Consider enhancing your CPU with an Asus G11CD motherboard featuring FCLGA 1151 support.
Consider enhancing your CPU with an Asus G11CD motherboard featuring FCLGA 1151 support.
Hi! You're thinking about upgrading your Intel i7-6700 to a better CPU and GPU setup. Since you have an FCLGA1151 socket, it should accommodate the 7th generation Intel CPUs, so that part looks good. For the GPU, the RTX 2060 should work fine, though it might limit performance to around 35% due to your current CPU. If you want better performance, consider checking if a newer GPU with better compatibility and higher VRAM is available. Your current setup is functional but could benefit from an upgrade for smoother multitasking and gaming.
Avoid upgrading to LGA1151 since it's outdated—6700 will cause bottlenecks, but it remains superior to older models like the 960 for graphics-heavy titles. The impact varies by game, so consider saving for a more modern platform later.
I really want to play Red Dead Redemption 2—it's been on my mind since it came out. For other high GPU-demand games, I don’t really know much. The reality is that since November, every game I’ve had keeps crashing or throwing errors because of a missing DirectX9 file. I’ve tried all the fixes I could find, but there’s no solution.
It seems you're planning a complete Windows reinstall using a bootable USB drive. For upgrades, a 7700k offers little improvement over a 6700 and costs a lot to get into TK boot mode. Make sure your CPU has a capable GPU for smooth performance. The 2060 model is still in use—please share its make, model, and other specifications so I can assist further.
100-150$ covers around 5700(xt), 6600(xt), 1070(ti)/1080(ti) and 2070s/2080s. For the CPU, consider replacing it and purchasing a used 3600(x) for $50-60 or a used b3/450 for about $50. Even if your options are limited, you can still surpass the 7700k with these choices. If staying on your current setup makes sense, opt for a Z170 board and install a BIOS that supports BCLK overclocking to boost your 6700 to roughly 4.8ghz.
Relies on the target market you can find a budget-friendly z170 under $40. Otherwise, choosing Ryzen is definitely better since some people still pay a lot for an old 6700 even at the same price, while the Ryzen 3600(x) would easily surpass it. I don’t understand why many value this older platform so much when the mentioned Ryzen is cheaper, works better, and offers a path to newer models like 5700x3d/5800x3d. Skylake isn’t especially exciting for overclocking unless you’re targeting i3s, Pentiums, or Celerons.
These bottleneck calculators seem quite limited. Choosing to skip a video card because it might get stuck due to a current processor is also unwise. The card won’t operate at full speed, but it won’t remain completely unresponsive either... simply swapping in a stronger CPU usually improves performance. Interaction between the card and the CPU depends on drivers—some tasks run faster when the driver supports higher IPC, while others are limited to single-core processing. Adding more cores that can handle higher frequencies can speed up certain operations, boosting overall card performance. Moving from 6th to 7th generation isn’t worth it since neither offers meaningful gains. Both are outdated by modern standards. You’d likely need to replace the CPU and motherboard, and you could reuse the existing RAM if it’s DDR4. For your current setup, an 8 GB RX 570 or RX 580 would be a solid upgrade, costing around $100. I still use my RX 570 with 4 GB RAM, but its performance starts to lag in some games because of limited VRAM. An 8 GB version would make a noticeable difference.