I've built a gaming rig in 2019 with these specs: Intel i7-9700K CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, NVIDIA RTX 2070, ASUS Prime Z390-A motherboard, and Corsair RM 650x PSU. I recently tried playing Crimson Desert, but it didn't perform well enough for my liking. With upcoming games on the horizon, I'm considering an upgrade to keep up for at least another 5 years. My goal is to hit around 100FPS. I'm planning on upgrading my GPU, possibly to an RTX 5070 or 5070 Ti, but I'm unsure if I need to change anything else like my PSU or motherboard. Here are my main concerns:
1. Do I need to upgrade my PSU or motherboard for the new GPU?
2. Is a new CPU necessary to benefit from a new GPU?
3. 16GB of RAM has been sufficient so far; should I wait for prices to drop or upgrade to 32GB?
4. Any other considerations I should keep in mind?
5 Answers
Getting a Ryzen 5 processor, like the 5600 or 5700X, would be a solid upgrade since your 9700K will bottleneck a new GPU. For your GPU upgrade, the RX 9070 XT performs similarly to the RTX 5070 Ti and is priced around $700. Plan to upgrade your CPU, motherboard, GPU, and get a 750-850W PSU for a solid setup without breaking the bank!
I run a 750W PSU with my 70 Ti. You can check techpowerup for GPU power needs. You're right that 32GB RAM is becoming standard, but keep in mind that using four RAM sticks can complicate overclocking compared to two sticks. If you're looking to save money while upgrading, consider an Intel 14 series setup with a DDR4 motherboard instead of going all in on the latest tech.
Upgrading to a new GPU will help a lot at 1440p, but your i7-9700K is getting a bit old. While it won’t ruin your gaming, you might see better FPS and stability if you upgrade your CPU and motherboard too. Your current 650W PSU should handle a non-Ti 5070 just fine, but if you're eyeing the 5070 Ti, it's safer to consider a PSU upgrade. As for RAM, 32GB is becoming the new norm, especially with some games needing more than 16GB these days, so keep that in mind!
You might want to overclock your 9700K to get the best out of an RTX 5070, but keep in mind the 5070 Ti could be bottlenecked by your CPU. Acknowledging this, an upgrade to the GPU would still be worthwhile for the next couple of years, though you may find performance decreasing as new games come out.
A new GPU from the 70 series will definitely improve your performance, but be prepared for some CPU limitations. I suggest upgrading your GPU first and see how it performs. The 650W PSU should be enough for a 5070, but could be on the edge for a 70 Ti. After that, you'll have a clearer idea if you need to upgrade the CPU or motherboard. If you want a long-term solution, consider a powerful CPU like the 9800X3D or even a more budget-friendly i5 if prices are right!
But wouldn't that setup just be a temporary solution? Wouldn’t the 5070 become outdated quickly?