I'm currently running an Intel Core i5-12600KF alongside an AMD RX 6800 on a 3440x1440p setup. Recently, I started playing World of Warcraft, but I'm experiencing stutters and freezing, especially during raids. Sometimes, I even encounter black screens with slow texture reloads. I know WoW is quite CPU-intensive, so I'm considering upgrading to a Ryzen 9 9800X3D. However, I'm also contemplating whether a 7800X3D might suffice if I'm looking to save some cash. Do you think my GPU is still adequate for now, or should I be looking into a new graphics card like the 9070 XT or 5070 Ti?
2 Answers
Are you located in the US and close to a Microcenter? If you are, they often have great deals on hardware which might help you save some money while upgrading.
Before diving into any upgrades, you should definitely check the temperatures on your CPU and GPU. The 12600KF isn’t awful but can run hot, so it’s possible your cooler is struggling, or maybe the thermal paste needs replacing. Sometimes, swapping in a new CPU cooler or adding more fans is a lot cheaper than upgrading your hardware—especially if it turns out that overheating is the real issue.
That's a solid point! I'll keep an eye on the temps today. My case is a Fractal Terra, which isn’t the best for airflow, so that might be part of the problem.