I currently have a Intel Core i7-6700 3.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor in my main build (built in 2016) and I’m ready for an upgrade.

Can someone recommend me a new cpu? I’d like something a little beefier and hopefully not have to get a new motherboard (GIGABYTE GA-B150M-DS3H LGA-1151 socket)

  • @CataclysmZAEnglish
    2•1 year ago

    You have reached the limits of what the Skylake platform offers. You don’t have Windows 11 support and your only choices will soon be running Windows 10 unpatched after 2025, or switching to Linux. Modern 2C4T processors are faster in games than your setup. You should think about a platform upgrade.

    Obviously your budget will be a key aspect of this, but some pointers in general:

    1. Make the jump to 32GB of RAM. Many games are able to take advantage of more than 16GB of RAM and that’s mostly due to how they are streaming assets and optimising performance.

    2. SSD storage should be the default. This applies both for primary and secondary storage. A 2TB SATA drive for extra games or hosting media or things like that is always going to be faster than spinning rust, so don’t buy a hard drive for secondary storage unless you need more than 4TB of space for media.

    3. Quad cores still have limitations. People buying Core i3 processors are still limiting their performance if there’s even a slight hint of multi-tasking. Only consider this if your budget is really low but even then, the Core i5-12400 is difficult to ignore.

    With that said, here’s some options to think about:

    Intel Core i5-13400 + ASRock B760M Pro RS/D4 + 32GB DDR4-3600 CL16 memory of some description

    Intel Core i5-13400 + Gigabyte B760M AORUS ELITE AX + 32GB DDR5-5600 CL36 memory of some description

    AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 + 32GB DDR5-5600 CL36 memory of some description

    Platform costs are more or less the same between the Intel and AMD option, and slightly cheaper on the DDR4 front. For longevity you want at least two M.2 slots and front-panel USB Type-C support if you also upgrade your case. You have some leeway on the budget for the CPU on the Intel side, as the Core i5-12400 is cheap and still very good.

    Either of these setups will serve you a very, very long time. Likely just as long as your Skylake chip has already done (almost ten years!).

    • @CataclysmZAEnglish
      2•1 year ago

      Seeing as you also built your system in 2016, here are some other pointers.

      1. Stock CPU heatsinks are perfectly fine. Don’t buy a third-party cooler unless you’re sure you need it for performance reasons. Many people pick one up for aesthetics.
      2. High CPU temperatures are here to stay. That’s just how they’re managed now. Don’t worry too much about it unless you’re reaching over 96 degrees with regular use.
      3. M.2 PCIe Gen 3 drives are perfectly fine to pick up if your budget is limited. Don’t skimp here, pick a 1TB drive to start with. Games are huge.
      4. Front-panel USB-C for cases is not a requirement, but you will get at least 15W charging from them.
      5. You can skimp with an F-series CPU that has the iGPU disabled, but a lot of effort is put into optimising video playback and general browser/OS use by leveraging the integrated graphics.
      6. 1440P 144Hz monitors are quite cheap these days. Most of them work just fine too.
      7. You can use Windows without paying for a license. Having a license gives you access to all the customisation options.