I'm currently using an i3 3240 and I'm considering an upgrade to an i7 3770. I'm also thinking about adding either a GTX 1080 or GTX 1660 to the mix. With a budget of around 10k, is this upgrade a good choice or should I save for a completely new build instead?
3 Answers
Upgrading to an i7 3770 from your i3 3240 would be a noticeable improvement, especially for multi-core tasks. However, I'd recommend saving your cash for a newer system instead. Older CPUs like the 3770 might not fully support Windows 11, and as time goes on, they could become increasingly limiting. You’d be better off putting that money towards a newer build in the next year or so.
Honestly, if you're considering spending 10k on hardware that's over six years old, you might want to rethink your strategy. For that money, you could build a kickass new system instead of just upgrading old parts. If you can find the i7 for really cheap, like under £20, then maybe it's worth it, but anything remotely modern will outperform it.
The i7 3770 lacks some key instruction sets that newer games need, and you might run into compatibility issues. I'd suggest looking into an AM4 platform with a newer Ryzen CPU instead. They offer a much better upgrade path and value for your money. Also, you might want to skip the 1080 and 1660, as games are increasingly requiring hardware ray tracing. Consider something like the RTX 2060 Super for better performance.
Exactly! AMD has been making great strides, and an AM4 setup would serve you much better in the long run.