Hey everyone! I've got an older gaming PC that I want to keep running until the extended support for Windows 10 ends next year. My setup includes a Z97 socket 1150 motherboard, a GTX 970 GPU, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and an i5 4690K overclocked to 4.2 GHz. My aim is to play games at 1080p resolution with a target of 60fps, specifically looking at Witcher 3, Far Cry 5, and Horizon Forbidden West.
I'm not keen on spending a lot of money on upgrades, but I have a couple of questions:
1. Considering my current bottlenecks, is it worth getting a 1080 Ti, or am I better off looking for a cheaper option that provides similar performance? My budget maxes out at buying a used 1080 Ti.
2. The highest-tier CPU I can swap in is an i7 4790K, which is pretty inexpensive now. Would it be worth the upgrade in terms of performance for the games I want to play?
Thanks for any advice you can share to help me revive this old rig!
3 Answers
Before diving into upgrades, what's your total budget for this project?
Honestly, investing in an old GPU like the 1080 Ti might not be the best idea. Instead, consider saving a bit more and plan for a future build. You could look into options like the RX 6600 or even a new RTX 3060. They're more current and could serve as a solid base for your next setup. But if you really just want to keep your current rig running for a bit longer, do what makes you happy!
I hear you! It’s nice to just keep playing what you enjoy, even if it’s not the latest tech. I'm not heavily into gaming now either, so keeping things budget-friendly sounds smart.
In response to your questions:
1. Yes, you might experience some CPU bottlenecking with a new GPU.
2. The i7 4790K could be a minor upgrade but really only offers about 5-15% better performance in certain scenarios. Also, remember that newer GPUs like the RTX 3060 will fit your current setup, and they could perform way better for future games. Plus, keep an eye out for Black Friday sales, as you might find some good deals!
Thanks for the insights! I’ll definitely check out those GPU options and see how the sales go in the coming weeks.
I've got around £150-200 to work with.