I'm currently using an Intel 8700K CPU, overclocked to 4.8GHz, along with 32GB of RAM, a Founders Edition 4080 GPU, and an MSI Z370 Pro Carbon motherboard powered by an EVGA Gold 850W PSU. My setup runs cool with a Corsair 110i water cooler. I usually game on an ultra-wide 1440p resolution with MMOs, and I've noticed my CPU utilization stays around 60-70%. Given that I haven't experienced any issues with performance, I'm wondering if it's worth upgrading the CPU for better performance with my 4080 or if I should stick with what I have since it's working fine for now.
5 Answers
If you haven't faced any problems yet, that's great! But remember, being at 60-70% usage doesn’t mean your CPU isn’t limiting your GPU. Upgrading could yield significant improvements, and even a budget CPU like the 12400F will offer a big boost for your 4080.
Just because your CPU isn’t maxed out doesn’t mean it's not holding back performance. Many current games aren’t well-optimized for multi-threading. I think it would be a smart move to upgrade; you’ll likely notice the benefits. Just test out your current setup with some benchmarks to see where you stand.
Considering the age of the 8700K, you'd definitely benefit from an upgrade. Even a mid-range CPU like the 7600X would be a huge improvement, and it'd be a shame to bottle-neck that powerful 4080.
I made the switch from an 8600K to a 12700K while using a 3070Ti, and it totally transformed my gaming experience. I can't imagine how much you could gain by upgrading to a 9800X3D with the 4080!
Honestly, you might be hitting a bottleneck with that 8700K. Going for something like a 9700X or a 9800X3D could make a noticeable difference in performance for your 4080. It seems outdated at this point, especially for high-end gaming.
Yeah, that's what I'm kind of leaning towards. The 12400F sounds reasonable if I decide to upgrade.