I recently upgraded my GPU from a 2060 to a 5070, and while my average FPS is decent at around 70-90, I'm struggling with low 1% FPS that are only about 20-30. I've done some research and it seems like I might be facing a CPU bottleneck.
Here's my current setup: Ryzen 7 3700x, 4x8 DDR4 RAM at 2133MHz, an Asus 5070 GPU, and a Gigabyte B450 motherboard.
I'm considering whether I should upgrade my CPU to improve performance, particularly for playing games at 1440p—though I also have a 1080p monitor as an option. My budget for a complete overhaul including a new CPU, motherboard, and RAM is under $1000. I'm aware that switching to an AM5 platform would likely require a full rebuild.
I'm looking at CPUs like the Ryzen 5 7600x3D, Ryzen 7 7700x, or the Ryzen 7 7800x3D, especially since I saw a recommendation for the 7700x in a past discussion. Is the upgrade really necessary, and which CPU would give me the best performance?
3 Answers
Given the RAM situation, I'd suggest sticking with your DDR4 for now. If you’re open to it, Intel's 14th gen, like the 14600K or 14700K, could be great alternatives. They’ll be slightly faster than a 7700X, and you can pair them with a DDR4 motherboard, saving you cash on RAM.
You might want to consider upgrading to a Ryzen 5700x; it should work well with your setup. I’d recommend sticking with AM4 for now since RAM prices are high, so an upgrade may be more cost-effective that way.
Don't stress too much about resolution. Your CPU will affect your performance similarly at 1440p and 1080p. The 7600x3D might give you the best performance boost but keep in mind that it has two fewer cores than the others you’re considering. The 7700x is solid too, just weigh your options based on game requirements.
I’ve got mixed DDR4 kits, and they aren’t all the same frequency. It’s strange because I bought my PC pre-built, but I guess that's why I don't see them listed on any specs.