Advice needed: CPU for a low-budget gaming rig --> solved

[Ariortega]

Hello friends,

again I'm asking for your helpful advices. I'm going to build a low-budget gaming rig for a family member. Here are all the infos:

Goal / target: gaming at 1080p / 60Hz, ultra settings (no AAA title like RDR2 or SotTR)

Mainboard : MSI Z370 Gaming M5 - (already bought)
RAM : 16GB G.Skill DDR4 TridentZ (2x 8GB) @ 3200Mhz - (already bought)
GPU : EVGA GTX 1660 Super SC Ultra
PSU : Seasonic Focus Platinum 550W - (already bought)
CPU cooler : Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4
CPU : ??? advice needed

My question: which of the follwing cpus would you guys recommend to buy : i3-9100F, i3-9350K,
i5-9400F or the i5-9500F?

(most of you would probably suggest the i5-9400F but what bothers me with this cpu is the extremly low speed, which is only 4.1GHz and it can't be overclocked).

As always I'll appreciate every helpful advice.

[_I_]

its not like amd did with their x4/x6 cpus where they would lock good cores just to fill the x2/x3/x4 inventory
my old pii x2 545 is still unlocked to a quad and oc to 3.3ghz in htpc

most likely it will not be able to unlock cores and still be usable
but may be worth a shot
similar with ht and its igp

oc has much better odds with working cores

[Ariortega]

I know problem is already solved, so please apologize the following question:

What do you guys think of a i7-9700F (non K version) ? I could possibly get it for a very good price (secondhand of course).

[Pumpkin]

Messaggio originale di Ariortega:

I know problem is already solved, so please apologize the following question:

What do you guys think of a i7-9700F (non K version) ? I could possibly get it for a very good price (secondhand of course).

I would be wary of where you buy from if it´s second hand, make sure it´s trustworthy. Especially if it´s this really good price you are talking about.
Otherwise, why not, go for it.

I mean, seriously, you are asking us what we think about a good cpu, that you say can get for a really good price, (that is less than 150 euros I´m assuming, because you said a 150 euro cpu was too expensive for you.)
So what are we supposed to think....that it´s a bad deal? lol. Really, only you can make that decision.
I´d buy it if I knew I could trust the seller.

[Wisman]

Messaggio originale di Ariortega:

I know problem is already solved, so please apologize the following question:

What do you guys think of a i7-9700F (non K version) ? I could possibly get it for a very good price (secondhand of course).

I'm no Intel nut, but it seems pretty good. I would go for it if possible.

[Pumpkin]

Messaggio originale di _I_:

some of the z boards have 'cpu upgrade' where it can be faked as a k or different cpu model (with ht)
will allow non k to be overclocked, and might be able to unlock cores or ht

they are all basically the same chip, intel bins them depending on performance or bad/poor cache/igpu/ht ect..


id go for the 9400/f and hope it can unlock and overclock good with a good cooler in the future
or the 9600k/kf and cooler and oc

Ah really? Wow, that´s really interesting, I´ve never heard about that before, but that would be really nice.
You sure it is possible on modern hardware? How might that even work?

[Ariortega]

hey, thanks for your response. Well, to be honest, it's a little bit more then 150€ but cheaper then a new one (ca. 330€). I believe that with a cpu like that we'd be good for the next couple years, although it's totally overdosed for "only" 1080p / 60Hz gaming. But what if we (or my family member) wants to record the pc gameplay for youtube? 2 physical cores more would make a huge performance difference, wouldn't it?

(btw: Pumpkin, I really like your profil picture, looks very nice )

[_I_]

@pumpkin
the mobo and bios need to support the feature
unlocking cores, ht, or igpu will most likely fail since the cpu was not binned with them enabled

my z97 board has the option to run the 4690k as 4790k
a buddys z170 can run his 7600k as 7700k
both failed, but was worth a shot for free ht

setting it as a higher clocked cpu is no different than oc by cpu multi
if its unstable at the k variant, try keeping it as k and turn down the base and turbo multis in the oc settings