I've got a gaming PC with the following specs: an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 TI for the GPU, an Intel i7-8700k CPU running at 3.70 GHz, 48GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200Hz, and a 500W Corsair 80+ standard PSU. Lately, I've been experiencing some slow gameplay and processing. I'm considering upgrading my CPU but want to get some advice on whether that's really necessary and what specific upgrades you might recommend. Thanks for any insights!
5 Answers
Yup, definitely check your RAM setup as well! If you’re using 3 sticks of 16GB instead of a dual-channel setup, that could also cause some slowdowns. Make sure you’re getting the best out of what you have before committing to upgrades.
It sounds like a CPU upgrade could definitely help you out! Do you have a budget in mind for the upgrade? Also, what location are you in? That might affect some of your options.
Since you're already on an i7-8700k, you could look into getting an i9-9900k as an upgrade. They share the same socket, so it should fit without too much hassle, and you might be able to pick one up used for a decent price.
Before upgrading anything, have you thought about doing a clean install of Windows? If you haven't done that in a while, it could boost your performance significantly. After that, you can see if an upgrade is still needed.
You might want to consider upgrading your PSU along with the CPU. Also, remember that upgrading to a better motherboard and more RAM could be beneficial too, especially if you want to future-proof your setup.
I'm looking for a mid-range upgrade and I'm in Canada.