I'm currently using an ASRock Z390 4S motherboard with an RTX 2070 Super GPU and an i7-9700 CPU. Lately, I've been having trouble with modern games, especially those that require demanding shaders, despite keeping my drivers updated. I'm considering upgrading to an RTX 5070 Ti but I've seen mixed opinions on whether I need to get a new motherboard as well since my current one only has PCIe 3.0 support. Some say the PCIe 3.0 won't drastically affect performance, but there are concerns about older motherboards causing heat issues. Should I just go ahead with the GPU upgrade using my current setup, or is a new motherboard also necessary?
5 Answers
Let’s be real; if you’re asking this question, you probably haven’t explored all your options. Your motherboard is actually pretty capable. The big issue is that i7-9700 slowing things down. You might want to upgrade that first before diving into a full system overhaul.
Thanks for all the insights, everyone! Looks like I'll be looking at a new build before long. Didn’t realize just how long ago I got my CPU—guess time flies! I’ll keep an eye out for good deals on parts!
Honestly, the real bottleneck will be your i7-9700. While PCIe 3.0 might not be the main issue for the 5070 Ti, you’ll likely hit a limit on performance because of that older CPU. If you're gaming at resolutions higher than 1080p, it might struggle. I would recommend upgrading your CPU alongside the GPU, like going for a 7800X3D or something similar on a modern motherboard.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the PCIe version. Your Z390 board can handle the 5070 Ti just fine, and you might only see a slight performance loss—like 3-5% in some scenarios. I'd suggest trying the 5070 Ti first and see how it performs. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, then consider a CPU and motherboard upgrade.
Your current setup could definitely lead to bottlenecking with the 5070 Ti due to the old CPU. If you want to get the most out of that GPU, it might be worth it to build a new system to take full advantage of modern tech and capabilities.
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