Hey everyone! I'm a bit lost when it comes to upgrading my gaming PC since I've been out of the loop since 2017. I picked up a gaming PC for $300 with an i5-8400 processor and a GTX 1080, plus 16GB of DDR4 RAM (not sure on the speed) and a 750W PSU. My wife wants to play Inzoi on it, but it's running a bit slow. I'm thinking about upgrades but unsure where to start. Should I stick with my current motherboard and upgrade to an i9-9900KF, or do I need a new motherboard for a better CPU? Also, I want to know which GPU to consider replacing my current one. I don't want to break the bank, but I'm willing to spend a bit if it's worth it. In the future, I'm also considering upgrading to a 1440p monitor. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
Make sure you check the Inzoi requirements first! Pricing out the recommended specs can help you figure out if you need to upgrade. If you're unable to afford those specs, see what the minimum requirements are. You might find that upgrading isn't entirely necessary.
Install HWInfo to see what's maxing out on your current system. From what I gather, both the CPU and GPU will likely need replacing for a good experience with Inzoi. The cheapest upgrade could be a B450 motherboard paired with a Ryzen 5 5600X and something like an RTX 3070. But remember, this is almost like building a new PC, not just an upgrade.
Honestly, I would hesitate to put money into such an old system. The current GPU and CPU combination will struggle with new games like Inzoi. If upgrading, I recommend finding out the RAM speed; having two sticks is good, but you'll want speed around 3200MHz or more for better performance. I'd consider a complete overhaul instead of piecemealing upgrades.
If you're looking to keep costs low, think about balancing upgrades. Yes, the min CPU for Inzoi is an i5-10400, and the recommended is a higher-end i7 or Ryzen. If you want a decent experience, you'll probably need to replace quite a bit: motherboard, CPU, GPU, and possibly RAM. Just keep in mind it's quite an investment if you just bought the PC.
If you can find a good deal on a used i7-9700K or i9-9900K, those are solid options for your setup. I'd say your CPU is likely the bottleneck right now. As for the GPU, your GTX 1080 should handle Inzoi decently well, but it might be worth considering something like a 1080 Ti for $200 or a 2080 Ti for $400 if you're looking for a boost in performance. Just think about whether that investment makes sense for your long-term plans!
I'm torn between those too! If the 2080 Ti is only a bit more, it might be worth the extra cash for better future-proofing.