Should I upgrade CPU or GPU?
- Thread starter 7DeRock
- Start date
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bicycle_repair_man
Splendid
- Jan 10, 2014
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Hawkshot
Admirable
- Aug 19, 2014
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if you upgrade your CPU+Mobo your GPU will be holding you back, if you upgrade your GPU your CPU will be holding you back. Honestly I would save the money and just wait to do a new build. good budget gaming pc's usually start around $600 and to get to 60fps at 1080p you will be looking around the $1100 mark.
geofelt
Titan
- Oct 9, 2006
- 54,398
- 4,193
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A perennial question.
The answer depends on the games you play.
Some are cpu limited, some are graphics limited.
Here is my canned approach:
------------------------------------------------------------
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%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.
You should also experiment with removing one core. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option.
You will need to reboot for the change to take effect. Set the number of processors to less than you have.
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 am guessing graphics by a slim margin.
The answer depends on the games you play.
Some are cpu limited, some are graphics limited.
Here is my canned approach:
------------------------------------------------------------
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%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.
You should also experiment with removing one core. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option.
You will need to reboot for the change to take effect. Set the number of processors to less than you have.
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 am guessing graphics by a slim margin.
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