Hey everyone! I recently got a new 49-inch ultra-wide monitor with a stunning 5120x1440 resolution. However, my gaming experience hasn't been great because my GPU is really struggling to keep up. I think it's finally time to consider upgrading my PC.
Originally, I was looking to replace my RTX 3070 with the upcoming 5070 Ti. But then I started wondering if I should actually upgrade my Intel i7-8700 CPU to something like the Ryzen 9700X first.
So, I'm in a bit of a dilemma. If I upgrade the GPU, I expect to run most games smoothly at this resolution, as it seems the CPU won't be as much of a bottleneck for that. However, deep down, I feel like starting with a new CPU and motherboard would be a wiser long-term investment.
What do you think I should prioritize for the best overall performance?
2 Answers
It sounds like your GPU is definitely the main issue right now. While the CPU isn’t helping, focusing on the GPU upgrade will yield more immediate results in gaming performance. It’s more straightforward too since you won’t need to change out other components like the motherboard or RAM if you just swap the GPU.
Honestly, both the GPU and CPU could use an upgrade. If you can only pick one, I’d recommend going for the GPU first. You’ll see a noticeable difference in gaming, but keep in mind that the i7-8700 might still limit the performance of a new GPU in the long run. Ideally, upgrading both together would be the best approach, even if it's more cash upfront.
True! It’s much easier to upgrade just the GPU, especially since changing the CPU would mean replacing the motherboard, RAM, and cooler — that's a whole lot more work and expense!