I'm trying to decide if getting a used Intel i7-6700K or i7-7700K is worth it for improving my gaming experience. Some games are struggling to hold a smooth 60fps, which is really frustrating. There's also a listing for an i7-6600K on Facebook Marketplace for just $60.
Here are my current specs:
- Motherboard: MSI Z170a SLI Plus
- Current CPU: Intel i5-6600K
- GPU: Nvidia 1660 Ti 6GB
- RAM: 16GB
I've read that the best CPUs I can use with my motherboard are the ones mentioned above. First, I want to know if my current CPU is bottlenecking my GPU. Also, do modern games rely more on CPU power than they used to? If I upgrade to either the i7-6700K or i7-7700K, would I see significant performance improvements in new AAA games? Or is upgrading with my current motherboard just a waste of time? Any advice for someone on a budget would be super helpful!
P.S. I play with a controller on a 60Hz TV, aiming for a steady 60fps.
1 Answer
I've been using a 7700K while waiting to upgrade to an AM5 platform, and honestly, upgrading from your i5-6600K to a 7700K might not be worth it. I get around 60-70 FPS at 1080p with a 9060XT, but with lows dropping to 45-50 in some games. The truth is, this generation of CPUs is a dead end. You might just want to consider upgrading your GPU instead, especially since you don't play at super high settings. You'll likely enjoy better visuals and maintain that smooth 60fps you're after.
So it sounds like a GPU upgrade is a smarter move for me then? I just want decent visuals without the hassle of constant FPS drops.