Is spending $300 on an Intel Core i9-9900K worth it? | Ask an expert - bowmanprinnybod

Gordon Mah Ung

Q: An opportunity came up to buy a 9900K for $300. Right now, I own a PC with an 8700K, which I employ with an RTX 3080 happening an ultrawide 3440x1440p monitor. If I buy the 9900K, I could pass low-spirited the 8700K to my kid, who has an i3 splintering. Is it worth devising this climb?

A: Even though it's not the newest processor on the block, a 9900K for $300 is still an excellent deal. But of course, pocket money you weren't provision to requires justification, especially when it's several cardinal dollars.

Looking it from the perspective of just your ain benefit, you won't see that much of a difference in gaming. Moving up to a 9900K will net you higher clock speeds plus extra cores and threads, but for gaming on an ultrawide 1440p monitor, you won't get any advantage from a more powerful CPU, as you're GPU-limit. The 9900K might have helped with bottlenecks at standard 1440p, though.

But factor your tike into the equation, and the kick upstairs actually may make sense. Let's say her machine already has a 300-series chipset motherboard, and you can drop the 8700K right-handed in. Going from a processor with four cores and cardinal threads to one with six cores, 12 threads, and higher clock speeds will extend the life of that PC well, especially if she plays games on it. So now you've gone $300 on two systems that extends their lives by years. Non a sad investment, especially if you don't often buy in new parts. If you can resell that i3 knap, the time value increases further.

install intel cpu motherboard — Playing honeyed chairs with CPUs is a lot easier and cheaper if your motherboards are compatible with all the processors involved.

Continuing this reasoning, the upgrade rear noneffervescent make sense even if it involves buying a original motherboard for either the 8700K or the 9900K. Perhaps you'd anticipated a bigger outlay in a year or deuce to completely replace your fry's machine—$450 to amend her feel for and boost your personal system's longevity could be worth it. Add in other family member (maybe a younger child?) who could cause use of the i3 C.P.U., and you may allay get favorable note value out of purchasing the 9900K.

About folks will joke that this decision boils push down to how much you get laid your jolly, but in the end, you are the best judge of your folk's needs—and your kid's habits and interests. As with whatsoever tempting deal, throwing toss off money only makes sensation if you'll get use out of the token.

Welcome to Ask an Expert, where we fishing rig your questions almost Microcomputer building. Have your own burning touch on? Spud U.S.A an email at thefullnerd@pcworld.com .

Note: When you purchase something later clicking golf links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.

Alaina Yee is PCWorld's resident physician bargain hunter—when she's not cover PC building, computer components, miniskirt-PCs, and more, she's scrub for the best tech deals. Previously her puzzle out has appeared in PC Gamer, IGN, Maximum PC, and Official Xbox Magazine. You can find her happening Twitter at @morphingball.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/394013/is-spending-300-on-an-intel-core-i9-9900k-worth.html

Posted by: bowmanprinnybod.blogspot.com