Hey everyone, I've recently upgraded my system from an i7 3770 to an i7 8700, revamped my motherboard, and added some new RAM. However, I'm experiencing disappointing gaming performance across the board. My setup includes an i7 8700 (turbo enabled), an RTX 2060 6GB OC from Gigabyte, and 16GB of 2666MHz dual-channel RAM. For context, in games like CS2, I'm barely hitting 100-130fps, and I can't seem to maintain 60fps in GTA V without significant drops. Does anyone have an idea of what could be causing this sluggish performance?
6 Answers
Could be that your RAM is a bit on the slow side. Ideally, you should be looking at 3200MHz or better for gaming. Also, make sure your system isn’t defaulting to use integrated graphics instead of your RTX 2060. And check that you’re using DisplayPort instead of HDMI; that can affect performance too.
Have you checked your CPU temperatures while gaming? It might be thermal throttling. Tools like CPU-Z can help you monitor those temps during gameplay to rule that out.
What about the game settings? Are you playing with RTX on, or do you have DLSS enabled? Honestly, a fresh Windows install might help clear up any conflicts. Also, make sure your monitor is connected to the graphics card directly, not the motherboard. And check if the XMP profile is enabled in the BIOS to ensure you're utilizing that RAM speed.
What resolution are you running at? Just curious because I sometimes see expectations mismatched. For example, I have an i5 9500T and a 3050, and I hit around 120fps in esports and older AAA titles.
Honestly, after all those upgrades, you might want to start saving for more hardware improvements. Your current spec isn't really cutting it for many of today's games, especially at higher settings.
Your configuration really isn’t the best anymore. You should definitely tweak your graphics settings; lowering shadows and reflections can make a significant difference. I would say stick to average or high settings instead of pushing for ultra in recent titles if you want better performance.

I'm playing at 1080p.