I'm looking to improve my PC's gaming performance a bit, especially for newer titles that haven't been optimized well. Right now, I've got an Intel Core i5 9400F paired with an ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero motherboard. I also have 32GB of RAM (4x8GB) and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, along with a 34-inch Gigabyte ultrawide monitor. While I mostly do Photoshop and Premiere for work without major issues, I'm wondering if I should be upgrading the CPU and motherboard first since I'm considering a switch to Ryzen. My budget is flexible, but I'm not a heavy gamer and only play occasionally, so I want to know what makes the most sense for performance improvements without overspending.
3 Answers
It really depends on your needs! The 9400F still holds up enough for many games, but pairing it with a new GPU might give you the performance boost for the latest titles. Just remember that some games may still be limited by the CPU depending on their design. If you mainly play something like LOL, maybe wait a bit before upgrading.
You could just upgrade to an Intel i9-9900K or KF without needing a new motherboard. But remember, that's just delaying the inevitable! If you're thinking of switching to Ryzen, you might want to save for a complete new build, especially with upcoming games like Witcher 4 on the horizon.
Yeah, I feel the same way. Probably gonna ride this configuration for some more time and then just build a new PC from scratch when Witcher 4 comes out.
Honestly, you might want to consider upgrading your GPU first since the RTX 2070 is a decent card, but if you want better performance on that ultrawide monitor, a new graphics card could give you a better boost in gaming. However, if you're leaning towards a CPU/motherboard change, there's a budget-friendly build that can get you started. Check out these parts for a Ryzen upgrade: CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, Cooler: Thermalright Assassin King, Motherboard: Asus PRIME B650-PLUS, and some fast DDR5 RAM. It'll cost around $396 total!
Thanks for the detailed advice!
Thanks for your advice!