Upgrade CPU or GPU

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Usman Anwar

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Sep 17, 2014
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so here's the thing, currently, i have an i5 4690k with gtx 970.
i want to upgrade the GPU & CPU. But, i m confused, in the sense that should i upgrade the CPU+Mobo & wait for GPU upgrade later ?
OR
should i just upgrade the GPU in my current rig ?

what are your thoughts !?

Furthermore, people are saying that i should wait for NVIDIA Volta & AMD Navi, if i want to upgrade the GPU.
what do u guys think !?
 
Solution
K


Just keep the 960 untill you save up. This cpu+mobo+ram is a very good option. The 960 will still give you good performace, it's not that bad of a card. wait one more year to upgrade GPU or 9 months. get something = 1080 or higher in the future

Hope this helps! Have a good day!

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keatingscool

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Dec 29, 2017
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So... There are always a couple options you can do... Right now both your GPU and CPU are pretty good. So either way upgrading either one would be a litle performance boost. But if I was you, I'd upgrade the GPU.

There are new NVIDIA cards coming out though and that is personal preference to you too as well. If you could wait maybe 6 more months then you should.

Hope this helps!
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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If you wait for the next best thing, you will wait forever.
If you have the need(or the itch) now, buy now.

As to what might be a more productive upgrade, here is my stock approach:

Some games are graphics limited like fast action shooters.
Others are cpu core speed limited like strategy, sims, and mmo.
Multiplayer tends to like many threads.

You need to find out which.
------------------------------------------------------------
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 or more cores/threads. 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 threads to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many threads.
If you see little difference, your game does not need all the threads you have.



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.
-------------------------------------------------------------
 
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Usman Anwar

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i know...
currently i am gaming on 1080p resolution.
to tell u the truth, its the my GPU that's causing some problems in modern titles such as Call of Duty ww2, GTA V.
the strange thing is that, when i max out the settings in GTA V, it doesn't give me more than 38 fps. i don't know whats the issue, GPU or CPU ?
whats ur suggestion ?
shall i upgrade the gpu or CPU or both ?
 
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Usman Anwar

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Sep 17, 2014
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yup.
i have the same thought.
i m just a little confused.
the CPU+mobo+RAM upgrade is priced equally to the price of a good GPU
like CPU+RAM+Mobo= 500$ = GPU
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Have you overclocked your 4790K?
If not, that is the first thing I would do.

Try some of the tests I indicated above.
If increasing the settings results in a decrease in fps, it indicated that the graphics card is a limiting factor.

You have a relatively nice balance between cpu and gpu.
You likely need to do both to get better.
A graphics card upgrade is the easiest to do first.
If you go that way, make it a big jump or you may be disappointed. GTX1080 class at least.

On the cpu side, faster cores (vs. more cores) is usually best.
I do not know your budget.
An upgrade to a i5-8600K 6 core is probably the best gaming processor around.
The i7-8700K is marginally better, but the extra $100 or so for 6 more threads will not be as useful as applying the funds to a stronger graphics card.
 
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Usman Anwar

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lets say i have like 5-600$ budget.
shall i upgrade the CPU+Mobo first & wait for GPU upgrade or should i upgrade the GPU first & wait for upgrade of other components !?
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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You need to see what is more important to YOUR games.
Run the tests, you will get a better idea of which is a more productive first upgrade.

One thought:
a $600 budget will buy you a i5-8600K, a Z370 motherboard and 16gb of DDR4 ram.
That is a long term upgrade.

Graphics will get better faster in the future.
 
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U

Usman Anwar

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Sep 17, 2014
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yup
i think i should wait for the GPU upgrade & instead upgrade the cpu & mobo
 
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U

Usman Anwar

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Sep 17, 2014
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thats is exactly what i want for my next upgrade !
only problem is the GPU
it increases the price of this build by 500$ more
 
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K

keatingscool

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Dec 29, 2017
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Just keep the 960 untill you save up. This cpu+mobo+ram is a very good option. The 960 will still give you good performace, it's not that bad of a card. wait one more year to upgrade GPU or 9 months. get something = 1080 or higher in the future

Hope this helps! Have a good day!

 
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Solution
geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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The OP now has a GTX970 card, not a GTX960. GTX970 should play at 1080P reasonably well.

One problem I have with the build is two 8gb sticks.
Ram must be matched so two disparate sticks will not be supported.
Better to buy a 2 x 8gb kit, even if it turns out a touch more expensive.
 
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