Upgrade CPU or add second GPU?

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draconis123

draconis123

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Jan 24, 2014
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I'm looking to make an upgrade as I move to 1440p and wanted to figure out what would be giving me the best upgrade.

Current system specs:
Amd FX 6300 Oc'd 4.4 GHz
Gigabyte Gtx 770 windforce (2gb version)
8GB ram
Corsair rm 1000 psu
Ssd and so on.

Now the choices I'm looking at is to either upgrade to an Intel 4770k or add in a second 770. Adding the GPU is my preferred route as its cheaper and I think it will give me the most performance.

Some more info. I am not looking at other CPU options and I do not want to sell my card and buy a single more powerful GPU.

Thanks
 
Solution
geofelt
A perennial question.
Here is my stock answer:

To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.


Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 70% and see how you do.


You could also experiment with removing one...
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,301
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174,240
A perennial question.
Here is my stock answer:

To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.


Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 70% and see how you do.


You could also experiment with removing one core in the bios. This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.

I love those larger high res monitors.

I might suggest you first do the 1440P upgrade and then decide. You will always have the option to game at your current resolution.
 
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