Is it better to upgrade to a used 4070 or a new 5060 for 4K gaming?
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TechSavvyGamer94
My PC feels a bit outdated; I'm currently using a 1080 Ti with an i7 9700K. I have around £500 to spend, but I'm torn between a few options. I found a second-hand 4070 on eBay for about £400, and there's also a brand new 5060 available on Amazon for £300. However, I'd likely need to upgrade my CPU as well to prevent bottlenecking. I'm considering the i9 9900K, but a full platform upgrade isn't feasible at the moment, especially with RAM prices being so high.
I game on a 4K 120Hz display and aim to maximize the GPU's performance at this resolution. I'm okay with leaning on DLSS and Frame Generation. My gaming mostly involves single-player titles, nothing online. Should I go for the 4070 and utilize DLSS 4/4.5 with Frame Generation, or should I invest in the CPU and then use DLSS and multi-frame generation? My gut says the 4070, but I'd really appreciate some opinions. Thanks in advance!
Answers
I found a used 7900 XT going for £520 on eBay, which could be a good option if you're considering AMD. It seems like AMD is ahead in raw rasterization performance, but NVIDIA still has the edge with DLSS. Keep that in mind before making a choice!
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Bottlenecks can be annoying, but hitting 4K with a 5060 shouldn't be that problematic. Since you have a budget, it's better to focus resources on the GPU now and consider a full platform upgrade later when you have more funds. The 9900K isn’t that big of a step up from the 9700K, and buying used hardware is always a bit of a gamble, so I'd suggest looking at the 12600K if you want to stick with Intel.
TechSavvyGamer94: I’m really just focused on the GPU right now, but I appreciate the advice for the future!
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Honestly, the 9900K can be pricier than just moving to a 12600K with a new motherboard, which might actually perform better. Plus, most gaming at 4K won't really bottleneck much with your current setup. I'd recommend investing in the 4070; it'll serve you better long-term, especially since the 5060 might struggle with 8GB of VRAM at 4K.
TechSavvyGamer94: I appreciate the insights! Sounds like the 4070 might be the way to go.
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You probably won't be bottlenecked too much at 4K, but if you're worried about fully utilizing a 5060 paired with your 9700K, then an upgrade to the 9900K could help you get a bit more out of it.
TechSavvyGamer94: That's the concern! I'd rather not miss out on performance just to save some cash.
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TechSavvyGamer94: I've been leaning more toward AMD lately, especially with their VRAM advantages. I might have to dig a bit deeper into that option.