I'm looking to upgrade my gaming PC to improve FPS in games. Currently, I have an i7-8700 processor, an RTX 2070 Super graphics card, 16 GB of 2666 DDR4 RAM, and a 600W power supply. While I've heard that upgrading my CPU will provide a bigger boost, I'm not sure which one to get. I've always used Intel CPUs and am hesitant to switch to AMD for the graphics card due to past issues, but I'm open to it. I mainly play games like Warzone and Marvel Rivals, where my frames seem limited by my CPU. I've even noticed that my laptop with an i5-13th gen and a 3050 handles Minecraft way better than my current setup. I want to know what affordable upgrade choices I have, preferably piece by piece. Would a 12700K benefit me, and do I need a water cooler for that?
2 Answers
Honestly, it might be best to sell your current PC and invest in a new one instead of piecemeal upgrades. You’ll need to get new RAM, CPU, motherboard, and likely a better GPU as well. The way your current build is balanced, upgrading individual parts might not give you the performance boost you want, so going for a complete upgrade could be worth it!
If you're planning on upgrading your CPU, you'll likely need to change other components like the motherboard and RAM since they won’t be compatible with newer CPUs. Plus, your 600W PSU might not handle an upgraded GPU down the line. I’d suggest focusing on the CPU, motherboard, and RAM upgrade first, and then look into the GPU later. Just don't expect huge performance gains from your GPU with the current setup without changing components around it.
I get that everything will change eventually, but do you have any specific CPU recommendations for stepping up from the i7-8700?
I totally get that, but selling feels like a hassle. I’d rather just pass my old parts down to family instead of going through the selling process.