Question Do I upgrade my CPU or GPU
Question Do I upgrade my CPU or GPU
I own a GTX 1660 Super and a Ryzen 5 3600. I’m planning to upgrade either my GPU or CPU one at a time, but can only afford one. For the CPU, I was thinking about the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (I rely heavily on virtual machines), and for the GPU, I was considering the RTX 3060 or RX 6700 XT. I’m likely to buy used unless there’s a better offer, and I’ll be purchasing from eBay, New Egg, Amazon, Facebook Marketplace. My goal is to spend no more than $700 on the upgrade overall. I play Spider-Man Remastered, CS2, Battlefield 2042, God of War, BattleBit Remastered, and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Which upgrade should I prioritize first, and are these options suitable?
Welcome to the forums, newcomer! Please follow the stylization of this thread; *How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice* How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice First off, respect where respect is due - this is an adaptation of the Animal's *How To Ask For New Build Advice* Sticky. I created this because there's a lot of posts nowadays asking for upgrade advice both on here and on the CPU forums, and I feel... forums. We would be well informed if you included your current system specs, your location, your preferred site for purchasing parts and your budget for your.
Well you can reduce resolution and quality settings to get more FPS out of an old GPU but you can do very little to make a CPU run much faster.
So CPU should be the priority.
On the other hand if you care more about how pretty a game looks than how well it runs the the GPU makes more sense.
Bottom line, it depends on you.
Check the performance chart. The 6700XT performs differently than the 3060. Your CPU can manage much better than the 1660s. Even a second generation i7 works well with 1660s or even 1080Ti, as I experienced with a 2600k at 4.5 in 1440p. 1080p didn’t require much extra power. A Ryzen 3600 would likely offer similar results, possibly even better with newer models.
Upgrade your GPU first to enjoy more satisfaction before tackling the CPU. If your PSU is old or has a short warranty, it might not handle these high-end graphics well—they consume more power and can cause spikes. I recommend a reputable tier A PSU with at least a 7-year warranty and a minimum of 750W capacity for your planned upgrades. I’m currently using a 3080Ti (11700k default turbo) with an 850W Corsair Rmx, and it’s been stable without any reboots.
PSU tiers.
PSU Tier List updated for version 17.0g - Cultists Network
This list will assist you in selecting the optimal PSU from hundreds of options available today. Whether you're starting at a budget level or aiming for the top-tier power supplies.
Hey there,
Please share your complete system details, such as the motherboard and power supply unit. That way I can provide a precise response.
Avoid pairing a 5950x with a low-quality motherboard, as it might lead to throttling. You should opt for a robust B450 or B550 to support advanced chips.
I recommend starting with the CPU, as suggested by @TerryLaze.
If your main focus is gaming, consider going for a 5700x3d. You could also upgrade your current GPU to balance costs with performance.
For GPUs above the 3070 series, especially for 1080p gaming, choose models with at least 16GB VRAM. If you're targeting 1440p or higher, look for cards with 16GB VRAM.
My method for tackling this ongoing issue:
Certain titles rely heavily on graphics capabilities, while others depend more on CPU performance. Multiplayer usually favors games with numerous threads.
You must determine which one suits you best.