I'm upgrading from an RTX 3080 to a non-XT RX 9070. I mainly play non-competitive games at 1440p and would be happy with around 90 FPS or more. Will the i5-13400F hold the RX 9070 back in a noticeable way? I'm also wondering how much extra gaming performance I could gain by moving to something like an i5-14600K or i7-14700K. The upgrade to the RX 9070 would be relatively inexpensive after selling my RTX 3080, and I'm interested in the newer features, improved upscaling support, and having more VRAM for occasional 4K gaming on an OLED TV.
4 Answers
A faster CPU could provide a small increase in CPU-limited games, particularly at 1080p or when trying to push very high frame rates. At 1440p, the difference between the 13400F and a 14600K or 14700K will generally be minor—perhaps around a few percent in many games. The result can also vary depending on whether you’re using DDR4 or DDR5 memory.
The RX 9070 can be a worthwhile upgrade if you’re getting a good price after selling the RTX 3080, especially for newer games, additional VRAM, and occasional 4K use. The performance gap depends on the specific game and settings, but it should be more meaningful than a CPU upgrade at 1440p. A 650W power supply may be adequate if it is a good-quality unit, though you should check the power requirements and connector recommendations for the specific card.
The 3080 was inherited from a family member, and I can sell it after buying the RX 9070, so the upgrade cost is fairly low. I’ve also had poor performance in crowded Arma Reforger sessions, and the extra VRAM should help when I play newer games at 4K.
You should be fine. At 1440p, the RX 9070 will usually be the limiting component, especially with higher settings. Any CPU bottleneck will depend heavily on the game, frame-rate target, and settings rather than being a constant problem.
In most games, upgrading the processor would not be worth the cost just for this graphics card. You might see a noticeable improvement in heavily CPU-bound games or crowded simulation-style titles, but the 13400F is still a capable gaming CPU. Keep the current processor unless monitoring shows it is regularly limiting performance.
It makes more sense to install the new GPU first and check your actual GPU usage and frame rates. If you’re consistently GPU-limited, a CPU upgrade won’t help much.