Hey everyone! I currently have a Gigabyte 3070, but it's starting to struggle with newer games at 1440p. I'm wondering if it's worth it to just upgrade my GPU, or if I need to consider upgrading my entire PC. I know my CPU might bottleneck things a bit and my RAM is a little slow, but does that really matter? I live in Australia and have a budget of about $1500 AUD (or $1000 USD) for the GPU. I might be able to stretch my budget if necessary. Any suggestions for mid-range GPU options? Here's a rundown of my build: Ryzen 9 3900x, X570 Aorus Elite, Gold 750 Cooler Master PSU, 32GB 3200 RAM, and I'm using a 1440p monitor.
5 Answers
Honestly, both upgrades might be necessary. The 3900X can handle gaming, but it wasn’t designed specifically for it so upgrading to something like a 5700X3D would double your gaming capability. After that, reassess your FPS; if it’s still not satisfying, then look at GPUs. Also, don’t forget about your RAM speed.
The 3900X is still a decent gaming CPU! An upgrade can help, but it might be overkill for your needs.
In my opinion, you can just upgrade the GPU. Your 3900X is still a strong CPU, so something like a 4070 Ti Super should pair well for 1440p gaming. Sticking to just a GPU might be the best route, unless you are looking for major-performance bumps.
Just be cautious about CPU bottlenecking. If you get a high-end GPU like that, the 3900X might hold you back a bit.
Right, but if you just want to play AAA titles at decent settings, you should be fine with the 3900X.
What games are you planning to play? That really affects whether to upgrade the GPU or CPU. If you want to play newer AAA titles, that's where you'll see the bottleneck.
I was in a similar situation a while back. I upgraded my GPU to a 7900 XT and my 3700X CPU kept up just fine. You might find the 9070 XT works well for you too, and it’s a solid choice at your budget.
Exactly! Just monitor that GPU utilization to avoid bottlenecks.
Good to know! I’ve been considering a 9070 XT as well. Seems like a good balance.
You could use DLSS to boost your FPS, but if you want a dedicated upgrade, consider the 5700X3D along with a 4080 or 7900 XT. However, if you're primarily gaming, you might want to focus on GPUs with more VRAM since the 3070 struggles with newer titles at 1440p. An upgrade to a 5070 Ti could also be good, and cheaper too!
Yeah, 4080s are getting hard to find. You might have better luck with 5070 Ti models. It’s a great option if you're looking to save a bit.
Agreed, but keep in mind VRAM; for 1440p, something with at least 16GB would really help out.
Yeah, but for future-proofing, a CPU update is likely worth it along with the GPU...