I just got a 5090 and I'm currently using a 2080Ti with a 9900k CPU. I'm curious if I need to also upgrade my CPU. I'm concerned that the CPU might bottleneck the performance, especially since I have a 57'' ultrawide monitor. Any advice?
7 Answers
Honestly, if you want high frame rates at 1440p or 4K ultra settings, your 9900k may not keep up with the 5090. It might be time to upgrade to something newer.
You'll likely face a CPU bottleneck with a 5090. A CPU upgrade like the 9800x3D could help you get better performance.
Definitely consider your power supply too! Upgrading it might be necessary along with your CPU to support all that power you're drawing. Also, keep an eye on RAM prices—they can be a bit tricky right now.
Yes, I think you should consider upgrading your CPU. If you can afford the 5090, it might be worth getting a 9800x3D along with a compatible motherboard and RAM.
But what resolution are you playing at? If you're on 1080p, I'd recommend upgrading your monitor before jumping to a CPU upgrade.
You don’t absolutely need a new CPU, but you won't be able to maximize the performance of that GPU with your current setup. The 9900k may hold you back a bit.
That's what I was worried about—whether it's a bottleneck issue or if I can make do.
You'll probably notice some significant improvement with a new CPU, especially if you want to really push what the 5090 can do. It's definitely a worthwhile investment.
To really find out if you have a bottleneck, try playing some games. If your CPU usage is hitting around 100%, then yes, it's time for an upgrade. If it's 60-75%, you're okay for now, but almost at the threshold.
But isn't 60-75% high? Many games don’t utilize all CPU cores effectively.
But if you're gaming mostly at 4K, you may be fine as the demands are different. It really depends on what settings you're running.