Hey folks! I've been using a lower-end setup with a GTX 1650 and a Ryzen 5 3600 for a good while. It worked fine for me, but lately, I've started running into issues where I can't even play a lot of games. I'm looking to spend around $700 to upgrade my GPU, and I'm eyeing the RTX 5070. However, I'm curious about bottlenecking — is it a good idea to upgrade my GPU now and wait to upgrade my CPU later? I really want to make sure I make the most of my budget without splitting it between the two upgrades. Thanks in advance!
6 Answers
Honestly, if you're looking to upgrade, you might want to consider getting a CPU upgrade too. You could go for a Ryzen 5 5700X3D and a 32GB RAM kit initially and then get an AMD RX 9070. If you stick with NVIDIA, just know that the RTX 5070 has 12GB which might not hold up in the long run.
If you plan on upgrading your CPU later, grabbing the RTX 5070 with your 3600 is fine. Just know that if you don't eventually get a better CPU, the GPU might not reach its full potential, which would be a waste of money. But you'll definitely enjoy a huge bump in gaming experience compared to that GTX 1650.
I'd say either upgrade both CPU and GPU now or just do the GPU and then plan for a CPU upgrade soon after. If the budget allows, you could snag a Ryzen 5 5600 along with the RTX 5070. Otherwise, getting a RX 9070 or 9070XT now would give you solid performance, with the CPU upgrade to follow later.
I recently switched from a broken 1060 Ti to a 5070 Ti on a 1080p setup with a Ryzen 2700X, and I'm really loving the boost in performance, especially for 3D rendering. I don't mind lower FPS as long as gameplay is solid, so my upgrade has been worth it. Just be prepared for some bottlenecks, especially if you're running more demanding titles.
You might lose a bit of performance initially, but it’ll work just fine until you're ready to upgrade the CPU. Just go for it and have fun with the new GPU!
I'd honestly go for a Ryzen 5 5600X paired with either a 5060 Ti or maybe even a 9060XT. But if your heart is set on a powerful GPU upgrade, just get that first! Team it with a nice monitor and set your sights on playing at lower refresh rates for stunning visuals.
Yeah, for sure! That way you get a good balance without waiting too long to upgrade.