Hey everyone! I built a PC back in 2018 with the following specs: i9 9900k, Gigabyte Aorus Z390 Ultra, Gigabyte RTX 2080 Gaming OC, 32GB of DDR4 3200 MHz RAM, two 1TB SSDs, an NZXT H440 case, and a Noctua NH12 CPU fan, powered by an EVGA Gold 750W PSU. It's still running decently for 1080p gaming, but I'm looking to upgrade to 1440p for a smoother experience at 60 FPS or ideally around 120 FPS. I'm considering just upgrading the GPU, but I've heard that it might cause a CPU bottleneck if I go for something like an RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti, especially since I am still using DDR4 RAM. If I do decide to change the CPU and motherboard, the price of DDR5 RAM is pretty painful right now. I have a few questions: 1) How bad will the CPU bottleneck be with a new GPU? 2) If I just upgrade the GPU, how feasible is it to change cases to accommodate a bigger GPU? 3) If I sell my old build, how much do you think I could get for it? Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
Upgrading your GPU is definitely an option, but keep in mind you'll need a bigger case for the new graphics card. Switching cases is quite doable; just ensure you have everything organized, and disconnect all cables carefully. It can take some time, but it’s manageable! As for selling your old PC, depending on the condition, I’d say you could resell it for around $800 to $1000. Just check current market values to set a competitive price.
The CPU bottleneck might not be as bad as you're worried about. I ran an RTX 4090 with a 9700K, which is slower than your i9, for over a year without huge issues. Sure, some games could perform better with a newer CPU, but you'd still find the upgrade worth it compared to your RTX 2080. Consider buying the new GPU first, and if you find it lacking, you can always revert to your old CPU and eventually sell the entire setup later on.
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