I've been playing Overwatch, and I've noticed that my frames have been dropping significantly in the past month. In the past, I never had issues, but now it seems like my CPU is maxed out. I've done some research and it looks like upgrading the CPU may require a new motherboard as well. Here's my current setup:
- **Motherboard:** Gigabyte Z270-HD3-CF
- **CPU:** Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7700 CPU @ 3.60GHz
- **SSD:** Samsung 960 Pro 512gb
- **GPU:** Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 TI
- **RAM:** 2x16 Corsair DDR4 (I think)
What would be a solid mid-tier upgrade for better performance without breaking the bank?
3 Answers
The best bang for your buck would be upgrading your CPU and motherboard. A cost-effective choice would be the Ryzen 7 5700X with a B550 motherboard, which allows you to keep your RAM. If you want to future-proof yourself a bit, consider the Ryzen 5 7500F with a B650 motherboard. However, if you prefer Intel, the i5 12400F with an H610 motherboard would also be a reliable choice.
To upgrade your CPU, you’ll definitely need a new motherboard too. If you consider going with an AM4 setup, you could keep your RAM and upgrade to something like a Ryzen 5800X3D along with a new motherboard. Alternatively, you could look at the latest Intel options like the 13th/14th gen i7 or i9 and pair them with a DDR4 motherboard. Just keep in mind that if you choose anything newer than that, it’ll also need new RAM.
If you want to keep your current RAM, look into getting a 12400F with an LGA 1700 DDR4 motherboard. Make sure you enable XMP if it’s not active already, as that can boost your RAM's speed. This is a solid option without needing new RAM.
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