I'm currently using a Ryzen 5 5600x alongside a 3070 Ti and have 16GB of 3200MHz RAM. I'm trying to decide whether I should upgrade my CPU or GPU. What makes more sense based on performance improvement, and what specific models would you recommend?
6 Answers
I'd suggest aiming for a 5700X3D to upgrade your CPU. It's a solid choice! Just keep future-proofing in mind. You might also want to consider going for AM5 like the 7600X since it's not far behind in performance.
Start with an X3D CPU from the used market—any of those will give you a boost. Maybe aim for an 8-core model. After that, consider 32GB of RAM (keep it to 2 sticks for better performance). You can always assess a GPU upgrade later on. The 3070 Ti is still decent, but the limited VRAM could hinder you in some games.
What monitor resolution are you using? And do you have specific problems you'd like to address? Also, what's your budget? Those factors could change the answers significantly!
If you're looking for better framerates, definitely go for the CPU first. I'd recommend a 5700X3D or 5800X3D. If visuals are more your priority, then look into getting a better GPU, depending on your budget and resolution needs. Also, adding some extra RAM could help a lot, since it's relatively cheap these days!
Honestly, it all boils down to what issues you're facing. If your frame rates are lagging, try lowering your settings and see if that helps; if it does, you should get a new GPU. If not, you might need to upgrade your CPU instead.
Good point! Testing that out first can save you a lot of cash if it's just a GPU issue.
If you want to step things up, consider upgrading to an 5800X3D for your CPU and maybe adding another 16GB of RAM. For the GPU, it really depends on whether you're satisfied with your current frame rates and resolution.
Absolutely, find the bottleneck before spending!