Hey everyone! I'm new to PC building and could really use your help. I'm trying to upgrade my 6-7 year old pre-built PC. Here are my current specs:
- **CPU**: Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor
- **Motherboard**: MSI B360M BAZOOKA Micro ATX LGA1151
- **Memory**: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200, plus an old 8 GB stick that came with the PC
- **Video Card**: NVIDIA Founders Edition GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8
- **Power Supply**: Thermaltake Smart BX1 650 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
I mainly play games like Guild Wars 2, which I hear is pretty demanding on the CPU, and I'm looking to get ready for Borderlands 4 as well, which I believe my current CPU might struggle with. I'm not too fussed about having the best graphics; just want solid frame rates and stability across a wide range of games.
I've read that my CPU might be the first thing I should upgrade since I've seen it hit 100% usage while gaming, but I also hear my motherboard might hold me back. Do you think upgrading the CPU is better than the video card? And how much of a hassle will upgrading my motherboard be?
1 Answer
Your motherboard won't really limit your options for CPU upgrades as long as you stick to the Intel 9th gen models that fit your LGA1151 socket. The MSI Bazooka is a decent board, so you're not at a complete dead end. If you're thinking about getting something like the i7-9700, keep in mind it might not give you a ton of extra performance for the price, especially since Borderlands 4 has a pretty high bar for hardware. You might actually get better results by waiting to upgrade your whole system down the line rather than just swapping CPUs.
Why do you think the i7 isn't worth it? I’m aiming just to hit the minimum requirements to enjoy some decent gaming with Borderlands 4.