Hey everyone! I'm trying to upgrade my aging CPU since it's becoming a bottleneck in my setup. I've got an i7-8700, RTX 2080 Super, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a Gigabyte Z370P D3 motherboard. I got the GPU for free, which is why it's so powerful compared to the CPU and motherboard combo. I'm really hoping to play newer games like Battlefield 6 at a stable 60fps on low to medium settings, but I'm currently experiencing frame drops even on the lowest graphics settings.
I'm looking to buy a second-hand CPU that performs well enough to match my RTX 2080 Super and preferably costs under £200. I want to keep my current motherboard to avoid messing up my setup too much, but I'm open to suggestions if upgrading the motherboard is necessary for better performance with the RTX 2080 Super. Any tips on what I should look for? Thanks!
4 Answers
I get your frustration. If you're firm on upgrading, I'd suggest looking for affordable CPUs on the second-hand market that will work with your existing motherboard. You could upgrade your CPU and maybe consider a budget-friendly motherboard/CPU combo if needed for better performance, but that might push you over £200.
First, you might want to double-check if your CPU is truly the bottleneck. You can open Task Manager, go to the Performance tab, and look at CPU usage while gaming. If your CPU is hitting 100% while your GPU is barely being used, then yeah, it's time to upgrade!
If you're looking for a budget upgrade, a used i9-9900K would be the fastest option for your current motherboard. But be aware, it might be a bit pricey. An i7-9700K could be another choice, although the performance increase might not be that huge.
Isn't the RTX 2080 Super still too powerful for those CPUs? What do you think?
Honestly, you might not get a solid upgrade for just £200. Most CPUs that would give a good performance boost require a new motherboard too. Your current setup actually seems pretty balanced for its age; the 2080 Super isn't really a powerhouse by today's standards, but it still performs well. Just keep in mind that to really maximize your GPU, an upgrade beyond just the CPU may be necessary, and that could exceed your budget.
I'm just not interested in spending a ton on new tech, especially since I got my GPU for free. I've been happy with my old parts, but maybe I should consider cheaper second-hand options.
I checked and my CPU hit 100% while my GPU was only at 23%. Seems like I do need an upgrade!