I'm new to PCs and looking to upgrade my starter setup, which currently has an i5 4690k CPU and a 1050 ti GPU. I realized not all CPUs can fit in an LGA 1150 socket! I'm on a budget but need a bit more power for gaming. I want to know whether I should upgrade my GPU or CPU first, since I can only afford one right now. I've checked task manager while gaming and it seems like my graphics card is the bottleneck. I'm considering a GTX 1650 because it should work with my DDR3 setup. My friend suggested the i7 4790k as a cost-effective CPU upgrade. Any advice on how to tackle this upgrade would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Definitely go for the GPU first! It's much easier to swap out than a CPU, plus it should give you a noticeable performance boost in games. Don't sweat the memory generation; you can still get good upgrades even with DDR3. Check out some comparison graphs from sites like Tom's Hardware to see what's out there!
Honestly, I wouldn’t invest too much more in this system since the parts are a bit dated. The best CPU upgrade would be the 4790K, but it offers only a slight performance boost that might not be worth the hassle. The GPU is clearly your limiting factor right now, so upgrading that would be the way to go. You can get any compatible GPU—even a modern one—without worrying about your DDR3 memory. Just keep in mind the older CPU might hold back newer GPUs a bit, but it’s a solid upgrade nonetheless!
I get what you're saying, but I'm upgrading it slowly as a project. I can't afford to replace everything right now, so I want to improve it step by step for better knowledge. Is that too ambitious?
I believe starting with the GPU makes the most sense! It’ll have the biggest impact on your gaming experience, and like others said, you have more flexibility with GPU choices regardless of your RAM type. Good luck with your upgrade!
Thanks for the tip!