Hey everyone! I'm looking to upgrade my gaming PC to improve my performance in World of Warcraft, which is the most demanding game I play. Currently, I'm stuck with about 20-30 FPS during intense raid graphics on my prebuilt system. Here are my specs:
- GeForce RTX 4060
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Intel i5-12400F
- 1TB storage
Given the current market prices in Canada, I see a few options:
1. Go all out and get a 9800x3d, which would require a new motherboard and DDR5 RAM—totaling around $1500. I'm unsure if I'd also need a new graphics card.
2. Purchase an older LG1700 compatible Intel CPU with cheaper DDR4 RAM—this option would cost me about $300-400, but I'm wary of potential issues with the 14th gen Intel.
3. Opt for an AM4 AMD CPU, a new motherboard, and DDR4 RAM, costing around $700.
Considering that prices might only get worse, I'm feeling a bit lost on what to do. What do you suggest? Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
WoW can be quite CPU intensive! If you can support a 14600 or higher with your motherboard, it should definitely improve things. Keep in mind though, if you set the game to max settings, it can also get GPU-heavy these days. My 4080 Super and 9800x3d combo struggle during raids sometimes, but turning down settings helps a lot.
You should think about updating your BIOS and snagging a 13600K, 14600K, or 14600KF when they go on sale, as they can sometimes drop to around $250. Just a heads up—I'd steer clear of used or refurbished 13th and 14th gen Intel CPUs, as WoW relies heavily on the CPU.
I wouldn't recommend option 3 at all since you're already on a comparable setup. If you want the best performance, option 1 is the way to go, even though it's pricier. WoW benefits greatly from a CPU with more cache. For a budget-friendly choice, option 2 seems reasonable, especially if you could grab a used 13700K or 14600K without needing to upgrade your RAM.
That's true! WoW has always been a bit of a CPU hog—though it seems its newer updates demand more from GPUs too. I remember playing back in the day on much lower-end systems.