Consider upgrading the GPU since your current setup isn’t delivering stable high frame rates.
Consider upgrading the GPU since your current setup isn’t delivering stable high frame rates.
You're facing a common dilemma with your current setup. Your i7-6800k struggles to maintain 240 fps on the RTX 2080 Ti, especially in competitive games. Considering your usage and performance trends, upgrading the GPU might offer more noticeable improvement. The Ryzen 5900X and Ryzen 6900X could provide a substantial jump, while the Corsair Dominator Platinum is likely sufficient for your needs now. Regarding the RAM, a 64 GB 2400MHz DDR4 should work fine unless you plan heavy overclocking. As for the motherboard, the MSI Prestige X570 or ROG Crosshair VIII are solid choices for overclocking, but the ROG models tend to have better stability and features. Waiting another two years could be an option if you're comfortable with incremental upgrades, but staying current is often wise.
For 1440p at 240Hz, a CPU and GPU upgrade are likely necessary. This resolution offers more pixels per second compared to 4K at 60Hz, making it quite intensive. Begin with the CPU upgrade to assess the performance improvement.
The CPU is expected to provide the greatest benefit. Comparing the MSI Prestige X570 Creation Motherboard, ROG CROSSHAIR VIII DARK HERO, and Asus ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula will determine which offers the best overclocking potential.
The premium options typically include high-end models like the ASUS ROG Strix Z690 Pro or the MSI MEG 96, known for their powerful performance and advanced features.
All the boards you mentioned are way beyond what you need, and you won’t hit VRM limits unless you’re using liquid nitrogen. If you can afford it, go for the model that fits your setup best. The only exception is the Crosshair VIII Formula, which includes a liquid-cooled VRM—so unless you’re doing custom water cooling, it’s probably not worth it.
1. Just swap the CPU, your GPU will provide the performance you anticipate in those games.
2. Very little change in your RAM for quicker memory, I previously used 2666 RAM with my i7 10700K and this slowed me down in one game even at 5 GHZ until I upgraded.
3. It’s clear your CPU is causing stuttering in your games; switching from an i5 8400 to an i7 10700K with the same GPU removed the stutter linked to the CPU bottleneck. This was noticeable on games like PUGBG and others. Yes, there was a significant difference.
In short, you have a preorder scheduled for November 5th, but B&H says it won’t be available until March 2021. They’ll let you know in December 2020 if anything changes. You can wait now, but should you consider getting the AMD 6900XT or Nvidia 3090 before then to maintain stable 240fps at 1440p without major drops?