Intel i7-3770K released in 2020 offers strong performance for its time.
Intel i7-3770K released in 2020 offers strong performance for its time.
Hey there, I've assembled my PC back in summer 2012 and don't think it's time to upgrade the mainboard, CPU, or RAM anytime soon. My setup looks like this:
- Intel i7-3770K
- ASUS ROG Maximus V Gene
- G.Skill DDR3 32GB (4x F3-2400C10Q-32GTX)
- Thermaltake Armor A30
- ASUS GeForce RTX 2070 DUAL OC EVO
- Samsung 840 Evo 500GB (Windows)
- Samsung 840 Evo 250GB
- WD RED 4TB
In my early build I had two ASUS EN GTX560s (one failed by late 2016), a WD 250GB VelociRaptor (switched to Samsung 840 Evo in 2013), and later added an ASUS 960GTX Turbo in 2017. Now I'm running the ASUS RTX2070 DUAL OC EVO.
I've been thinking about upgrading lately—especially since it's been nearly eight years, and it still handles everyday tasks smoothly. But I'm curious, why focus on the GPU when the rest of the components are still solid? What do you think? Should I consider a broader upgrade instead?
As long as the CPU can handle it, there’s no problem with that configuration. Many users already use similar builds without pushing them to their limits. I have plenty of DDR3 chips on hand, and building a DDR3 gaming rig would be a great idea—just something to consider when you’re ready to go further. It’s all about finding the right balance.
I’d just pick up a deli kit and some liquid metal and really push it if you want a faster frame rate in games. A solid 4.6 to 4.8 should be achievable with the right hardware, especially with that setup.
As long as you can enjoy smooth or playable gameplay in both the res and in-game configurations you prefer, there’s little to criticize. Of course, you might not match the same frame rate as on a high-end system like the 9900KS, but if it runs well, that’s what matters. My ASRock Z87 Extreme 6 struggled with me, but after swapping it out for a used MSI Z87 G45 Gaming board, everything works nicely. I’ve removed the original CPU and installed a replacement that’s better suited for gaming tasks.
Ensure your system feels optimal. Yet, even high GPU utilization on older CPUs might still be slower than a fully loaded 9900K with strong CPU power. Observing various examples shows that some titles perform better when they rely more on the CPU to handle frames from their engine. My GTX1070 paired with a 9900K (compared to my 4790K) delivers significantly more frames in many games—though not all minimums or averages.
I currently use an i7-3770 non-K in my main system, and if you're like me and are still happy with its performance, then leave your 3770k alone. I don't believe you need to upgrade the rest of your components either—they seem fine to me. If you're aiming to boost your 3770k's speed, you can delide it and push it beyond what others have suggested on this forum.