Need advice on upgrading my friend's old gaming PC
Asked by
GamerDude42
Hey everyone! I'm pretty new to PC gaming and have been using a laptop for a while, but now I finally got a desktop from a friend. It's an older rig from around 2017 with the following specs: Intel Core i5-8400 CPU, EVGA GEFORCE GTX 1070 Ti GPU, 16GB RAM (2x8GB), Asus STRIX Z370-H motherboard, and a Corsair CX650M power supply.
However, I'm having trouble running Helldivers even on medium settings, and a benchmark test indicated that the GPU isn't performing well. I'm hesitant to purchase a new GPU because I'm worried it might not be compatible with the CPU or motherboard. I've heard that sometimes a powerful GPU can be limited by the CPU.
So, I'm looking for advice on upgrading my system. Thanks for any help! Also, I'm located in Canada.
Answers
I agree with the others about considering AMD for your next GPU. They generally offer better price-to-performance ratios at that tier. Just be cautious about compatibility—especially with newer GPUs that require PCIe 4.0; your motherboard might limit their performance slightly since it only supports PCIe 3.0. Stick with something like the 6700 XT or 3060 Ti, and you should be good!
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Your current setup is solid for mid-tier gaming, but if you're seeing issues with performance, it might be time to look for upgrades, especially on the GPU side. The 6700 XT is definitely worth looking at since it’s a great value for current-gen games. And just FYI, your motherboard (Z370) could also support a better CPU if you ever want to upgrade that as well, like the i7-9700K, with a BIOS update. Just make sure to research compatibility beforehand!
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The GTX 1070 Ti is still a decent GPU, but if you're looking to upgrade, you might consider an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT or RX 6750 XT. They're better performers for 1440p gaming and would fit well with your system's 650W power supply. If you prefer NVIDIA, the RTX 3060 Ti is a good choice too, but don't go for anything higher than the 4070 due to your CPU. Just a heads-up, your i5-8400 will handle 1080p gaming fine, but it might struggle with some of the heavier, more CPU-intensive games.
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CuriousCat99: Thanks for the tip! Do you think upgrading the CPU down the line would be beneficial too?