I'm looking to improve my PC's performance since it's being held back by an older CPU. Here are my current specs: Processor: i7-2700k, GPU: GTX 1070, Motherboard: P8Z77-V LX, and I've got 24GB of DDR3 RAM. The GTX 1070 is decent and can handle many modern games, but I'm seeing some real limitations, especially in CPU-heavy games like Medieval 2 Total War and Valheim, where I get terrible frame rates—sometimes just 5 FPS! I'm hoping to find a reasonably priced CPU (preferably under $100) that can pair well with the GTX 1070 without needing too many additional upgrades. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
You might want to consider the Ryzen 5 5500. Just a heads up though, upgrading the CPU might also mean you'll need to get new RAM since it uses DDR4 along with a new motherboard. So that's something to factor in if you're trying to keep costs down.
Honestly, the best upgrade path might be to save a bit and get a whole new platform. For smooth gameplay on your GTX 1070, you should look at a Ryzen 5 5500 or 5600 along with a new motherboard and RAM. You could get the Ryzen 5 5600 for around $70-$95, a B450 or A520 motherboard for $45-$65, and some decent DDR4 RAM for about $35-$45. It sounds like a lot, but you'll really notice the difference in gaming performance!
If you want to stay under $100, the best bet is really a used i7-4770K or equivalent (like a Xeon 1246v3) that works with your current DDR3 RAM. Just know that performance gains won't be huge since you're moving up only two generations, which isn't much with Intel. If you're after better performance, a low-cost switch to modern parts like a Ryzen 5 3600 would give you a noticeable upgrade but might stretch your budget a bit.
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