I just need something that can encode DNxHD/ProRes faster and let me preview my 1080p timelines quicker. When tweaking Poita’s preview files in Sony Vegas, my 4770 / 635 couldn’t handle the footage unless it was in 8-bit/Video Gamma, as opposed to full 32-bit/Linear Gamma, which made my preview screen play back at ~8fps. Not sure if a GPU upgrade would fix this though.

I actually found the Ryzen 1700x on sale recently, but I’ve been anxious to buy it, as I hear the i7-8700k is a worthy competitor. But just like you said, Zen+ is right on the horizon, and might be a better investment than a year old CPU.