Hey community,
I'm looking for some advice on upgrading my PC to make it more future-proof without diving into DDR5 territory. My current setup is decent, but I'm noticing some limitations, especially for gaming. Here's what I'm working with:
- Intel 12400F with a be quiet dark rock 3 cooler
- RTX 3070 TI (8GB)
- 32GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz
- 1TB NVME plus two additional 1TB SSDs
- 850W Gold PSU
Given that GPU prices are spiking and DDR5 RAM costs are skyrocketing, I'm not looking to switch to DDR5 or AM5 platforms because they're way too expensive. Plus, I can't find AM4 X3D AMD CPUs anywhere.
With that in mind, I'm thinking about:
- Upgrading to an Intel 14600K
- Getting a B760 motherboard (like the MSI PRO B760-P with capable VRM) since I don't plan to overclock
- An Arctic Freezer III Pro 360mm AIO cooler
- A new case to accommodate the cooling setup
Currently, I feel like my CPU is holding back my GPU, especially in games like BF6 where I'm only utilizing about 70-75% of the GPU's power.
I also want to set myself up for a future upgrade to a 5070 TI 16GB down the line. Does this upgrade plan sound reasonable? Or do you think I should consider something else? Any feedback would be much appreciated!
3 Answers
I totally get what you're saying! I switched from a 3060 Ti to a 14600K, and the improvement was huge across the board. Just curious why you're not considering the CPU swap—you could actually see a nice bump in performance just by upgrading that alone!
I had the exact same setup as you and went for the 14600KF with a 5070 TI. It’s been a game changer for me. You won’t regret the upgrade!
If you're considering upgrading your setup, I’d recommend either the i5 14600 or even stepping up to an i7 14700 paired with an RX 9070 XT. That combo could really give you a solid boost.
Thanks for the suggestion! Do you think the 5070 TI would be overkill for the 14600K? I know the 9070 XT is a cheaper alternative, but I’ve got a soft spot for NVIDIA GPUs.
You might have missed that I'm actually looking to upgrade to the 14600K, that's my main consideration! I'm aware I can swap the CPU on my current B660 MOBO, but the one I have is a budget model, so I'd prefer the additional safety of the MSI board.