I was recently given an iBuyPower PC from around 2017 and would like to make it feel a little more current without spending unnecessarily. It has an MSI MS-7A72 motherboard, an Intel Core i7-7700K, a GTX 1080 8GB, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and Windows 11 Pro 64-bit. The system seems generally balanced, but I'm mainly interested in playing WARDOGS and Squad with the Galactic Contention mod. A benchmark placed the CPU below the GPU and memory, so I'm wondering whether the processor, graphics card, RAM, or entire platform should be upgraded first.
5 Answers
Before buying anything, check the BIOS and make sure XMP is enabled. That lets the RAM run at its advertised speed instead of a slower default setting. It’s usually harmless, although if the system becomes unstable, just turn it back off. Also check temperatures, storage health, and whether the CPU or GPU is actually hitting 100% while you play.
If WARDOGS is the main reason for upgrading, the CPU is likely the limiting part, and a graphics card upgrade alone may not solve stuttering or low minimum frame rates. A newer platform such as a Ryzen 7 5700X with a B550 motherboard is a reasonable budget option, particularly because that processor is listed as a recommended CPU for WARDOGS. Just remember that this also means replacing the motherboard and possibly buying or reusing compatible DDR4 memory.
The i7-7700K is already the best practical CPU available for that motherboard socket, so there isn’t a worthwhile drop-in processor upgrade. Your benchmark doesn’t automatically mean the CPU needs replacing; real game performance, especially frame-time stutters, is more useful. For 1080p gaming, the GTX 1080 is still roughly in the range required by these games, so you may be able to play without upgrading anything.
For the cheapest temporary improvement, add another matching 16GB of DDR4 if the current memory is running as 2x8GB and you regularly have other programs open. Going to 32GB can help with newer games and background applications, but faster RAM won’t transform this system. You could also overclock the 7700K if you have a capable cooler, though the gain will be modest and temperatures need to be monitored.
A newer midrange GPU can be moved into a future build, so it’s the more reusable upgrade. However, the 7700K may hold back substantially faster cards in CPU-heavy games, especially at 1080p. I would only replace the GTX 1080 after confirming that the GPU is consistently at full usage and lowering graphics settings or resolution improves performance. Otherwise, save for a new CPU and motherboard platform rather than making several expensive partial upgrades.
That makes sense. I was assuming the lower CPU score meant it had to be replaced, but I’ll check actual CPU usage and frame rates in the games first.