Upgrade CPU or replace motherboard?

[shovenose]

Currently I'm running an i7-6700 on a Gigabyte B250M motherboard.

I have been using my PC to transcode Linux ISOs from h264 to h265 but while the GPU does the heavy lifting for encoding the CPU does the decoding in Handbrake and my CPU is pegged at 100%.

I also do web development and some gaming, but I'm running a GTX1050 so the CPU isn't a bottleneck here although I do want to buy a new GPU when things go back to normal although it might take a while.

I'm trying to decide whether it's going to make any difference upgrading to an i7-7700k or I should just wait a few months and buy a new motherboard and buy a new 12th gen CPU. the 7700k is cheaper for now but I think replacing the entire platform is more reasonable long-term given that the 7700k isn't that much better than my 6700.

 

[Bill_Bright]

So this is a different system than shown in your System Specs? I note that says an i5.

How much RAM do you have? Hard drive or SSD?

I see no reason to upgrade the CPU today if you might replace the motherboard next year. This is because a new motherboard often requires a different CPU (and RAM). If you buy a new CPU today, it may limit your options for new board next year, unless you don't care about wasting money today.

 

[80-watt Hamster]

Currently I'm running an i7-6700 on a Gigabyte B250M motherboard.

...

... replacing the entire platform is more reasonable long-term given that the 7700k isn't that much better than my 6700.

It seems as though you've answered your own question, particularly given that you're running on a multiplier-locked board.

 

[shovenose]

So this is a different system than shown in your System Specs? I note that says an i5.

How much RAM do you have? Hard drive or SSD?

I see no reason to upgrade the CPU today if you might replace the motherboard next year. This is because a new motherboard often requires a different CPU (and RAM). If you buy a new CPU today, it may limit your options for new board next year, unless you don't care about wasting money today.

Thank you for the reply. I haven't updated any of those specs for a long time.

I have 32GB DDR4, three SSDs (1x NVMe and 2x SATA), and I updated original post with correction I'm running a GTX1050 not FirePro W7000.

It does seem that just waiting and going for a whole new platform makes sense given the price of a used 7700K is like $300! Although I could sell my 6700 for about $150 it seems.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Although I could sell my 6700 for about $150 it seems.

That assumes someone will buy it - and not hold out for a whole new system too.

 

[Udyr]

It seems as though you've answered your own question, particularly given that you're running on a multiplier-locked board.

I agree. Only if the 6700 was showing signs of going down the silicon graveyard, then it would make sense to get another CPU while preparing for the new build.

 

[Tetras]

From these benches:

The Intel Core i9-9900K at 95W: Fixing The Power for SFF

www.anandtech.com

It looks like there's practically no difference between the two CPUs in handbrake (though your workload is different, I think?).

 

[shovenose]

Thanks all, I will not waste my time or money on an i7-7700K, I appreciate the input. Will just wait and save for an entirely new motherboard and CPU.

 

[Ruru]

Thanks all, I will not waste my time or money on an i7-7700K, I appreciate the input. Will just wait and save for an entirely new motherboard and CPU.

Exactly. As from 6nd gen to 10th gen, they're identical in performance in clock to clock (though later gens have more cores and higher stock/boost clocks), so a 7700K would be a waste of money. Have you any plans for the upgrade?

 

[phanbuey]

upgrade motherboard. 12600k and z690 or b550 and 5800x.

 

[Nike_486DX]

Currently I'm running an i7-6700 on a Gigabyte B250M motherboard.

I have been using my PC to transcode Linux ISOs from h264 to h265 but while the GPU does the heavy lifting for encoding the CPU does the decoding in Handbrake and my CPU is pegged at 100%.

I also do web development and some gaming, but I'm running a GTX1050 so the CPU isn't a bottleneck here although I do want to buy a new GPU when things go back to normal although it might take a while.

I'm trying to decide whether it's going to make any difference upgrading to an i7-7700k or I should just wait a few months and buy a new motherboard and buy a new 12th gen CPU. the 7700k is cheaper for now but I think replacing the entire platform is more reasonable long-term given that the 7700k isn't that much better than my 6700.

you can also try out some of the chinese repurposed cpus, because B250 can work with 8th and 9th gen with modified bios. That would be the most cost-effective solution to increase performance and get 6 or 8 cores. something like this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...sceneId":"3339","sku_id":"12000024751596165"}

Alder lake is still a ...lake, intel isnt doing much progress so it doesnt make much sense to shell out for 12th gen as its still slower than amd and is more power-hungry.

 

[Ruru]

you can also try out some of the chinese repurposed cpus, because B250 can work with 8th and 9th gen with modified bios. That would be the most cost-effective solution to increase performance and get 6 or 8 cores. something like this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003228035285.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.0.0.1a0270c8Jnrqsc&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.169870.0&scm_id=1007.13339.169870.0&scm-url=1007.13339.169870.0&pvid=57dfea5d-44ee-442d-95c8-5fb41c232001&_t=gps-idcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller,scm-url:1007.13339.169870.0,pvid:57dfea5d-44ee-442d-95c8-5fb41c232001,tpp_buckets:668#2846#8111#1996&&pdp_ext_f={"sceneId":"3339","sku_id":"12000024751596165"}

Alder lake is still a ...lake, intel isnt doing much progress so it doesnt make much sense to shell out for 12th gen as its still slower than amd and is more power-hungry.

It has a different architecture, not anymore that Skylake shit. Also Rocket Lake moved away from that (tho still 14nm+++++++++++)

 

[Caring1]

Moar cores.
Go AMD for your next system

 

[Nike_486DX]

It has a different architecture, not anymore that Skylake shit. Also Rocket Lake moved away from that (tho still 14nm+++++++++++)

yea, but that is like cedar mill vs northwood, the core 2 duo is yet to be released ))
performance per w (the real deal) for 12900K is much worse than 5950, and is in fact still comparable to the older 14nm i9's

 

[Ruru]

yea, but that is like cedar mill vs northwood, the core 2 duo is yet to be released ))
performance per w (the real deal) for 12900K is much worse than 5950, and is in fact still comparable to the older 14nm i9's

Those new Intels are great, but it feels unfair that people say that now AMD sucks, AMD had 5000 series already when 11th gen dropped.

I'm not a fanboy though I like more AMD, I'm just waiting for Zen4 to see how the tables turn.

Spoiler

I admit that there's one brand where I'm a fanboy and that's Sound Blaster soundcards

 

[Hyderz]

+1 on a new mobo and cpu

 

[AlwaysHope]

+1 on a new mobo and cpu

Yep & a setup that officially supports win11 would be a better ROI.

 

[cvaldes]

There is no such thing as ROI on a consumer PC. They are expenses not investments.

Buying shares of NVDA, AMD, or NXPI can result in ROI.

 

[AlwaysHope]

There is no such thing as ROI on a consumer PC. They are expenses not investments.

Buying shares of NVDA, AMD, or NXPI can result in ROI.

You buy anything, its an investment.

 

[phanbuey]

Those new Intels are great, but it feels unfair that people say that now AMD sucks, AMD had 5000 series already when 11th gen dropped.

I'm not a fanboy though I like more AMD, I'm just waiting for Zen4 to see how the tables turn.

Spoiler

I admit that there's one brand where I'm a fanboy and that's Sound Blaster soundcards

It's going to be a leapfrog again -- which is what we want... whenever any company gets too far ahead it just means insane prices for the good stuff

 

[Ruru]

It's going to be a leapfrog again -- which is what we want... whenever any company gets too far ahead it just means insane prices for the good stuff

One thing which I've never done is hop on the new RAM train - it costs hella lot compared to the old gen..

 

[cvaldes]

You buy anything, its an investment.

Nah.

The common sense definition of an investment is putting your money into something that you expect to turn a profit.

Examples of things that aren't an investment: refrigerator, bath towels, car, smartphone, electric toothbrush, t-shirt, 2 liter bottle of soda pop, Blu-ray player, and PC.

Examples of things that might be considered investments: shares of GE, TM, AAPL, KO, SNY, DELL. Yeah, I know I missed a few. If I cared enough, I could fire up a search engine and figure out the appropriate stock symbols.

Investment: mint-quality Leica M6
Not an investment: whatever consumer-grade dSLR that Canon puts out next

Investment: 80-year old Bugatti
Not an investment: 2022 Toyota Camry fresh off of some manufacturing line

 

[Ruru]

I kinda think that some of you my opinions are meh - I'm more into price/performance myself. My 3600 / 1080 Ti budget pack still kicks a punch.

 

[cvaldes]

You are absolutely right valuing performance-per-dollar (or whatever currency is standard in your country).

The biggest issue right now is that the silicon shortage threw those out of whack a year ago. 4-year-old $65 GPUs are now going for $200+.

Street price and true value are very, Very, VERY far apart right now for certain items.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Those new Intels are great, but it feels unfair that people say that now AMD sucks

LOL But it wasn't unfair when people claimed Intel sucks? You are right, by the way, it is unfair. But it was unfair when the shoe was on the other foot too.

That's the problem with fanboys - regardless the banner they stand behind, the fanboys are convinced their favorite is the one and only option for every product that company makes. And worse, they refuse to accept the competing brand is a viable option.

At no point since AMD became a viable processor maker has either company had the best processor in every weight class. Same with GPUs. Same with motherboard makers, PSU makers, cell phone makers, browser makers, anti-malware makers.

If a company makes just one product, and that product sucks across all areas of comparison, including customer support, then maybe it is fair to bash the company itself. But when a company makes dozens or 100s of products that stretch across multiple categories and multiple quality tears, and the company stands behind their products - including the lemons, then what is not fair is people saying the entire brand sucks.

There's a reason Chevy, Ford, RAM, Nissan, Toyota all claim their trucks are #1. It is because they are. One is #1 in towing, another in fuel efficiency, another in cooking popcorn, etc.

The browser wars illustrates it very well. Each can claim to be #1 because this one is faster, that one supports the most add-ons, and the other is best at blocking spyware. But not one is best in every category.

I am not aware of any processor that is best in every area of comparison.

What is unfair is people asking, "Which is better, AMD or Intel?" And worse, what is unfair is responders answering claiming one brand, or the other is better. To be fair, it should always be a specific model from company A compared to a specific model from company B.

Just because Company A's flagship device is scores better in some comparison than Company B's flagship device, that in no way means Company B sucks.

Examples of things that might be considered investments:

Things can be expenses and investments too. A plumber may "invest" in a van but that surely is an "expense" too.

I think a key word cvaldes included is "consumer".

It's going to be a leapfrog again -- which is what we want...

I agree 100%. We need Company A always looking over their shoulder to see what Company B is up to. And we need Company B always nipping at the heels of Company A, always trying to get ahead. That is what drives competition. And competition is good for us consumers.

I'm more into price/performance myself.

For me, price matters, but it is no where near top priority. It has to meet my needs. It has to be reliable. It has to perform well. And then it has to be within my budget. And almost always last, it has to look nice.

Often overlooked when pricing a CPU is the big picture. The CPU is just one component. When you factor in the cost of the motherboard, RAM, PSU, case, drive, graphics card, keyboard, mouse, monitor(s), speakers, OS and other software, the price difference between two CPUs becomes less significant. Yes, it can still be a budget buster for some, but not everyone.

performance per w (the real deal)

LOL - This illustrates the point. For one, performance can be defined and measured in several ways - and no doubts, marketing weenies will exploit whichever ways makes their product look like the best performer. Even "per watt" can be subjective and open to interpretation.