Consider upgrading to a higher-end processor like an i7-4770 non-K for better performance.
Consider upgrading to a higher-end processor like an i7-4770 non-K for better performance.
I recently bought a high-end RTX 2070 and am considering upgrading my entire PC. Right now I’m using an Intel i7-4770 non-K, running on an MSI Z97 with 16GB DDR3 RAM. I play on a 1080p monitor at 60Hz, mostly open-world games, so I’m worried about whether my CPU and RAM will hold up. Many people mention that newer open-world titles are more demanding on the CPU, which makes me think my current setup might not be enough.
Your CPU might be limiting your performance, but this varies by game. To determine if it's a bottleneck, open Task Manager, launch a game, play briefly, then review the usage graphs. If your CPU is near full capacity while the GPU remains idle, you're facing a CPU constraint. Consider upgrading to an 8th/9th generation Intel processor or a 2nd/3rd generation Ryzen model. Good choices include Ryzen 7 2700X, 3700X, i7 8700K or 9700K. If budget is tight, options like Ryzen 5 2600X or 3600X, or i5 8600K or 9600K work well.
If it supports 1440p, proceed and observe the outcome; consider upgrading to 5K later.
At 60hz it shouldn't limit your performance. Make sure HWMonitor runs quietly while you play a game. Once finished, look at the core usage numbers. If the highest readings are close to 100% or nearly so, you're facing a bottleneck. What's stopping you from getting the most out of your GPU is your display. The 2070 Super is more than enough for 1080p at 60hz. For better results, consider a 1440p or 4K monitor at 60hz. Haswell i7 processors still perform well in most titles.
If it were a K model, I'd dismiss it, but since I just moved from Haswell 1230v3—which is essentially the non-K i7—I can confirm the performance gap is clear. One benchmark I ran was GTA V at 1080p with minimal graphics settings (but high particle count and population density), and I saw a jump from about 110fps to nearly 190fps using 3700X. In many titles the improvement was almost double, often more than half, synthetic elements boosted it even further, but these results are typical for today’s standards. Still, sticking to 1080p at 60Hz probably means you don’t need a CPU upgrade just yet.
You might consider selling your current unit to make room for a used 4790k at a relatively low price. This could significantly reduce the necessity for a complete system upgrade, potentially saving you up to 20%, with at least a 15% improvement even without overclocking. Whether this applies in games or not will depend on the specific situation. In some cases, it seems likely, while in others it may be less so.