I'm considering upgrading my CPU because I'm not sure if it will really improve my gaming performance enough to justify the cost. Right now, I'm playing Monster Hunter: Wilds and noticing that my GPU usage is often between 70-85% and rarely goes above 90%. This has me wondering if I'm experiencing a CPU bottleneck. My current setup includes an R7 7700x CPU, a 4070 Ti Super GPU, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM running at 6000 MHz. Any insights on whether upgrading to something like a 9800x3d would result in a noticeable FPS boost?
5 Answers
One easy trick is to just increase your DLSS settings to see if that smooths things out for you.
It's pretty typical for GPUs to run at 90-99% in demanding games. Your 7700x is likely not bottlenecking that much, and switching to a 7800x3d might only net you an extra 10-15 FPS. Your GPU should do the heavy lifting anyway!
How many FPS are you consistently seeing? If you have a fixed number, it might just mean your FPS is capped, and your GPU isn’t maxing out.
I don't think my FPS is capped; I'm usually around 90 FPS, especially during intense fights with DLSS, while playing at 3440x1440p.
Honestly, Monster Hunter: Wilds isn't the best game to judge your CPU's performance since it's known for being poorly optimized. I doubt an upgrade would really be worth it because the 7700X is still a solid gaming CPU. Have you confirmed that your RAM is set to run at full speed with EXPO enabled?
If your GPU is hitting 90% usage, then upgrading your CPU could unlock some extra performance, but don't overthink it too much. You might just see a 10% increase in performance without any FPS caps. Just remember to test in other games too!
Got it! That makes sense. What resolution are you guys playing at? I'm thinking of testing different games as well.