The extent of the change you'll observe depends on your perspective and expectations.
The extent of the change you'll observe depends on your perspective and expectations.
yeah, I did that in my previous comment. basically on that resolution which is close to 4k, you will get a locked 60 with both the 1660 and the 3060. the difference is that with the 3060 you could have better graphics settings. you can't get a locked 60 with either. Maybe you could get a locked 60 with the 3060 but have to drop everything to mid/low. of course every game is different but I'm considering recent aaa titles. which is why I think you need a 4k card for a 4k screen to get a decent locked 60 and +60
Well, my view is you'll see a clear difference since the 3060 represents a significant boost over the 1660. I’m not sure if the CPU upgrade is substantial, since both seem to be 6c 12t models. I didn’t mention the refresh rate you’re restricted by—mainly your 1440p display. In the end, you’ll notice better FPS or adjustments, or both, depending on the situation. Precisely, how much improvement will vary, of course, based on the game. Whatever comes up, you’ll be able to achieve noticeably higher frame rates in certain titles and still hit a 60 FPS with optimized settings on others. I have something similar to the 10400 CPU, but only a 2060 which is much less powerful than the 3060, and I play at 1440p without any problems. Yes, it’s a trade-off between performance and settings, which is typical for PC gaming.
You might consider adding a bit more budget for a better graphics card. Right now your setup works fine with the RX 7900-XTX, especially at high resolutions. Running modern AAA games at full settings usually keeps you above 100 FPS without straining performance. For smoother visuals and higher fidelity, aim for High settings around 90 FPS. If you need a noticeable boost, the RTX 4070 or RX 7800-XT would be good options. You could also look at the RX 6800-XT if it becomes available. Avoid the older Ti-based RTX 3070 because it lacks enough VRAM for this resolution. A 3060 might suffice, but it’s more suited to lower resolutions. Ultimately, sticking with what you have is fine if it meets your needs, but upgrading would definitely enhance the experience.