Maybe he's playing with older games where AMD currently isn't all that great now or doing some console emulation where AMD is really painful ? 

If he's only looking at the performance of recent AAA titles with the latest graphics technology then I'd be inclined to agree with you that there's no rational reason to exclude AMD in that instance ... (especially when the said AAA game has a DX12 or Vulkan backend)

With the PC you currently have, I'd say that it's easier to make a full upgrade rather than just changing a component. The reasons for that are:

1. Next gen consoles will most likely use an 8-core CPU, and a proper one, not the rubish Jaguar CPUs they had this gen. While some of those cores may be locked from games for other tasks, I'd say that a 6-core processor should be the absolute min. you should have to play next gen games.
2. We're talking about Intel, which means that a new motherboard will be necessary.
3. 8GB of RAM just won't cut it anymore. You should go with at least 16GB.
4. Obviously, that GPU won't be up for the task either, neither for its power nor for the memory it has.

All in all, that's basically getting a new PC.

That said, unless you're in a hurry, I'd wait until the consoles launch to see what kind of requirements the new games ask for, and build the new PC from that baseline. Plus, with over a year until they arrive, you'll have more time to save money for the new machine.

Yeah, you'll pretty much need new rig, but I'd say wait for it, we're still far off from next gen consoles, there will be both new CPU/GPU launches and price cuts on older stuff in next year and a half.

That said, you might want to consider just upgrading your GPU until then with something like GTX1060 or RX 580.

Yay! The Friday news:

SALES & DEALS

Action-packed combat/exploration/discovery/trade game, Rebel Galaxy, is free on Epic Games Store
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/action-packed-combat-exploration-discovery-trade-game-rebel-galaxy-is-free-on-epic-games-store/
Double Damage Games is currently offering its action-packed combat/exploration/discovery/trade game, Rebel Galaxy, for free on the Epic Games Store. This basically means that PC gamers can acquire their free copy by visiting its Epic store page and keep it theirs forever.
In Rebel Galaxy, players will battle pirates, explore anomalies, befriend aliens, scavenge battle wreckage, mine asteroids, and discover artifacts. Players can choose their path as a roguish do-gooder, crafty space-trader or power-hungry privateer in this space adventure.
(...)
Those interested can acquire their free copy by visiting the game’s Epic store page.
>> Next week, the free game will be "Last Day of June".

Dota Underlords has more than double Artifact's peak player count
https://www.pcgamer.com/dota-underlords-has-more-than-double-artifacts-peak-player-count/
Dota Underlords' beta went live yesterday and, at the time of writing, it already has more than 170,000 people playing it concurrently, according to SteamDB. This is just based on Steam numbers and does not include all the Android and iOS players.

On the Humble Store there are two new sales:

• The Yakuza franchise, that includes 0, Kiwami and Kiwami 2, is on sale for the next 3 days, up to 50% off: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/yakuza-franchise-sale/
• And the Detective Hamble Sale, consisting of detective games and point'n'click adventures, brings up to 90% discounts for the next 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/detective-hamble-sale/

At Fanatical, there are several new deals:

• The Star Deal is GUILTY GEAR Xrd -REVELATOR- (+DLC Characters) + REV 2 All-in-One (does not include optional DLCs), 70% off for the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/guilty-gear-xrd-revelator-and-rev-2-all-in-one-and-dlc-characters
• That's part of an ARC SYSTEM WORKS sale, with up to 80% discounts for the next 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/arc-system-works
• Super Neptunia RPG is 20% off for the next 6 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/super-neptunia-rpg
• And lastly, there's the Beamdog Pick & Mix bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/beamdog-pick-and-mix

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-empty-

MODS/EMULATORS

StarCraft Remastered will receive a graphics overhaul on July 10th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/starcraft-remastered-will-receive-a-graphics-overhaul-on-july-10th/
Back in 2016, we informed you about a really cool mod that transformed StarCraft 2 into a cartoon. And today, Carbot Animations announced that it has worked with Blizzard in order to bring this graphics overhaul mod to StarCraft Remastered.
Carbot Animations describes this overhaul as a new graphics setting that completely changes the game’s visuals, making it seem cute, cartoon-ish and colourful.

Alien Isolation, Bioshock Remastered, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood & more with Reshade Ray Tracing
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/alien-isolation-bioshock-remastered-assassins-creed-2-brotherhood-more-with-reshade-ray-tracing/
YouTube’s ‘Zetman’ has shared some videos, showing Alien Isolation, Bioshock Remastered, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Nier Automata and Dragon Age Origins with Pascal Gilcher’s Reshade that adds real-time ray tracing/path tracing effects via a post-processing solution to older games.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again; this ray tracing/path tracing solution is not as accurate as what can be achieved with DXR. Still, this is a great way to overhaul the visuals of really old games.

GAMING NEWS

New Tales of Arise in-engine trailer introduces Shionne and Alphen
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-tales-of-arise-in-engine-trailer-introduces-shionne-and-alphen/
Bandai Namco has released a new in-engine trailer for Tales of Arise in which the publisher reveals the names of the brave protagonists fighting for freedom. Tales of Arise will be using Unreal Engine 4 and promises to feature a high quality animation system, as well as a dynamic action RPG battle system that will be mostly faithful to the series.

Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories is coming to the PC in early 2020
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/disaster-report-4-summer-memories-is-coming-to-the-pc-in-early-2020/
NIS America announced that Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories will be officially coming to the PC in early 2020. In order to celebrate this announcement, the team has released an in-engine trailer that you can find below.

Gears 5 will not have Season Pass or Gear Packs, DLC maps will be free, will have micro-transactions
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/gears-5-will-not-have-season-pass-or-gear-packs-dlc-maps-will-be-free-will-have-micro-transactions/
The Coalition has just revealed some new details about Gears 5. According to the team, Gears 5, or Gears of War 5 for those that fancy the older title, will not feature a Season or Gear Packs.
Furthermore, all future DLC maps will be free for matchmaking and Private Play. The team will also introduce a new system called Tour of Duty, via which players can earn content by playing the game. Players will take on Daily Challenges and seasonal Medals to rank up and earn customization content (including character skins).

Halo Reach Flight Program will most likely begin next week, Halo: Infinite PC Beta/Flight Program confirmed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/halo-reach-flight-program-will-most-likely-begin-next-week-halo-infinite-pc-beta-flight-program-confirmed/
343 Industries has announced that the first flight for Halo: Reach on MCC PC, if everything goes according to plan, will be next week to a small subsection of registered Halo Insiders. The team claimed that it will be starting more modestly because it’s got quite a few levers to pull and wants to ensure its delivery pipeline runs smoothly and that participants can properly provide their feedback on the build.

Microsoft Flight Simulator will emphasize on simulation, is designed for PC, will support mods
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/microsoft-flight-simulator-will-emphasize-on-simulation-is-designed-for-pc-will-support-mods/
Microsoft has shared some additional details about the new Flight Simulator game that is currently under development. According to the development team, Microsoft will put more emphasis on overall simulation and has confirmed that the game will support third-party Content Development and Community Content creation (in other words, mods).

34 minutes of gameplay footage from the closed beta of the Zelda: BOTW-inspired JRPG, Genshin Impact
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/34-minutes-of-gameplay-footage-from-the-closed-beta-of-the-zelda-botw-inspired-jrpg-genshin-impact/
YouTube’s ‘Keru’ has shared a video, showing 34 minutes of gameplay footage from the closed beta phase of the upcoming Zelda: BOTW-inspired JRPG, Genshin Impact. While this is beta footage (meaning that it does not reflect the quality of the final product), it will give you an idea of how this new JRPG looks and plays.

Friday news part two:

Assassin's Creed Odyssey's Story Creator has spawned a lot of farming quests
https://www.pcgamer.com/assassins-creed-odysseys-story-creator-has-spawned-a-lot-of-farming-quests/
After filling Assassin's Creed Odyssey with countless new quests, most of them free, Ubisoft decided to let players take over and start crafting their own ancient adventures. The Story Creator is based on the tools used to create the game and boasts a huge 157-page manual, though it's less complicated than it sounds. And how have these new powers been put to use by players? Farming XP, mostly.

Total War: Three Kingdoms' gore DLC includes 'equine dismemberment'
https://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-three-kingdoms-gore-dlc-includes-equine-dismemberment/
Total War: Three Kingdoms is pretty light on gore, but it's about to get some gruesome DLC that will smear blood and limbs across the battlefield. Lovely! Every Total War gets one. Unfortunately, horses are also on the chopping block this time, and their legs can be lopped off. Probably something we could all do without seeing.

Arma 3's alien expansion will add new factions, terrain and more to the sandbox
https://www.pcgamer.com/arma-3s-alien-expansion-will-add-new-factions-terrain-and-more-to-the-sandbox/
Arma 3, Bohemia Interactive's serious military sim, is going a bit X-Files. Arma 3: Contact, announced last month, is a spin-off expansion set during first contact with alien life, and while it could have been a tongue-in-cheek novelty, so far it appears to as straight-faced as its predecessor.

GTA Online's Diamond Casino and Resort will open later this summer
https://www.pcgamer.com/gta-onlines-diamond-casino-and-resort-will-open-later-this-summer/
Last week, Rockstar teased the long-awaited opening of the Vinewood Casino in GTA Online, a snazzy joint that's been in the game for years but has never actually been accessible to players. Today it revealed a little more about what's in store, including the proper name: The Diamond Casino and Resort.

EA CEO says Anthem is 'not working very well' but vows to stick with it (and BioWare)
https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-ceo-says-anthem-is-not-working-very-well-but-vows-to-stick-with-it-and-bioware/
In a lengthy interview with GameDaily.biz, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson acknowledged that Anthem was a disappointment, but said that the game is "compelling" enough at its core that BioWare and EA are going to stick with it—and tha

Dota Underlords open beta is now live on Steam and mobile devices
https://www.pcgamer.com/dota-underlords-open-beta-is-now-live-on-steam-and-mobile-devices/
Dota Underlords, Valve's standalone take on the Dota Auto Chess mod for Dota 2 (which, let us not forget, is Valve's standalone take on the Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft 3), is now live and free on Steam. Valve said it expects the game to stay in Early Access for "a few months," with new features added at regular intervals.

Killing Floor 2 is free this weekend to start the Back and Kickin' Brass Summer Event
https://www.pcgamer.com/killing-floor-2-is-free-this-weekend-to-start-the-back-and-kickin-brass-summer-event/
Tripwire Interactive recently kicked off its Killing Floor 2 summer event with the release of a new free content update called Back and Kickin' Brass. The steampunk-themed update adds a new "Transport" Objective mode to the game and a new map called Steam Fortress, plus limited-time skins, objectives, and cosmetics, and the return of Zeds from last year's Summer Sideshow.

Children of Morta gets a time-limited demo on Steam, and it's really good
https://www.pcgamer.com/children-of-morta-gets-a-time-limited-demo-on-steam-and-its-really-good/
Children of Morta was announced in 2014 as a roguelike action game about the Bergsons, an extended family that's served as the guardians of the mystical Mount Morta for generations. It was expected to release in 2018 but at the last minute, developer Dead Mage Studio delayed it into 2019. With launch now just a few months away, the studio has released a (very) time-limited demo that covers the first chapter of the story and two playable members of the family: John, the father, and his eldest daughter Linda.

Roadwarden's demo lets you test its cool attitude-driven conversation system
https://www.pcgamer.com/roadwarden-is-a-texty-rpg-in-an-intriguing-fantasy-world/
RPGs shouldn't have to focus on combat, shouldn't have to even feature it, and an upcoming example of the latter is intriguing text-based RPG Roadwarden. In it, you play as a sort of highway defender, protecting the roads from hostile creatures and the resurrected dead. It's a fantasy world brought to life with environmental pixel art, but mainly with big giant globs of narration and dialogue.

Time to check the GOG and Steam deals for the weekend:

+GOG

• The weekly sale brings up to 80% discounts on "memorable classics": https://www.gog.com/promo/20190618_weekly_sale
• The weekend sale brings up to 90% discounts on games that revolve around destiny: https://www.gog.com/promo/20190621_weekend_sale

+Steam

• Next Day: Survival is the first, and legit, daily deal, 80% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/519190/Next_Day_Survival/
• Jurassic World Evolution is going to be 70% off for the next 4 days: https://store.steampowered.com/app/648350/Jurassic_World_Evolution/
• Insurgency: Sandstorm is free to try and 30% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/581320/Insurgency_Sandstorm/
• The recently translated to English 中国式家长 / Chinese Parents is 33% off for the weekend: https://store.steampowered.com/app/736190/__Chinese_Parents/
• Nioh: Complete Edition is 60% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/485510/Nioh_Complete_Edition___Complete_Edition/
• NetherRealm Studios puts its games on sale this weekend, with up to 75% discounts: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/nrs/
• And of course, the weeklong deals.

That's all folks! Have a happy and gaming weekend.

I'm not sure I see the deal in throwing away a relatively solid foundation because even by next generation standards in all likelihood his CPU will still be decent and then he has an option of overclocking it by adding another +1GHz clock speed which will make it very competitive with next generation systems since games still rely a lot on single threaded performance. I don't see much reason to be all that scared about 8 cores when they'll likely have ~30% lower clock potential ... (good chance that he'll still hit 60FPS for next gen since 8 Zen 2 cores clocked at 3GHz+ is a relatively high standard even in the PC space so developers will just aim lower)

Other than his graphics card or system RAM, I wouldn't touch anything else ...

That's possible, and with Intel they may be able to get a decent experience either way going forward. I was more so focusing on the point they made about being ready for next gen consoles yet being against a new AMD rig, while upcoming games should run just fine if not superb on an AMD system.

Yup. I'd stick with the rig for now if it's not giving them a hard time and see what the next consoles officially end up with and what their game performance is like, and then decide what to do. If they choose to stick with this rig, a CPU OC, some more RAM, and a newer GPU would do the trick. Might as well wait a year or more on that RAM and GPU and save themselves a bunch of money. An Nvidia 2000 series or Radeon 5000 series GPU should be much cheaper around the time the consoles launch.

Hi guys!

Today I have things to do and I won't be able to make the news. And given how many of them are in any given Monday, tomorrow I'll probably only do the news from one of the two sites I usually get the news from.

That is fine! You do a ripper of a job.

I say hang onto it for the time being, it still has years of life left in it.
Upgrade when you need to, rather than every time something new and shiny comes out. - Something I have started to do.

Could this be it ? Are we returning to the K8 days ? 

Even the lowest end Matisse SKU looks extremely solid and it looks like there's yet some more room left with higher end SKUs, overclocking, and higher memory performance ...