I've got a pre-built gaming desktop that I bought in 2021, and I want to know if it's time for an upgrade or if something's wrong with it. The specs are as follows: ROG Gaming Desktop, Intel Core i7-11700F, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, 1TB HDD, and a 512GB SSD. I've upgraded the RAM and cooling system, but over the past couple of years, I've noticed a steep decline in gaming performance. Games like League of Legends now struggle to hit 80 FPS, and Fortnite runs at about 50 FPS at low settings. I've attempted several fixes like reinstalling GPU drivers and factory resetting, which gave a brief improvement, but it still feels off. With the age of the PC and my limited tech skills, do you think I should invest in new hardware, or could there be an issue with the current setup?
3 Answers
First off, check the thermal performance while gaming. If your CPU temps exceed 90 degrees Celsius, that could indicate a problem with your AIO cooler. If the temperatures look okay, it might be worth examining your power supply's performance.
It might actually just be a Windows issue. Many gamers are switching to Linux due to performance benefits!
You might want to try cleaning out your PC and reapplying thermal paste on the CPU; that could make a difference. Dust buildup can cause overheating and affect performance.
I attempted to clean it recently, but I struggled with getting the GPU out. If my thermal readings are normal, do I still need to replace the thermal paste?
The thermals seem fine during gaming and idle time. Can you clarify how a power supply issue could impact my gaming performance?