I'm currently using an i7-8700K with a 3090 GPU, but I'm having some trouble playing games at 3440x1440 resolution. I'm wondering if it's worth investing in an upgrade for my CPU, motherboard, and RAM, or if I should focus on getting a better GPU instead. Given the situation, what do you all think?
6 Answers
With an i7-8700K and 3090 at 3440x1440, you're likely hitting that CPU bottleneck in modern games. That chip is getting old, and struggles especially in open-world games or those demanding high FPS.
If you've got the budget, I'd recommend upgrading. Your current GPU is still pretty powerful, but the i7-8700K is definitely holding it back. With the 9800X3D, you’ll be in a better position to upgrade your GPU in the future without bottlenecks.
Absolutely, a CPU upgrade is crucial. You don't necessarily need to go for the 9800X3D; something like a 9600X could work too, but I wouldn't skip the CPU upgrade if you're looking for better performance.
Going for that CPU upgrade is a solid choice; the 8700K has served its time. Your 3090 isn't ideal for 4K, but with a better CPU, you'll be able to get more out of it, even if you have to lower settings a bit on new titles.
I just switched from an 8700K with a 4070 to a 9800X3D alongside a 5080 and it’s a huge leap forward. The 8700K was clearly outdated, especially in CPU-intensive games, and it was even bottlenecking my 4070.
Consider selling your 3090 while prices are still high. You could get a 9070XT that offers better performance for potentially less than the sale price of the 3090. For many games, a 9600X should suffice, allowing you to save some cash.
I'm definitely planning to sell the 3090 and might look at either the 9070XT or even a 5070Ti if my budget allows.