I've been gaming on both consoles and PCs for about thirty years, usually upgrading my PC in between console generations. Right now, I'm still enjoying most games, but recent titles like Doom and Indiana Jones are making me rethink my setup due to their hardware RT requirements. I don't want to do a full rebuild because I just have a little one and prefer to space out my upgrades. If I upgrade my GPU, say to an RTX 5080 when prices normalize, how much of a bottleneck can I expect on new games until I can upgrade my CPU, motherboard, and RAM? Will the bottleneck be around 10% or maybe as high as 40%? Does it depend on the resolution? I'm okay continuing with 1080p/144fps for now. Would love your thoughts!
4 Answers
Honestly, your post is quite a journey! Lower resolutions can strain the CPU more, and the fact is your CPU is almost a decade old. The RTX 5080 is powerful, but it might not be worth it against what you currently have. DLSS4 is cool, but even a 3060 can do most of what you'll need without breaking the bank.
If you grab an RTX 5080 now with your current rig, you're likely going to see some significant bottlenecking. It's tough to give a precise number since it really varies by game and situation, but I'd estimate if you then upgrade to a high-end CPU like the 9800X3D later, you're looking at a 3x to 4x performance boost!
That's why I'm looking for insights too! I know benchmarks can fluctuate based on the test rigs used, but I'm okay with a small performance increase now if I can eventually unleash the full potential later.
The impact of your CPU will really depend on the resolution. Playing at lower resolutions can lead to stuttering and frame drops if your CPU can't keep up. If you do go for an RTX 5080, I would highly recommend pairing it with a higher resolution display. At 4K, my 9070 XT runs great, but I don't play many graphics-heavy story games!
Good to know, especially since my PC is connected to a 4K/144 VRR TV. I'm more lenient about detail settings now, so being bottlenecked is fine as long as I get the new features!
Using a stronger GPU with an older CPU works better at higher resolutions, like 1440p or 4K. Your CPU may deliver higher frame rates at higher resolutions, but it will still limit performance significantly based on its capabilities. But what’s your budget? You could end up getting an entry-level PC with an upgrade path for the cost of just a new GPU!
I really don't want to go for an entry-level build. I've put off upgrades for too long. I was hoping to spend around £700 now and another £700 a year from now to complete the upgrade.
I'm content with my current performance besides a few games, so I prefer to space out my spending thoughtfully rather than fork out £2000 at once. Also, my case—who cares how old it is?!