PC upgrade 2018 advice needed

I’ve been sketching out a list of components I’m planning to pick up, and I was hoping to run them by you all to see if anyone has better ideas—ideally with a bit of reasoning behind the suggestions, if you don't mind. Thanks.

Processor: Thanks processor : Core i5-8600K
Cooling: Corsair H100i Pro
Motherboard: GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS Gaming 5
RAM: 2x Corsair 16 GB DDR4 3000 MHz Vengeance Black, CMK16GX4M1B30C15
Graphics Card: Now, here is where I am hesitating. I’ve been holding out for October 17th to see what the deal is with the RTX 2070 and its Ray tracing capabilities, but looking at how the RTX 2080 outperforms the previous generation by maybe 20-25% while carrying a massive 50% price hike, the math just doesn't seem to add up for me. So, I might end up settling for a GTX 1070ti, a GTX 1080, or perhaps even a GTX 1080ti.

So, that is the current state of affairs. I would love to hear your thoughts on this setup.

You didn't say what you're actually using this rig for...

...so, what are you running right now?

analogtiger19 As requested by crimsonstag84:
You neglected to mention what you actually intend to do with this machine...

Between the daily grind of work, binge-watching movies, editing video and photos, and diving into high-end gaming or even VR, my needs are pretty broad. Honestly, I have my doubts about whether someone would actually pick out this specific set of components for professional, official use. 😛 😉

crimsonstag84 said:So, what exactly are you running under the hood these days?

I’m still running an i5 3570K clocked at 4.2GHz, which honestly feels like I'm driving a vintage muscle car on a modern interstate—it’s got soul, but you definitely feel the age when everyone else is passing you by.
I’ve been looking back at my old hardware logs, specifically regarding that Samsung SSD 850, and it really makes you realize how much the landscape has shifted since I first put that drive together. It was a reliable workhorse for its time, providing that essential jump in responsiveness that we all eventually came to take for granted. Looking back at my build history, it feels like a lifetime ago when those early high-speed drives were the absolute gold standard for anyone trying to escape the sluggishness of traditional spinning disks.
I’m currently looking at my storage situation—specifically a mix of 1TB, 2TB, and 500GB hard drives—and honestly, it’s becoming a bit of a headache to manage.
I’ve been looking back at my setup from a few years ago, specifically that PC upgrade 2018 I put together, and I can't help but chuckle at my past decisions. Back then, I was convinced I had everything figured out, settling on the Corsair H80 to keep things running smoothly. It served its purpose for a while, providing just enough thermal headroom for the components I was rocking at the time, but in hindsight, it was always a bit of a tight squeeze. It’s funny how you convince yourself a specific piece of hardware is "enough" until you actually start pushing the limits and realize you were just playing it safe.
I’ve been looking at this Corsair 4x4GB DDR3 2400MHz kit lately, and honestly, it feels like a bit of a relic from a different era of computing. It’s one of those components that reminds you just how quickly the hardware landscape shifts under our feet.
I’ve been spending some time lately thinking about my power supply situation, specifically looking at the Corsair HX850i. It’s one of those components you rarely think about until things start going sideways, much like the plumbing in an old house in Chicago—you just assume it’ll work until you’re staring at a puddle on the floor. But when you're building a rig that actually matters, you can't just cheap out on the heart of the machine. This particular unit from Corsair has always had a reputation for being reliable, which is exactly what I need when I'm running more demanding hardware.
The GTX 970 GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD
I find myself revisiting my old NZXT Phantom 410 lately, and honestly, it brings back a certain sense of nostalgia for an era when PC cases actually felt like they had some structural integrity. It’s a massive, imposing chassis—definitely not for someone trying to hide their rig under a desk in a cramped studio apartment—but there was something undeniably satisfying about how much room you had to work with. Back then, we weren't all obsessed with tiny, minimalist builds that look like high-end office equipment; we wanted something that looked like it could survive a minor impact. It served me well through several iterations of hardware, providing enough breathing room for components that, by today's standards, seem almost quaint.

An i7 8700K paired with air cooling and 16GB of RAM should land right around the same price point as your suggestion, but honestly, it’s a much better deal.

The 8700K is basically $1267 now, so I doubt it's worth the investment.

https://www.newegg.com/products/details/motherboard/126830

https://www.newegg.com/products/details/case/124723

Maybe grab some 2x16GB of the cheapest 3000MHz RAM you can find. Honestly, I don't think you really need to swap out your processor cooling.

EDIT: For the GPU, maybe check how much an RTX 2070 would cost and see if that shifts the total budget. Upgrading the graphics card along with the RAM seems like the easiest path, and I guess a GTX 970 isn't exactly garbage.😁

Pffft, prices are insane. 🙏

Hopefully that i5 8600k is actually included at that price point.

As for the cooling, I feel like they're overcharging by about $333 or something close to that.

crimsonstag84 said:The 8700K is pretty much ancient history at this point $1267, so I wouldn't touch it if I were you. It’s just not worth the money anymore.

https://www.newegg.com/p/example-link-1

https://www.amazon.com/p/example-link-2

Throw in some 2x16GB sticks of the cheapest 3000MHz RAM you can find. Honestly, I don't think you need to bother replacing your processor cooling system.

EDIT: Regarding the GPU, take a look at how an RTX 2070 would perform and see if that shifts your overall budget. Upgrading the graphics card alongside the RAM is usually the path of least resistance, and let's be honest, the GTX 970 isn't exactly a paperweight yet.😁

To be perfectly honest, I have no idea where I put all my extra hardware—the mounting screws, the thermal plates, and things of that nature. I'm sitting here wondering if I'll even be able to mount my current cooler onto this new motherboard since the socket might be different. That could turn into a bit of a headache. Besides, I've had this cooler since practically the day it hit the shelves, so it might actually be a decent time to just get something new.

The holes match up; I made the switch to an 8600K on the same socket before and everything lined up perfectly.

Personally, I’d probably just go with air cooling 😛 ...water cooling feels way too overpriced for what you actually get, tbh.

crimsonstag84 As it turns out, according to crimsonstag84:
It’s essentially the same deal; I made the jump to an i5 8600k using that exact same socket, and everything lined up perfectly without any headaches.

If you ask me, I’d much rather go with air cooling. 😛 To be honest, I find the prices they're asking for water to be absolutely ridiculous considering what you actually get in return.

Honestly, I’m beyond satisfied with the setup; it's a closed loop, and I haven't had to touch the Corsair components once since I installed them. You really can't compare this to an air-cooled rig, though that’s mostly because you're paying a premium, but then again, the thermal performance is objectively superior. Not that anyone should care if they aren't willing to drop $150 or $200 on a high-end kit, but let's be real—it looks sexy as hell when you have a tempered glass side panel showcasing the build. 😒 😁

It looks sexy, sure, but you’re looking at a difference of maybe a few degrees max. You'll likely get the same overclock or maybe just a 100MHz bump. Plus, water cooling is louder than a decent air cooler that costs under $100, whereas you're looking at at least $150 for water to get similar performance.

I was just sitting here weighing my options, thinking about whether I should hold out and grab the i5-9600K instead of sticking with the i5-8600K. It looks like it’ll be hitting the shelves fairly soon, around October 19th, and from what I can gather, the price tag is going to be pretty much identical to the 8600K. I’ll admit, I’m a bit skeptical about the actual performance jump, but if the cost remains essentially the same, I figure why not give it a shot?

I don't really hold any loyalty to either Intel or AMD. In my opinion, the Ryzen 7 2700X is the smarter buy.

In my humble estimation, opting for the Ryzen 2700X or even an Intel 8600k/8700K simply doesn't offer the best value when your primary focus is gaming performance. I have found that the Ryzen 2600 actually stands out as a far more sensible choice, consistently delivering a much better experience within the 80-150 fps range, depending on which specific titles you happen to be playing.

Ryzen 2700 and 2700X aren't worth it for gaming. They perform basically the same as a 2600X—which is already trailing behind an i7—but they cost way more than a Ryzen 5.

As for the 8700K, you can't really call it "not worth it." It’s legitimately a tier above Ryzen when it comes to gaming performance.

But looking at current prices, especially for the i7 series, I’d personally stick with a Ryzen 2600 or 2600X.

Those new Intel 8-core chips are going to be overpriced. Wouldn't count on them.

Ryan Gonzalez4 said:Personally, I’m incredibly happy with it—it's a closed loop, so there is zero maintenance required with my Corsair setup. You just can't compare it to air cooling; sure, it costs more, but it definitely provides better thermal performance. And hey, if someone doesn't mind dropping $150-$200 on something like this, it looks sexy as fuck having that side window 😒 😁

If we are talking about the H80, it’s nothing special. Honestly, an air cooler in the $30-40 range will be cooler and quieter (think along the lines of a Noctua or a Thermalright Macho). Don't expect to push 4.9GHz to 5GHz and still maintain decent temperatures with that unit.

Furthermore, I wouldn't go betting on the quality of Corsair's liquid coolers, as plenty of people complain about them (clogged tubes, loud fans, noisy pumps, etc.). To be blunt, it's a pain in the ass and just isn't a great value compared to a top-tier air cooler.

Samuel Castillo49 said:If you're just gaming, the Ryzen 2700X or the Intel 8600K/8700K aren't really worth it. You'll get way better value out of a Ryzen 2600, which stays comfortably in that 80-150 fps range depending on what you're playing.

The buyer mentioned they need this rig for video editing and photo work, so the 2700X is actually going to outperform any of those i5 chips easily.

Alexander Moore67 As if I haven't heard this all before.
I don't particularly care to join either the Intel or the AMD fanboy camps; I find the tribalism a bit exhausting. In my estimation, if you're looking at value, the Ryzen 7 2700X is simply the smarter buy.

AMD is just... AMD. $200 It might cost you a bit more upfront, but looking at the big picture, the i5 8600k really holds its own in terms of raw performance. Besides, once you factor in the overclocking headroom, Intel just seems to play in a different league compared to what AMD is offering right now.

Timothy Kim60 As I was saying:
If we’re talking about the H80, let's be honest: it’s nothing to write home about. Honestly, you can pick up a decent air cooler for around thirty bucks that’ll actually run cooler and quieter—think along the lines of a Noctua or those classic Thermalright Macho models. Don't go thinking you're going to push a chip to 4.9 or 5GHz with that thing and still expect reasonable temperatures. It just isn't built for that kind of heavy lifting.

I wouldn't go betting the farm on the quality of Corsair's liquid coolers, either. I’ve seen far too many people complaining about the exact same issues—everything from kinked tubing to fans that sound like a jet engine taking off, not to mention pumps that are unnecessarily loud. Honestly, it feels like a total pain in the neck and just isn't worth the premium when you could pick up an incredible air cooler that does the job without all the extra headache.

I’ve been running an H80 for about six or seven years now, and honestly, it hasn't performed any worse than the day I unboxed it. I haven't run into a single issue in all that time, which isn't surprising since I’ve stuck with Corsair for my power supplies and cooling setups for quite a while. You also have to account for the fact that some people can be a bit clumsy with their hardware; you really need to be gentle with those tubes and let them settle into a natural position so they aren't under unnecessary tension. As for the noise levels, you have different modes to choose from to dial things in—though if you decide to crank it to max speed, don't be shocked when your PC sounds like a Boeing 747 preparing for takeoff.

It all depends on what they're actually looking for.

If this video editing thing is just a hobby that takes an hour or two—nothing professional where time equals money and gaming FPS is the priority—then go with the 8600K. It’s definitely the better gaming chip.

On the flip side, the 2700X can shave significant rendering time off compared to an i5. On heavy workloads, that could mean being finished hours earlier. Of course, that depends entirely on which software is being used.

I’d also think about the monitor setup.
If they're aiming for high resolution, the i5 and Ryzen will perform similarly; however, the i5 wins if they want to push 120Hz+.

Then again, for streaming, Ryzen is way ahead of the i5.

Regarding cooling, that Corsair performs about the same as a solid air cooler, but it'll likely be louder (fans hitting over 1500RPM for sure).
Liquid cooling looks sexy, sure, but in 99% of cases, an AIO isn't any better than air. Custom loops are a whole different animal—intense, expensive, and a massive headache.