Upgrading your current CPU isn't a long-term fix; it’s just putting a Band-Aid on a sinking ship.
IMO, grab some extra RAM and an SSD right now since you can carry them over when you eventually swap out the whole platform. Otherwise, you're better off waiting until spring to do a full overhaul.
And how’s it holding up under a normal workload? How often are you actually hitting max RPM? Try putting some insulation where the fans mount—around the screw holes—maybe something soft.
Looks like you're running low on RAM, and you definitely need to sort out those drives. How much storage are we talking about?
There isn't much else you can upgrade on that rig besides that. I’d suggest an upgrade path similar to what was discussed in this thread:
A 1TB SSD should be plenty for what you need right now, and you can always repurpose it as a secondary drive in your next build later on. You'll feel a massive speed boost immediately. You might "burn through" its lifespan in a few years, but if this gear is how you make your living, it's worth it. Plus, it comes with a 5-year warranty, so who cares, right? You could even keep your current SSD as your system drive (for Windows) and use the new one strictly for working in apps—like a scratch disk. It works wonders for Photoshop and stuff like that.
If you add another 8GB of RAM to get to 2x8GB, you can just move those sticks over to your new build down the road if you decide to build a whole new PC.
If 1TB isn't enough for you... I don't know. More hard drives?
You don't need to run those fans at max RPM. This motherboard has plenty of fan headers (assuming you're actually using them), so just set your fan curves through the BIOS. Also, try putting something soft under the case feet and see if that helps.
Scott Wood7 said:Hey everyone. My Fortron Raider 750W just died on me. Current rig is an FX8320, xfx 280, and 8GB of RAM. I was planning to upgrade this year to a Ryzen 3600, RX5700, and 16GB of RAM, but since prices are absolutely insane right now, that might have to wait. Budgeting about $500. $200 I'm down for suggestions from eBay or local marketplaces (Chicago area works too). Thanks for the help.
If you aren't overclocking, this should be fine and gives you a solid PSU for the future upgrade. Otherwise, you'd have to settle for something lower quality just to get more Watts.
Zachary Martin4 said:Appreciate the tip! I went with the same brand, just a smaller model that won't break the bank. It’s mainly for my WFH setup, maybe used as a TV once in a while. Ordered the Dell UltraSharp 27" 27B2H, VGA, HDMI, 75Hz for $352 including shipping. https://www.amazon.com/example-link
It's not 1440p. Personally, I think 1080p on a 27" is a bit too low for actual work, but hey, if that's what works for you, fine.
Alexander Moore67 said:I don't get why the Intel Core i5-10600KF matters if it's just for gaming and the price is $600... not really enticing.....
Fair point. Honestly, it is interesting at that price point. It used to be more expensive, and back then, the Ryzen 5 3600 at about $500 with a cooler was the way to go, so I just overlooked it.
Zachary Martin4 said:Alright, if I grab this monitor, does it have built-in speakers? Like, how am I getting audio without using headphones? Do I need to hook up external speakers? I don't know anything about monitors or external tuners. Up until now, I’ve just been using a Dell 24" Full HD setup—that one had speakers built in and even came with a remote.
The specific model I mentioned doesn't have speakers. Sure, some monitors come with them, but they usually sound terrible. It really comes down to your budget and what kind of setup you end up with. Personally, I'd rather just buy dedicated PC speakers for $33 instead of blowing extra cash on a monitor with built-in speakers.
You can plug speakers into the back of this model via the headphone jack (standard 3.5mm), or just plug them directly into your PC.
Having an older socket works out fine if you're just looking to upgrade with something like an Intel Core i5-8400 or an i3. But if you're building a whole new rig from scratch? I'd say the 5600X is a way better call.
Jack Cook7 said:Fine, let's just ask which tablet user they're actually thinking of.
That’s exactly the point. They want one with actual cellular calling. The article I linked shows a few options. I don't follow the tablet market closely enough to suggest anything else.
Man, what kind of fax machine are you talking about? What century is this? The guy's asking if he can make calls directly from a tablet (probably running iOS) right out-of-the-box—if the modem supports that kind of thing—and how to mod the hardware or software to get it working outside of factory specs.
$800 is decent for a 9700K if you're just looking for a budget upgrade, but honestly, if you're building a whole new rig, it's a waste compared to a 5600X
Jack Cook7 said:Any tablet with a SIM slot for 2G/3G/4G works as a phone. Plus, you get data as an option.
Every single carrier offers those deals where you can snag a tablet for basically nothing if you sign up for a two-year service contract. It’s always the same setup—internet and phone bundled together.
If you already have your own SIM and number, just grab a tablet that supports cellular data and you're all set. Voila.
That’s just plain wrong. Neki Some tablets—like an iPad Air—support that feature, but don't count on it being a standard.
rapidpuma59 said:Do you think the Ryzen 5 5600X is overkill for this GPU? What would you recommend instead if I want an upgrade?
Look, the Intel Core i5-10400F is definitely solid value and would work just fine with an NVIDIA GTX 1070. But trying to compare the "bang for buck" of a chip like the i5-10400F against the Ryzen 5 5600X is tough—the Ryzen is nearly double the price and significantly more powerful. Personally, I’d go with the Ryzen 5 5600X (or just wait for the 5600) because you end up with a much more futureproof platform that won't leave you hanging later. That NVIDIA GTX 1070 is perfectly capable for 1080p, maybe even 1440p. If you were stuck with a much weaker card, I'd tell you to grab the i5-10400F and put the savings toward a better GPU, but that's not the case here. Honestly, there isn't really a middle ground worth considering between the i5-10400F and the Ryzen 5 5600X.
Grab the Ryzen 5 5600X and you're set for years. If you actually hit a wall later, just pick up a used 5900X or whatever when the timing is right. Either way, your monitor and GPU are going to be the bottleneck with a 5600X, even if they're decent enough. Just snag the Ryzen 5 5600X at a price that makes sense, or hold out for the 5600. Don't sweat the monitor; there aren't any major shortages, and as for the GPU, wait as long as you can—ideally until April. Your graphics card is the heavy hitter in this build anyway.
The Core i5 series is a massive leap forward for gaming compared to anything they've put out before. If you can swing it, there’s really no debate. The 5600X sits right around where an i7 10700K would be, but it pulls way less power. Sure, the i9 10900K is a bit faster, but honestly? Not worth the extra cash. I’d rather push for a Core i9 in that price range if I were in your shoes. With a budget of 2500-$1000, it’s a no-brainer—grab the 5600X or just wait for the 5600 to save a few bucks. It’s pretty obvious Intel isn't pushing those full 8-core chiplets at the same margins anymore, which is why the 5600X and Core i9 are so much cheaper per core than the 5800X or 5950X. I'd say the Core i9 is a killer chip and totally worth it if you have the cash and actually need the juice , but realistically, any money spent beyond the 5600X is better off going toward your GPU or a decent monitor.
