I'm looking to upgrade my CPU to match my RTX 3070 graphics card. Right now, I have an Intel i5 11400f. My budget is around $250. I prefer sticking with Intel, but I'm open to AMD options as well, especially since I'll need to change my motherboard regardless. What would you recommend?
2 Answers
The i5 11400f is a solid choice for the RTX 3070! If you're set on upgrading, the i7 12700kf is one of the best options you can get for around $250, considering you'll need a new motherboard too. But honestly, the i5 is pretty great and not much worse than the i7 for your needs. You’re really not going to see a huge performance boost for gaming with that upgrade.
If you're on a budget, I’d say stick with the i5 11400f for now. It won't hold back your RTX 3070 too much. Focus that budget on your GPU instead for better performance overall.
Just a heads up, if you’re just aiming for a 3070, the i5 you have is quite sufficient! Maybe consider saving a bit on the CPU and putting that into a better GPU like the 9060xt or a 5060ti with 16GB.