My Intel i5-4590 is often running at 90–100% usage while gaming, but my Radeon RX 5700 XT sits around 10%. I mainly want to play Old School RuneScape and WoW Classic without severe stuttering or lag. I found a used i7-4790K for about 850 Swedish kronor (roughly $80). Would upgrading to that processor noticeably improve things, or would I be better off saving for a newer platform?
4 Answers
Before buying anything, check your resolution, RAM usage, temperatures, and whether the game is actually limited by one CPU core. Also make sure you are not running out of memory or dealing with background processes. A high overall CPU percentage with low GPU usage does suggest a processor bottleneck, but the exact cause can vary by game.
I would avoid putting more money into the old system unless you need the cheapest possible short-term solution. The 4790K is several generations old, and similar processors used to sell for much less. It may also be worth checking used office PCs with seventh-generation or newer CPUs, although you would need to confirm compatibility with your graphics card and power supply.
The i7-4790K would be faster than your i5-4590 because it has Hyper-Threading, higher clocks, and more cache, so it could help with CPU-limited performance. However, $80 is a lot for such an old processor and LGA1150 platform. It would be more of a temporary fix than a worthwhile long-term upgrade.
You may get better value by saving for a platform upgrade instead. Used AM4 parts such as a Ryzen 2600, 3600, or 5500 with a basic B450 motherboard and 16 GB of DDR4 can often be found fairly cheaply. That would provide a much larger performance jump and leave you with a better upgrade path.
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