I'm looking for some advice on CPU and GPU combinations because I haven't upgraded my PC since I got my EVGA 3080. Before I got my GPU, I was using an i7 9700k, and I've been gaming with that setup ever since. Lately, I've been wondering if my CPU might be bottlenecking my GPU's performance. Is the i7-9700k still a solid choice for gaming, or is it time to upgrade? I want to make sure I'm utilizing my GPU to its full potential without spending a fortune on DDR5 RAM since I'm not ready to drop $600–$700 right now. Any recommendations for a good DDR4 CPU or insights on whether my current setup is still good would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
It all depends on the games you're playing. Keep an eye on your GPU usage; ideally, you want it at around 100%. You can use Steam's overlay or try MSI Afterburner to check this. If you notice your GPU usage dropping below 95% regularly, that's a sign that your CPU might be holding it back.
When the 3080 came out, the 9700k was only one generation behind, so any bottlenecking would likely be minor. If you’re gaming at 1440p and not facing major frame drops, your setup should still perform fairly well!
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