I've just upgraded to an RTX 5070ti and I'm now gaming at 1440p, but I've realized that my current CPU is holding me back. I'm using an i9-9900K and I'm looking for suggestions on CPU upgrades. I'm open to both AMD and Intel options, so price is flexible as long as I get good performance. I know that replacing the CPU may require a new motherboard and possibly new RAM if the recommendations only support DDR5. Right now, I'm only getting around 60fps in most games, and I want to improve that. Here are my current specs: CPU: i9-9900K, CPU Cooler: Corsair H150i Pro, Motherboard: Asus ROG MAXIMUS XI Hero, Memory: G.Skill Trident Z RGB 3200 (4 x 8 GB), Storage: Samsung 860 Evo 1 TB SSD, GPU: RTX 5070ti, PSU: Corsair RM850 W 80+ Gold.
2 Answers
For a solid upgrade, you can't go wrong with either the AMD 7800X3D or the 9800X3D. Both provide excellent performance boosts for gaming at 1440p.
What are you planning for your budget and upgrade timeline? If your G.Skill Trident Z RGB 3200 is DDR4, consider the Intel i5-14600K, which occasionally drops to around $170. Pair it with a Z690 or Z790 motherboard and you can reuse your DDR4 RAM to save costs, just make sure to update the BIOS. If you're thinking long-term and want to make frequent upgrades, AMD's AM5 is worth considering, but it does mean buying new RAM as well.
Budget isn’t really a concern as long as the upgrade is worthwhile. I want to keep this setup for a few years since I last upgraded in 2019. My RAM is DDR4.