Switching from i3 to i3 with a significant generation gap is unusual.
Switching from i3 to i3 with a significant generation gap is unusual.
You're working with a fairly outdated system that's still functional but showing signs of strain. The current setup includes an i3-4170 with 8GB DDR3 RAM and a RX 570 GPU, which is handling lower resolutions smoothly but struggling with demanding games like Immortals Fenyx Rising. The power supply is solid at 750W, but the GPU usage spikes unpredictably, suggesting the i3-4170 might not be up to the task for high-end titles. Upgrading to a 10th gen i3 would likely improve performance, especially for modern games. For a next-gen GPU, an RX 6600 could work well without causing bottlenecks at 1080p, though it will still be better than the current RX 570. Consider checking compatibility and budget before making a final decision.
The older i3 model isn't performing well, yet upgrading to the 10th generation is necessary. The 12th generation offers more upgrade options without a big price increase, making it worthwhile for budget-conscious players. Right now, 8-core CPUs are sufficient thanks to PS4 and Xbox One support, but once those models exit support, game requirements will likely demand at least 10 cores, forcing a shift that could worsen performance over time. Currently, i3 works well with an RX 6600 or 3060 to achieve smooth 1080p gameplay at 100+ frames per second in most titles.
The most affordable 12th gen i3 costs around 141 euros, while the 10th gen is roughly half that at 75 euros. The ASUS H510M motherboard I purchased was just 52 euros, but the best LGA1700 board exceeded 100 euros, saving me about 120 euros overall. Right now I’m juggling jobs and can’t afford that much, though I get your point. I think a 10th gen i3 should suffice for 1080p since I don’t plan on high-end gaming soon. I’m content with 1080p because my TV has an excellent upscaling chip that makes it look sharp at 4K with minimal quality loss and saves me a lot of FPS. Next August, I’m considering a graphics upgrade—either an RTX 3050 with 8GB for DLSS (which really boosts performance) or an RX 6600 non-XT for three more years, keeping 1080p in mind. I wish I had the funds for an i5 or an RTX 3070 to run 4K, but unfortunately I don’t.