What component should I upgrade first?

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Izaak_1

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Jan 9, 2017
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At the moment I am ROCKING a Pentium G4560 and an RX 460 2GB with 8GB DDR4. But I want to upgrade so I can play PUBG at 60 FPS on low-medium 1080p, as well as perhaps Battlefield 4 and 1 at 1080p 60fps. I am planning on getting an i5 8400, but then I'd need to get a new motherboard, and I'm waiting until the B350s and H310s start appearing on the market. So that'd be ~$350 in AU (ik, sad). But I also want to get a GTX 1060 6GB (~$450), and so I am wondering which one will have a bigger effect on my performance.
Thanks,
~MooMoo
 
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Upgrading the cpu will have the biggest change in performance for now. If you buy a 1060 without upgrading the g4560, there will be huge bottlenecks in SOME games. Since you are playing pubg, a more powerful cpu will give you better performance than a g4560 + 1060.
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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A perennial question.
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.
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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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FWIW, I would not begrudge the price of a Z370 motherboard which will allow you to install a future K suffix upgrade.
 
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bananatiger

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Feb 3, 2017
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When upgrading your pc for gaming, usually you want the Graphics card to be upgraded first but since you specifically mention pubg and battlfield (which are cpu and gpu intesive) you may want to go for the cpu upgade for now as the video card prices is not yet at their original price. And since you mention upgrading your motherboard I'm guessing you have a h110 chipset, why not consider buying a 7th gen cpu for now if youre in a very tight budget.
 
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Izaak_1

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Jan 9, 2017
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Because the 7th gen i5 is the same price ($250) as the i5 8400, which has two more cores

 
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maxalge

maxalge

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an i7 7700 would be plenty for a 1060

you dont need to update your platform right now

save money and skip upgrading till the next gen
 
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Izaak_1

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I'm not sure what you mean. I don't have an i7 7700, nor do I plan on getting one, as they are $411 AUD and the 8th gen i5 is $250 AUD. Also, you say skip upgrading until next gen, but from what I've seen the i5 8400 was a huge jump in performance from the 7400, and I believe that upgrade is worth it. What I asked was "which one should I buy first that will see the biggest change in performance.
 
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bananatiger

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Feb 3, 2017
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Upgrading the cpu will have the biggest change in performance for now. If you buy a 1060 without upgrading the g4560, there will be huge bottlenecks in SOME games. Since you are playing pubg, a more powerful cpu will give you better performance than a g4560 + 1060.
 
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