I'm currently using an older ASUS G11CD system featuring an i7-7700, GTX 1080 (8GB), and 16GB of DDR4-2400 RAM. I'm considering upgrading a few components, such as adding a better rear fan, a tower CPU cooler, increasing the RAM to 32GB, and replacing my current PSU with a new 750-850W model. My main focus is to swap out the GPU for an RX 9060 TX (16GB) since it supports PCIe 3.0 x16, unlike the RTX 5060 Ti that only supports x8. My monitor runs at 1080p 75Hz and I can make all these upgrades for about $550. Given this context, do you think the i7-7700 will bottleneck the GPU significantly, or can I expect it to hold up as a solid stopgap for the next 1.5 to 2 years until I can build a completely new system?
5 Answers
Honestly, just go for the GPU upgrade now. If you're really itching to upgrade, consider a new build later. I've seen some great deals on CPUs like the 14600K, especially with games bundled in.
I recommend focusing solely on the GPU upgrade. The rest of the upgrades won’t yield significant improvements. It's mainly about getting that graphics boost for better performance.
True, I get that. The extra RAM and cooling would help, especially since my PC runs pretty hot. Plus, the PSU upgrade could benefit my future build.
I don't expect your performance to be hampered too much. Check out these videos for some benchmarks with your intended setup.
Yeah, the i7-7700 might bottleneck your performance, but since you’re limited to a 75Hz monitor, it might not be too bad in practice. You should still be able to enjoy most games at decent settings without too many issues.
Do you mean it could struggle with higher refresh rates? As long as I hit around 75fps in games, I'll be happy.
Yes, it will bottleneck a bit, but you should still be able to play a good range of games without too much hassle.
That's reassuring! Sounds like it's a decent short-term solution.
That 14600K deal sounds tempting! But my current motherboard won't support anything better than what I have. I’m just not ready for a complete build yet.