Hey folks! I'm a bit out of the loop with PC building and after trying to play the Oblivion remaster, I'm realizing my setup isn't cutting it. I've got an i5-7600k, a GTX 1060 6GB, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, but performance is pretty rough. I'd like to know if I should prioritize upgrading my CPU or my GPU to get the best performance boost, particularly since a CPU upgrade will also require a new motherboard. I'm aiming to keep my budget under $500. When I checked my CPU and GPU usage while playing, my CPU was running at 100% and the GPU was only at about 0-1%. In contrast, for older games like OG Skyrim, the usage is more balanced. I'm considering a 5060 Ti 16GB, but I'm worried about whether a GPU upgrade will be held back by my CPU. Any advice on where I should direct my upgrade efforts or what parts I should look into would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
It really depends on what settings you're trying to run. Given your current setup, you might see better performance with a CPU/motherboard/RAM upgrade to an AM5 platform. Your GTX 1060 might not give you great performance with newer titles, and while you could get it to run at low settings, it wouldn't utilize its full potential without a better CPU. Plus, upgrading the CPU first could help you score a GPU later at a better deal as prices stabilize.
I'm currently on low settings at 1080p and getting around 40fps in interiors, but only about 20-30fps outside, dropping even lower when there's a lot happening. Your suggestion makes sense – thanks for the insight!