle so I just went with 9900k because I was tierd of waiting for the new RYZEN 9 3900X added D5 and 3x120 set to go from that WC 3770k.I should have gone with 9700k and put the money in a new viedo card.
 
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felang

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Feb 17, 2007
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happy medium said:
1440p? Gtx1080?
Upgrade your video card first
Click to expand...

Well I've yet to come across a game where my Oc'd 1080 doesn't produce 60fps at 1440p. I ran the newly released MW5 beta during the weekend and was getting poor GPU utilization so I thought maybe it was due to a CPU bottleneck, on second thought, being a beta, it probably just isn't properly optimized yet.

For everybody recommending the Ryzen 3600, all the reviews I've come across show better gaming performance form the 9600k when overclocked. Productivity apps are a different story, but I'm mostly interested in gaming. From what I've read the 3600 doesn't really gain any gaming performance when overclocked. Plus I already have a Z370 mobo available at no cost to me.
 
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ondma

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felang said:
Well I've yet to come across a game where my Oc'd 1080 doesn't produce 60fps at 1440p. I ran the newly released MW5 beta during the weekend and was getting poor GPU utilization so I thought maybe it was due to a CPU bottleneck, on second thought, being a beta, it probably just isn't properly optimized yet.

For everybody recommending the Ryzen 3600, all the reviews I've come across show better gaming performance form the 9600k when overclocked. Productivity apps are a different story, but I'm mostly interested in gaming. From what I've read the 3600 doesn't really gain any gaming performance when overclocked. Plus I already have a Z370 mobo available at no cost to me.
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You originally were talking about the 9400, not the 9600k. 9600k would be a better upgrade, but I would still be reluctant to upgrade to a cpu with only 6 threads.
 
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Jimzz

Jimzz

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I went from a 3770 to a Ryzen 2700x. Very good upgrade not only on the CPU side but the I/O on the motherboard, esp the M.2 port, really made the upgrade worth it.

The 9400 should be a decent upgrade as well if you already have the board. If not then a 3000 series Ryzen would be great and have upgrade potential as well.
 
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happy medium

happy medium

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Jun 8, 2003
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felang said:
Well I've yet to come across a game where my Oc'd 1080 doesn't produce 60fps at 1440p.
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I would wait for prices to fall on cpu's and gpu's next year, you don't need to upgrade.


felang said:
Plus I already have a Z370 mobo available at no cost to me.
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Hold onto the motherboard and grab a used 9900k later next year cheap after the 10 series is released.
You will need a new gpu also , save money and buy both next year.
 
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