The RTX 2080 Ti requires a compatible CPU to run games smoothly.
The RTX 2080 Ti requires a compatible CPU to run games smoothly.
Usage typically stays between 50-80% for gaming. I own an Asus Z390 E Gaming board, but I’m open to upgrading. My plan is to install an i9 9900k, a GTX 2080 Ti Rog Strix, an i7 8700k at 5GHz, along with Corsair Vengeance 8GB x2 RAM and a Corsair 750W PSU.
Unless you're far from the expected frame rate, running at 80% load isn't a concern. This is their intended design.
It's still a solid choice for gaming and your 2080ti. But hey, who am I to refuse an upgrade? The 9900K would also be great if you can afford it. You only get one shot at YOLO, right?
I tested the 3080 on a 5GHz 8700K and noticed minimal bottlenecks in most games at 1440p. Utilization stayed above 95% in many titles. I believe some games will always struggle with GPU usage, especially online shooters like COD or battle royale games. For those types of games, a CPU upgrade probably won’t make much difference.
The i9 9900k works well with a 2080 ti but performs similarly to a 5GHz Intel 6 core in many games. One title runs smoothly on it using MCE and an i7 8086 with a 5GHz all-core overclock. I also added a stock 5800x Shadow of the Tomb Raider on Ultra with an FTW3 Ultra 2080 ti. Various resolutions and frame rates are shown for reference.
I enjoy playing Battlefield titles like BF 4, BF 1, and BF 2042. They run smoothly on the GPU and CPU around 60% usage, unless I adjust the resolution which causes distortion (144hz). I want the GPU to be used more effectively, possibly because my i7 8700k wasn’t doing enough. I’ll keep this setup for now.
These applications perform better with quicker RAM speeds. Your issue might lie elsewhere. Also, avoid checking CPU percentage in the task manager—only single-core usage matters.