My current PC has a GTX 970 OC 4GB, an Intel i5-11600K, 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and an LG UltraGear 1440p 200Hz monitor. The most demanding games I play right now are Hell Let Loose and Baldur's Gate 3. Baldur's Gate 3 is playable at 1080p but doesn't look as good as I'd like, while Hell Let Loose struggles even at 1080p. I'm fairly sure the graphics card is the main problem, but I'm wondering whether the i5-11600K is also too old for a worthwhile GPU upgrade. I'm on a budget and would consider buying used. I found a used MSI RTX 2060 Super listed for about $150 CAD, although the listing says 6GB even though that model normally has 8GB. What would be the minimum GPU for good 1440p performance in Hell Let Loose? I'm also considering cards such as the RTX 3060, RTX 3070, RTX 4060, RTX 5060, or Radeon RX 9060 XT. My power supply is a Cooler Master 750W, and I'd prefer to stay below roughly $400 CAD for a used card or around $700 CAD for a new one. Should I upgrade the GPU first, or would a CPU upgrade also be necessary?
3 Answers
Used is a reasonable way to improve this PC without rebuilding it. The 11600K should pair well with a substantially faster GPU, and cards in the RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 4060, or similar performance range would be a sensible target. If you save for a new card, compare actual game benchmarks rather than focusing only on memory type or an OC label. The difference between factory-overclocked and standard models is usually small, while VRAM capacity and overall GPU performance matter more. For a newer card, 12GB or 16GB is preferable if the price difference is reasonable.
Your i5-11600K is still perfectly capable for gaming, especially at 1440p. The GTX 970 is the part holding you back, and your monitoring already suggests the GPU is reaching full usage while the CPU has room left. Upgrade the graphics card first; there’s no need to replace the CPU yet. An RTX 2060 Super would be a major improvement, though verify the listing because the Super model normally has 8GB of VRAM, not 6GB.
That makes sense. I’ve also seen used RTX 2070 Supers, RTX 3060s, and RTX 4060s appear locally, so I’ll keep watching for a good deal instead of replacing the rest of the system.
For a better 1440p experience, I’d look for something around an RTX 2070 Super or RTX 3060 Ti at minimum, assuming you want roughly 60 FPS without relying heavily on low settings or aggressive upscaling. An RTX 3060 12GB, RTX 3070, or a newer equivalent would give you more breathing room for future games, although the 3070’s 8GB of VRAM can become limiting in newer titles. Your 750W PSU should be adequate for these cards as long as it’s in good condition and has the required power connectors.
I was comparing an RTX 5060 with an RX 9060 XT, including the 8GB and 16GB versions. It sounds like the 16GB model may be worth considering for longevity, but I’ll compare performance and pricing instead of assuming newer memory automatically makes one card better.