When should I upgrade
When should I upgrade
Hello, I'm a 6-year-old system mostly playing at 1080p.
I have an Asus H97 Pro Gamer with an I7 4790K CPU, 16GB RAM, and a gaming GPU of 1070.
My PSU is Corsair RM 750i.
I’m satisfied with my current performance but think about upgrading to 4K for some games.
Should I start with the CPU or the GPU? What should be my first upgrade?
The CPU is strong but only has 4 cores—will it last longer?
Can a more powerful GPU handle the increased demands?
A quicker video card offers better performance at higher resolutions compared to a faster CPU. Televisions aren't ideal for gaming due to their high input lag, though they can function if you don't play many fast-paced games requiring quick reflexes. I recommend a 1440 27" gaming screen matching your specs; the 1070 should suffice unless you plan to run 4K on a large display, in which case a more powerful card would be better. The newer generation cards are expected soon—wait for them if possible.
It would have been better if you had chosen a Z-series mobo. An i7 offers 4 cores and 8 threads, roughly the same as a 10th gen i3 or Ryzen 3300x.
If your budget permits, upgrading the CPU/mobo/RAM wouldn't be a waste.
The required GPU for smooth 4k gaming depends on the games you play; benchmarks from reviews can guide your choice.
Do you have an SSD?
Have you purchased a 4k monitor? Which model?
If not, have you thought about a 1440p display?
I mainly play on the Samsung sync aster s22b300 at 1080p, 4k is just an option. I'm torn between getting a better GPU for performance or a CPU first for future-proofing. I can't afford a new screen or a 600€ GPU since I have kids to take care of. It's either the CPU with more RAM or a new GPU.
A quicker video card offers better performance at higher resolutions compared to a faster CPU. Televisions aren't ideal for gaming due to their high input lag, though they can function if you don't play many fast-paced games requiring quick reflexes. I recommend a 1440 27" gaming screen with your specifications; the 1070 should suffice unless you plan to run 4K on a large display, in which case a more powerful card would be better. The newer generation cards are expected soon—wait for them.