I know my setup is a bit outdated, but I'm working with an i7 4790, 12GB of RAM, and a GTX 970. I'm on the hunt for GPU upgrade suggestions, but let's be real – building a new PC is not an option right now with my busy life and two kids. Any advice on a decent upgrade? I plan to add more RAM (24GB or 32GB total), but I'd love to hear what GPU could help me out!
4 Answers
A 6500 XT could also work; it's budget-friendly and should be a decent match for your CPU, though it only has 4GB of VRAM. Just keep in mind that your CPU will bottle-neck your games a bit with that GPU.
You might want to look into getting a used GTX 1070. It’s a solid option and should give you a decent boost without breaking the bank. Plus, I’ve seen them going for under $100 on eBay, so that’s a win!
If you want something that won't heavily bottleneck your CPU, the RX 6600 is your best bet. It's a good GPU for the price and should work well. If you're looking for cheaper alternatives, consider used options like a GTX 1660 Ti or another 1070. Also, don’t forget you can enhance your i7 4790’s performance by tweaking the TDP cap and possibly overclocking a bit!
I have the same CPU, and I’m still gaming on it just fine. I paired my i7 4790 with an RTX 3060 and 16GB of OC RAM, and I'm able to play modern titles like Horizon Forbidden West at 1440p on high settings, usually pulling around 60fps thanks to DLSS. Upgrading from a GTX 980 to the RTX 3060 felt like getting a brand new rig! You might find that some newer games demand more VRAM, but so far, everything runs pretty smoothly on my setup.
Yeah, that sounds like a perfect choice!