I'm currently using an Intel i5 9400F along with a 3060 Ti, but I'm finding that my processor bottlenecks the GPU in almost every game that's not an esports title. I was considering upgrading to the 7800X3D, but my budget doesn't allow for that. The 7600X isn't available where I am either. I mainly play CS:GO and Warzone, but I dabble in a few single-player games from time to time. Would the 7600X be a solid upgrade for my situation?
5 Answers
Great choice for an upgrade without breaking the bank!
Totally! The 7600 is more than sufficient for most gamers. In fact, I’d recommend looking at the non-X version if you can find one used on eBay for around $160. Honestly, I wouldn’t pay more than $10 extra for the 7600X since most 7600 models can perform just as well as the X version.
I upgraded from the same 9400F to a Ryzen 5600X, and man, what a difference! The performance jump is massive; you’ll be way happier moving away from that CPU.
I feel you. That 9400F really struggles with anything even slightly demanding these days.
For games like CS:GO and Warzone, the 7600X is a good fit! These games aren't super CPU-intensive compared to RPGs, so you should be fine. Just remember, the resolution matters too—lower resolutions can let the GPU do its job quicker and put more pressure on the CPU, which is probably why your i5 was struggling.
I play at 1080p mostly because of my GPU's 8GB VRAM. I hope that's enough.
Just make sure your GPU's 8GB frame buffer isn't holding you back either. It might be okay now due to the limits of your CPU, but watch out for any VRAM issues down the line depending on the games you play.
I haven't hit VRAM issues yet, but since I use a 1080p monitor, I hope it won't be a problem.
Thanks for the tip! I'll keep that in mind.