Need Help Choosing the Right PC Upgrades for Premiere Pro - Is A 9900K Necessary?

Hi,

Before I get started I'll mention I am familar with computers, and have researched a lot of information on video editing over the last several months; however, I'm really having a hard time deciding whether I need to throw $1,700 into a FULL computer upgrade with the latest Intel/Nvidea tech available, or if my current 7600K build from a few generations back is suitable for the work I do in Premiere Pro.

I recently picked up a nice side business freelancing editing videos using Premiere Pro. Here's as much information as I can lay out everyone so hopefully, someone much more experienced in video editing that I am can shed some light on my concerns.

My current Specs:

i5 7600K 3.ghz 4 cores / 4 threads

GTX 1060, 3GB

16GB Corsair DDRr 2400 LPX memory

250GB 850 EVO Samsung SSD (OS and Programs)

2 TB WD Black Performance HDD (2013) - Storage and Project Files, Scratch Disk

My Workload:

• I only work on and export projects in 1080p. No footage is ever loaded or exported at a higher resolution than that, and no projects ever exceed 10 minutes in duration.

• I work in Premiere Pro 5 days a week, about 4 or 5 hours each day. It is a job, after all.

• The main effects that I use on projects regularly are varios Lumetri Color effects, Glaussier blur, basic transitions, and layering one or two green screen video layers over base footage. I do NOT use any 3D effects, motion tracking, etc. 

My Delima:

Since this is for work, I thought upgrading to a 9700k (8 cores/threads) or a 9900k (8 cores/16threads) would be a worthwhile investment, UNTIL I realized it ALSO meant a getting new motherboard, and copy of Windows 10. And if I'm upgrading to the latest gen CPU, then I was going to jump up to a 1660ti from my 1060 while I was at it. That,and new drives put me at about $1,700.00 😕😕 (Intel fan here, by the way; so AMD isn't something I'm considering).

ANYWAY, if I stayed on the 7th gen tech, I'd save over $1K, but the only upgrade I could make (without getting a new mobo and Win10 copy) would be a 7700K (up from a 7600K).

SO HERE'S WHERE I'M AT CURRENTLY:

I purchased an 860 EVO SSD 500GB for my OS and Program files (upgrading from my 250GB 850 EVO)

I purchased another 16GB of ram (32GB total now @ 2400)

HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS:

1. Should I get another (#2)  500GB SSD to use as a scratch disk AND a 500GB 960 EVO M2 drive for projects files (3 total drives, plus the forth HDD for storage), OR would a single M2 drive work for both project files and the scratch disk (with programs on the other 500GB SSD, or course, seperately)? Only getting the M2 drive would save me $60.

)((So: SSD 1, SSD 2, M2 Drive, HDD,    **OR**     SSD 1, M2 Drive, HDD)))

2. Would simply keeping my 7600K setup BUT upgrading to a 7700K have a noticable impact in Premiere Pro and export time? And in any other areas while we're at it? That's the only move I could make without having to get a new mobo and OS. But if it's only going to give me a 5% boost in render times, playback(? GPU) ? , then there's really no point, right?

3. I'm kicking myself now for not getting the 6GB 1060 version. Is the 3GB enough for the work I do that I mentioned previously? Would a 1660 ti upgrade be overkill?

4. Would a 9600K / 9700K / 9900K be worth the investment if I only edit 1080p footage (length of my video projects are all less than 10 minutes).

That's pretty much it. Like I said, I already purchased 1 new 860 EVO 500GB. It's sitting on my desk, still unopened. I just ordered an M2 drive today, and my other 16GB of RAM is standing by as well. Just trying to figure out if all of this, should go into my 7600K system, or if I should just build a new PC from the ground up.

I'm looking for a smooth, consistant, uninterrupted workflow for the work I do.

James