At this stage, many users are still using mid-range 10th and 11th generation Core or AMD Ryzen 3000 and 2000 series processors. They do not seek extreme performance, want to retain their existing DDR4 memory, but wish to upgrade hardware for better performance while pursuing the best cost-performance ratio.
These users often have multiple DDR4 RAM sticks they are reluctant to discard. For example, my workstation was equipped with two Corsair 16GB DDR4 3000 MHz memory sticks, costing about 460 RMB each (later I added another), totaling nearly 900 RMB, making it a shame to discard them.
In this context, the best hardware upgrade would be to avoid changing the memory, M.2 SSD, case, and power supply, and only replace the motherboard and processor (commonly referred to as a “motherboard-CPU combo”). For my machine, upgrading just the motherboard and processor could save at least 1500 RMB.
I believe many users share this thought. This article targets such users to explore the most cost-effective upgrade solutions. I will provide some personal suggestions for reference.
For these upgrade needs, I have two principles:
- A single-core performance increase of more than double is unrealistic, but it should be at least 50% higher than the original processor; this is the minimum requirement. Multi-core performance should double, or it wouldn’t be worth it. I will compare this with the Ryzen 5 3600 for reference.
- The total upgrade budget should not exceed 2500 RMB.
If the upgrade budget exceeds 2500 RMB and reaches around 3000 RMB, just a few hundred more could buy a complete Ryzen 7 7700 system (with a basic motherboard). Although the performance gain may not meet the first standard, it’s a new platform worth considering.
For an additional 1000 RMB, reaching about 4000 RMB, one could get a Ryzen 7 9700X system, which nearly doubles the overall performance (including single-core and multi-core) compared to the Ryzen 5 3600, making it a more worthwhile investment.
Thus, with a total upgrade budget not exceeding 2500 RMB, what upgrade solutions (motherboard-CPU combos, especially the processor) meet both criteria?
I believe the best alternative model is the Core i5-13600KF, with two other options: Core i7-12700KF and Core i5-14600KF. Currently, the prices for these three processors in a motherboard-CPU combo range from about 2000 to 2500 RMB.
First, the Core i5-13600KF has a single-core performance 1.6 times that of the Ryzen 5 3600 (approximately 55% higher) and a multi-core performance 2.3 times (about 126% higher), clearly meeting both requirements, priced around 2300 RMB.
The Core i7-12700KF’s performance is similar to that of the Core i5-13600KF and has comparable results against the Ryzen 5 3600. However, its motherboard-CPU combo costs about 100 RMB less, around 2200 RMB.
The Core i5-14600KF is the strongest among the three, with a single-core performance 1.7 times that of the Ryzen 5 3600 (about 65% higher) and multi-core performance 2.4 times (about 144% higher), offering a more significant performance increase compared to the first two.
However, the Core i5-14600KF’s motherboard-CPU combo is slightly more expensive, around 2400 RMB, which is still acceptable.
Note: The prices mentioned above are for boxed processors. To further reduce costs, one can opt for tray versions or second-hand units. The paired motherboards are mid-range, featuring four memory slots and two M.2 SSD slots, with cheaper motherboard options available on the market.
Overall, I personally recommend the Core i5-13600KF first. Even compared to the latest Ryzen 7 9700X, its overall performance is not significantly different, with single-core performance about 17% lower and multi-core performance roughly equal, but at a much lower upgrade cost.
In summary, if you’re looking to upgrade an old machine while pursuing the best cost-performance ratio, and you already have an M.2 SSD, over 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a graphics card, the best upgrade option is to get a Core i5-13600KF motherboard-CPU combo, costing around 2300 RMB, offering strong performance without bottlenecking any graphics card.
That said, this upgrade plan does come with risks and downsides.
Firstly, Intel’s 13th and 14th generation Core processors have stability issues, and there have been similar cases with the Core i5-13600 series. Although Intel has implemented several measures to improve this, some risk remains; however, using the recommended BIOS settings and conservative usage should minimize issues.
Secondly, this upgrade plan leaves no room for future upgrades; starting with the Core Ultra series, a motherboard change is necessary. If you choose a new Intel Core Ultra series (launching at the end of October) or AMD Ryzen 9000 (or Ryzen 7000 series) build, though the overall cost is higher, it will support several future generations of processors and provide more upgrade potential.
Thus, pursuing “extreme cost-performance” while allowing for upgrade possibilities is a trade-off.
Despite various drawbacks, the Core i5-13600KF motherboard-CPU combo is still highly recommended, with a conservative estimate of at least three more years of adequate performance without concern for capability. However, some hardware knowledge and hands-on skills are necessary.
Three years from now, I expect prices for new Intel and AMD platform motherboards to drop, with more processor models available, and prices for DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 SSDs may also decrease, making that a better time to consider a new platform upgrade.
Of course, if your upgrade budget is high and you seek extreme performance, feel free to disregard my suggestions and directly choose mid to high-end models from the Intel Core Ultra series and AMD Ryzen 9000 series, depending on your actual needs and budget.
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