Question What would you do if you were me?

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dank69

Lifer
Oct 6, 2009
36,129
30,521
136
I've been limping along with an old 6th gen intel that has been crashing more and more often. I have to do something. I am 99% sure the CPU is the problem. Current specs:

asrock z170 extreme7+
intel 6700K
980Ti

I can't handle the crashes anymore. Memtest is fine. GPU is fine. CPU stress test dies almost immediately. Has to be CPU, right, not the MB?

Assuming it is CPU, best I can replace with is 7700K which runs about $400

Or, I can upgrade MB/CPU/RAM (and case while I am at it since the front panel is broken). I tried the AMD route once and did not enjoy it so I will stick with Intel moving forward which means:

11900K + Z590 + RAM + CPU cooler = $1200 (+ case)

I'd love to upgrade the GPU but you know how that goes these days so I'll stick with the 980Ti until I can find one.

So if you had to choose between those two options, which would you choose and why?
 

bigboxes

Lifer
Apr 6, 2002
40,339
12,224
146
I've been limping along with an old 6th gen intel that has been crashing more and more often. I have to do something. I am 99% sure the CPU is the problem. Current specs:

asrock z170 extreme7+
intel 6700K
980Ti

I can't handle the crashes anymore. Memtest is fine. GPU is fine. CPU stress test dies almost immediately. Has to be CPU, right, not the MB?

Assuming it is CPU, best I can replace with is 7700K which runs about $400

Or, I can upgrade MB/CPU/RAM (and case while I am at it since the front panel is broken). I tried the AMD route once and did not enjoy it so I will stick with Intel moving forward which means:

11900K + Z590 + RAM + CPU cooler = $1200 (+ case)

I'd love to upgrade the GPU but you know how that goes these days so I'll stick with the 980Ti until I can find one.

So if you had to choose between those two options, which would you choose and why?

I would get a new power supply. Save the old one for testing/swap PSU. New computers deserve a new power supply. I have four Seasonic power supplies. Two are Prime models (850W & 1000W).

You should consider AMD as well. I was with Intel from 2009-2021. Three months ago my 4790K box died. I built the rig in my sig two months ago. You don't have to go that gonzo. Just get what you can afford.

I too am waiting on a video card. No hurry at today's prices.
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
29,560
24,422
146
Glad to read the issue was resolved without spending money. :beercheers:

Consider this a bump for users searching for the solution to these symptoms. And I will use is as an opportunity to comment on the initially proposed build specs.

If I were building a high end Intel, it would be using the 10850K. Easily found for under $400, 10 core, excellent gaming performance. 11900K is one of the worst values out there.

And I will add my voice to the chorus; Based on the time period involved, a new PSU was a must for a new build.

But despite the fire sale pricing on some Intel CPUs right now, I'd still build AM4 instead. Much more robust ecosystem, that is chock-a-block with great boards. Top notch performance, better performance v. power consumption, higher core support, and may even get the new 3D V-Cache variant later this year. Which you might immediately dismiss as superfluous, if looking to get 5yrs from CPU+mobo combo. But consider this: The used market for Z and K Intel hardware has traditionally been a bad time. Where as with AM4, the used market offers far more choice and generally better pricing. Which as you have discovered is a big deal when looking for parts to troubleshoot a problem on an older, but not old enough to be cheap, Intel system. For myself it is similar to considering long term cost of ownership when purchasing a vehicle. Some change them so often it is irrelevant, while many will keep the vehicle long enough to enjoy the cost savings.
 
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deustroop

Golden Member
Dec 12, 2010
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If I were building a high end Intel, it would be using the 10850K. Easily found for under $400, 10 core, excellent gaming performance. 11900K is one of the worst values out there.
The 10850 has old pcie transport and less of it. And the cpu is a tad slower . Old tech v new tech . I take your point that the 11900 is overpriced but one would want the considerations to be clear.
 
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DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
29,560
24,422
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The 10850 has old pcie transport and less of it. And the cpu is a tad slower . Old tech v new tech . I take your point that the 11900 is overpriced but one would want the considerations to be clear.
While you are not wrong, I don't think any of it matters. My reasoning is that if you need productivity, you should buy AMD. Outside of edge case workflows, AMD dominates there, and checks every feature box. If primarily gaming, PCIE 4.0 isn't going to make any significant difference anytime soon. And who knows how long it will be before it does, or how high end of a GPU will be required to leverage it? Provided you can buy said GPU without taking out a second mortgage. :p

No, I don't think there is any compelling reason to choose a 11900 over a 10850K. The extra cores and threads are likely to be more useful than PCIE 4.0 over the life of the system. I could be wrong, time will tell.

Oh, and in the end, if teh buyer is dead set on PCIE 4.0, they are better off buying AMD over an 11900.
 

deustroop

Golden Member
Dec 12, 2010
1,906
354
136
Why is the comment above at all regarding AMD ? I specifically confined the reply to the Intel choices.

The extra two cores of the 10850 are great for multithreaded intensive apps but get in the way of some lower level performance, like we all do all day, which is one benefit from the 11900 which has 8 no10.
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
29,560
24,422
146
Why is the comment above at all regarding AMD ? I specifically confined the reply to the Intel choices.

The extra two cores of the 10850 are great for multithreaded intensive apps but get in the way of some lower level performance, like we all do all day, which is one reason the 11900 has 6 not 8.
Brother, you can restrict your comments to whatever you like. :) But these products do not exist in some narrowly defined space all their own. So when PCIE 4.0 is used as a differentiator, AMD enters the chat.

And what the heck does 6 not 8 mean? o_O Also, you can build whatever you want too, it's all good to me. But the 11900 is generally considered to be a turd. Benchmark Steve roasted it proper

 

crashtech

Lifer
Jan 4, 2013
10,580
2,150
146
OP clearly stated they would not be going with AMD because of a past bad experience. I think that's probably an outdated opinion, but it's not for me to convince anybody except to say that AMD AM4 is a pretty mature platform at this point and I have not experienced significant problems with it.

Anyway, the rig in question is working again, so talk of its replacement is premature.