Hey everyone, I've got a setup with an 8600k CPU and a 1080ti GPU. I've got 32GB of DDR4 RAM and I'm running two 1080p 60Hz side monitors along with a main 4K 60Hz monitor. I'm thinking it's time for a GPU upgrade. Money is a consideration, so I'm hoping to keep the upgrade under $800, but ideally between $400 and $600. What are your thoughts? I'd appreciate any suggestions or advice!
4 Answers
If you're upgrading your GPU, I'd recommend checking out these options: the RTX 4070 (around $600-$650) gives you a solid upgrade, and the RX 7800 XT (about $500-$550) has 16GB of VRAM. You could also look for a used RTX 3080 ($500-$600), though it might hit CPU limits. If you can stretch your budget, the RTX 4070 Ti is around $750-$800 and offers great performance!
I just did a significant upgrade myself. I moved from an 8700k to a 9800x3d, got a new motherboard and switched my RAM to 32GB DDR5. I kept my 3080 and now there are no more issues with CPU bottlenecking. If you can, consider a platform upgrade as you’ll have many more options down the line than sticking with your current setup.
I upgraded my rig nine months ago, keeping my case and fans, but switched from a 6700k to a 13700k CPU with 32GB DDR5 RAM on a z790 motherboard. Still rocking my RTX 3080 and it runs smoothly on a 2K 144Hz monitor. It's a pretty solid upgrade for performance!
Honestly, if you're looking to upgrade just the GPU, I think you might run into bottlenecks since your CPU and monitor could hold you back. You might be better off considering a full rebuild with a new CPU, motherboard, and RAM. A better GPU would just get bottlenecked by the 8600k and the 60Hz monitor. I’d stick to planning for more substantial upgrades overall.
Exactly! The AM5 platform is definitely the way to go for future upgrades. Your current setup limits your options, but going for something like a 7700x or 7800x3d will give you much more room to improve later on.