I'm currently using an Intel 9600K with a 2060 Super in my PC build. I'm feeling the urge to upgrade, but I don't want to replace the CPU, motherboard, and other components just yet. I'm curious if switching to a 9070XT GPU would give me a significant boost in gaming performance, or will my CPU hold it back too much? I'd like to upgrade to a 9800X3D in the future. Also, are there any headaches I should anticipate when moving from an NVIDIA to an AMD graphics card? For context, I mainly play games like Baldur's Gate 3, E3, Age of Empires IV, and Shadow of War, and I game on a 3440x1440 ultrawide monitor. Thanks for your insights!
4 Answers
I'm running a 9700K with a 4070 Ti and it works really well, even at 4K. I upgraded from a 9600K to the 9700K after I got my GPU, and I gained a solid 5-10 FPS in most games. I suggest checking out benchmarks for the 9070XT—look for reviews that use high-end CPUs and see how it performs in your favorite games. If you can tweak your game settings to max out CPU usage while minimizing GPU requirements, that will help you gauge if your CPU is holding you back.
I'm using an Asus PRIME H310M-E and a Thermaltake Smart RGB 500W.
The 9070XT is pretty high-end overall. You might find that the 9060XT offers a substantial upgrade over the 2060 Super while being a better fit for your current CPU. Just a thought!
You should be able to swap in the 9070XT without any issues. If your GPU usage is above 90% when gaming, then you should definitely see a meaningful upgrade in performance.
That's a valid point, but I worry about future-proofing. I aim to upgrade to the 9800X3D in the next 6-12 months, and might regret not going for the 9070XT now.
What's your motherboard and power supply like?