Hey everyone! It's been 7 years since my last PC upgrade, and I feel totally out of the loop with the latest tech. I'm looking for some guidance on what specific parts to upgrade. My budget is flexible, but I don't want to overspend for just a slight bump in performance. I primarily use my rig for gaming.
Here's my current setup:
* Motherboard: MSI Z370 Gaming Plus
* CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K (might be overclocked, but I can't recall)
* RAM: G.SKILL 32 GB (4x8GB) at 3200 MHz CL16
* GPU: RTX 2070 Turbo (8GB GDDR6)
I'm mainly wondering if upgrading just the GPU will be enough. I've been considering the RTX 5080 since it seems like a good price-to-performance option. However, I'd probably need a power supply upgrade too, as mine is nearly 20 years old and around 650/750W.
So, my two main questions are: 1) Is a GPU upgrade sufficient for running today's games at high settings? 2) What should I keep in mind when upgrading my power supply—is it as easy as swapping out the old one?
Bonus question: Is Windows 11 worth it? Does it still impact gaming performance negatively?
1 Answer
A GPU upgrade can definitely help with gaming performance, but it really depends on your gaming resolution and desired frame rates. If you're gaming at 4K and want to hit 60 FPS, your CPU might hold up well enough. However, for a solid experience at 1440p, something like a 5070 TI might be a better choice since it's often available at MSRP and offers great performance for the price. As for Windows 11, if your motherboard is compatible, it’s worth considering since support for Windows 10 will dwindle over time. Just check that your setup has a TPM slot for the upgrade.
Yeah, I game on 3440x1440 and find 60 FPS is perfectly manageable for me. I sometimes crank the settings and drop to 30 FPS, but I’m not aiming for pro-level performance. As for the GPUs, I've seen the RTX 5080 priced around $1,300-1,600 USD, while the 5070 TI is $1,000-1,300 USD. The price difference seemed small to me, but I’m going to do a bit more research on their performance.