I've got an older secondary PC for my partner, and we mainly play games together. Currently, we're playing Monster Hunter World, but I want to get into playing Wilds after that. The setup is a bit dated, but the specs include a 1440p resolution, an i7-8700K CPU, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, an Asus ROG Strix GTX 1070 GPU, a 750W EVGA Supernova PSU, an Asus ROG Strix Z370E motherboard, and a 1TB Samsung SSD. I'm considering upgrading to an RX 9060XT 16GB for about $430, or I could spend $730 on a 9070XT. Alternatively, I could build an entirely new PC for around $1,300 to $1,650 since I already have 32GB of DDR5-5200 RAM that I bought a year ago. However, the only thing stopping me from building a new PC is that my partner might go months without gaming since they usually only play from Friday to Monday. What do you think?
5 Answers
Here’s a video that shows performance metrics with a similar setup. It highlights that while the 8700K can be a slight bottleneck, upgrading to the 9060XT will make a noticeable difference. But if you're looking for a smoother 60fps, maybe consider getting a budget AM5 motherboard and a Ryzen CPU, especially since you have that DDR5 on hand!
If they're only playing occasionally, it might be worth just upgrading the GPU and maybe a couple of other components instead of doing a full new build. You could get a B550M motherboard and a Ryzen 5 5600 to pair with that RX 9060XT and still use your current PSU and SSD. It's a solid upgrade without overspending!
Just keep in mind that while the 8700K isn't terrible, the 5600 will offer only a slight upgrade, so you're safe with the RX 9060XT. It should be a good match!
Exactly! Also, you already have DDR5 RAM, and that opens up more options for future upgrades.
What region are you in? Since you have DDR5, moving to AM5 for a full upgrade isn't as steep as it seems and could greatly enhance performance!
Honestly, it depends on what games you're playing. CPU-heavy titles might struggle, but most modern games will run smoothly at 60+ fps with the setup you have. Just look up some benchmarks for games you want to play and see how it holds up!
The 8700K is getting pretty old, and even if you upgrade to a more powerful GPU now, you might still hit a wall later. I'd suggest going for a full build, especially since you're likely to want to upgrade in the next year anyway!
Right! The 7600X3D would be a fantastic choice if you can get it at a good price. It’ll work great with your RAM.