Updating a marginal PC for MSFS a waste of funds

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
1

Which of these would be best for the cpu update ? Current cpu is a i5 8400. PC has a 1060ti gpu. 32gb ram 1tb ssd x2 1080p monitor

  • TDP: 65 W

  • Socket type: LGA1151_CFL

  • Motherboard supports the following processor upgrades:

Processor TDP
Intel Core i5+ 8400 (2.8 GHz base frequency, up to 4 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 9 MB cache, 6 cores) 65 W
Intel Core i5-8400 (2.8 GHz base frequency, up to 4 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 9 MB cache, 6 cores) 65 W
Intel Core i7+ 8700 (3.2 GHz base frequency, up to 4.6 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 12 MB cache, 6 cores) 65 W
Intel Core i7-8700 (3.2 GHz base frequency, up to 4.6 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 12 MB cache, 6 cores) 65 W
Intel Core i3-8100 (3.6 GHz base frequency, 6 MB cache, 4 cores) 65 W
Intel Pentium Gold G5400 (3.7 GHz base frequency, 4 MB cache, 2 cores) 54 W - 58 W
Intel Pentium Gold G5420 3.8 GHz base frequency, 4 MB cache, 2 cores 54 W
Intel Celeron G4900 3.1 GHz, 2 MB cache, 2 cores 54 W
Intel Celeron G4930 (3.2 GHz base frequency, 2 MB cache, 2 cores) 54 W
Intel Core i7-9700 (3 GHz base frequency, up to 4.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 12 MB cache, 8 cores 65 W
Intel Core i7-9700F 3 GHz base frequency, up to 4.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 12 MB cache, 8 cores 65 W
Intel Core i5-9400 2.9 GHz base frequency, up to 4.1 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 9 MB cache, 6 cores 65 W
Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9 GHz base frequency, up to 4.1 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 9 MB cache, 6 cores 65 W
Intel Core i3-9100 3.6 GHz base frequency, up to 4.2 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 6 MB cache, 4 cores 65 W
2

Hello @TogetherSpark69,

Thank you for your post! Your topic has been moved to a subcategory of General Discussion & Community Support. The General Discussion category is meant for discussions that fall outside our other sub-categories.

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3

Of the options you listed, the i7-9700 is the best upgrade.

3 Likes
4

Thanks BigCow…I’m dumbfounded by the jargin on PC’s…I’ll begin my search…Are there better options other than the listed?

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I’m not as familiar with 9th Gen Intel systems, but you should check if the i9-9900 fits that socket. It’s the best of that generation.

Do you have a Z series motherboard? If so then the i9-9900K would be the best as you can overclock it on a Z series motherboard, if you are comfortable doing so.

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I know nothing about the overclock stuff so I leave all that to the pros…Hopefully this is a plug and play thing.Other than Ram/HD I have done no more than plug in a GPU. I found this info on your recommendations and the MB and it seems suited…Intel Core i9-9900 Desktop Processor 8 Cores up to 5.0GHz LGA1151 300 Series 65W …wow the
price lol…what say you BigCow…Thanks

HP name: Lincs
SSID: 843B

Form Factor
Chipset

Intel H370
7

That motherboard can not over clock, so the best available CPU would be the non-K i9-9900.

The only thing you would need to do to be sure it was drop in is to upgrade your motherboard BIOS to the latest version to ensure driver compatibility with that CPU.

Search for your motherboard name and vendor for latest BIOS and there should be upgrade instructions.

8

Scratch all that, I don’t see it listed for support. Also saw this on a message board:

Although the socket is LGA 1151 and literature states that the Intel Core i9 will mount, the Max TDP on your HP Motherboard is set at 65W. The Intel Core i9 TDP Rating is 95W. Configs won’t allow the max. That is why the max Processor listing on the HP Site states the Intel Core i7-9700F as top Chip. Thank you for choosing Intel

9

You might save a few bucks just upgrading your CPU but you will likely get a better value picking up something newer (10th-11th gen) if funds are limited. You’ll be less likely to need an upgrade for MSFS2024 if thats something you see in your future.

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Thanks for the info BC…what is “Coffee Lake?” mean… I feel dumb as a rock…trying to learn…please excuse my lack of pc cpu knowledge…I’ll look at the BIOS upgrade …much appreciated

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That’s just the code name of the 9th gen Intel CPUs.

As my updated pointed out, you should only go as far as an i7-9700. Best guess is it’s 20-30% “faster” than on i5-8400. If that’s worth is for you, then go ahead. If it’s not, then you would need plan a more comprehensive re-build.

12

Funds are always tight lol…

Portalearth420,Thanks!..What say you

13

Rubber baby buggy bumpers

No but seriously though. I’m not a big intel guy so i can’t say for certain what would be best for you. The most i can tell you is you’ll be typically better off with an i7 over an i5.

I typically have a future-proofing mindset when i upgrade my computer. I typically go for the last gen equipment which will get me through another generation of tech since the higher end stuff costs about the same as the current gen mid-tier components

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Much appreciated…I’m going with the I7 9700 to be safe…thanks all…