I built my current PC back in 2017, and here are the specs:
- Intel i7 7700K
- Asus Prime Z270-A
- GTX 1070 (Gigabyte G1)
- 16GB DDR4 3200 (TridentZ RGB)
- EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G2 (Gold)
- Corsair H50 (old liquid cooler from a previous build)
- Asus MG279Q 27" (144hz)
I've been thinking about upgrading for a couple of years now, but my husband, who mostly plays on consoles, didn't see the point since he doesn't use the PC much. Now, with GPU prices skyrocketing, I'm facing one of the toughest times ever to upgrade or buy a new build.
I originally researched a new setup featuring an i7 13700K, Asus ROG Strix Z790-H, 32GB DDR5, RTX 4070 Ti, and a new case, but the prices have jumped dramatically. For example, the CPU and RAM alone now cost over $1,600!
Currently, my gaming experience with Cyberpunk 2077 isn't great—there's noticeable stuttering, mediocre graphics, and unimpressive FPS. It runs, but not smoothly.
I'm considering options like simply swapping in a new graphics card while keeping the rest, or whether I should upgrade everything but the RAM. Is it feasible to piece together parts for better performance without breaking the bank? Or should I just bite the bullet and build a completely new system or buy a pre-built machine? Would that give us two functional PCs? Or is sticking with my current setup the best bet for now?
3 Answers
It sounds like your PC still specs out alright for a backup rig. I’d suggest looking into adding more RAM and a better GPU. My current build has a 13700F, 32GB DDR5, and a 3060 Ti, and it runs impressively. You can also consider upgrading to DDR4 and saving some cash if needed. Prices can be steep lately, but you can often find a good deal on eBay—like the 13700K around $240. Just a thought!
Your i7 7700K has become outdated with only 4 cores. To get more performance, tweak the game settings—especially lowering crowd density if you haven't already, as it severely taxes the CPU. You might also want to consider overclocking your 7700K to around 4.8GHz. If you grab a used RTX 2080 Ti, that's a solid upgrade for about $200. Plus, make sure the game is running on an NVMe SSD for optimal speed!
I keep the crowd density on medium, but I see what you're saying. Getting that GPU would probably be a good short-term fix too since it's on an NVMe SSD.
If you're eyeing an upgrade, I recommend the i5-12600KF along with a B760 DDR4 board and an RTX 5070. You can grab this whole setup for about $930 and it should deliver amazing performance in Cyberpunk with 60FPS on high settings, ray tracing included! The GPU boost would definitely elevate your gaming experience, but keep in mind the older 7700K might struggle with its 4 cores. Consider a new cooler too if you're overclocking!
Oh WOW, thank you! Checking it out now.
USD currency, same. I'll definitely take this into consideration, thanks!