Hey everyone! I recently built my first gaming PC and I'm looking to upgrade my GPU. Right now, I've got an MSI Infinite case with an Intel i7-7700 CPU and a GTX 1060 6GB for my graphics card. I've got 8GB of DDR4 RAM and I believe my power supply is around 500W or 550W. I'm pretty confident about what RAM I might need to upgrade, but I'm really uncertain about the GPU. What's the best GPU I can get without having to also replace my CPU? I've been thinking about upgrading to a 2060 or maybe a 3060/3060 Ti, but I'd love to hear your thoughts as I don't want to mess things up! Thanks!
4 Answers
Be cautious! While a GPU upgrade is great, your PC is built with older parts. Make sure to check the label on your power supply—12V power is what you should really focus on. If the PSU can't handle the new GPU, you might run into issues. Also, consider that you may need to plan for a full overhaul of your CPU, motherboard, and RAM soon to keep up with future games.
Definitely go for the 3060 Ti! It’ll give you a massive performance boost even with your current i7-7700. Just keep in mind that a better CPU will help with benchmarks, especially for new AAA games. Also, adding another 8GB of RAM and installing your games on an SSD would further improve your overall experience.
If your budget allows, consider getting an RX 6800 XT. It's a fantastic card for both 1080p and 1440p gaming, and it would pair well with your setup! Plus, you could upgrade your CPU down the line.
Honestly, with the balance of your current GPU and CPU, it might be better to save up for a full upgrade in the future. Just swapping out your GPU could lead to performance limitations. Think about it and decide what you want long-term!
True, I’ve seen benchmarks where even a newer quad-core like the i3-10100F can outperform the i7-7700 in certain games. It’s wild how CPU power plays a big role as games evolve!