Hey everyone! I'm gearing up to upgrade my PC but I'm at a crossroads on where to begin. I currently have an i5 13600k paired with an RTX 2070 Super. Initially, I thought about upgrading to an RX 9070 XT, but I mostly play competitive games that are pretty CPU-heavy—like CS2, Valorant, Marvel Rivals, League of Legends, FIFA, and StarCraft II. I'm struggling to maintain a stable 144 FPS on my 144Hz monitor in Marvel. Ideally, I want to make one big purchase this year and another within the next two years. Should I stick with my plan to get the RX 9070 XT, or should I focus on upgrading my CPU instead? Also, I'm looking at getting a monitor that supports 360Hz. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
I’d definitely recommend getting a new GPU first. Your current CPU isn’t the bottleneck, and switching to a more powerful GPU will enhance your gaming experience significantly. Plus, when you decide to upgrade your CPU later, you'd want to have a better GPU to pair it with anyway!
The RX 9070 XT is a solid choice, but you might want to consider something like the 7900 XT instead, especially if you can get it for a better price in your area. Don't forget that changing the CPU will probably mean upgrading your motherboard as well, which can be costly!
Honestly, I've had great luck with the 7800X3D. It’s excellent for 1080p and handles competitive games like a champ! If you can save up for that when the time comes, it may be worth it!
Just remember that going with an AM5 chip means you'll need a motherboard update later too!
If you're mostly playing competitive games at 1080p, then sticking with your current CPU should be fine. It really depends on the games you play, but the RX 9070 XT will definitely give you a noticeable performance boost!
Exactly! I just want to make sure I get the most out of my setup.
Good point! I didn’t think about needing a new motherboard. Looks like it's GPU first for now.