Question Can I just upgrade my graphics card or should I be upgrading my processor as well for UE5?

[Tolstoy1990]

I have a video editing pc that is about 9 years old now that I would like to upgrade to be able to learn unreal engine and to play vr games.

I'm new to unreal so Id like to have the right setup to be able to run all parts of the program smoothly so I can just test out all the different features and see what I like best.. and also to be able to create environments that I can explore with my vr headset and be able to run games on high graphics settings in at least 2k Resolution. I know this is mainly the job of the graphics card but I'm curious as to if the CPU I currently have is adequate enough to run UE5 smoothly or if I will run into problems? And If I do need to upgrade What would the cheapest viable upgrade for the CPU be?

These are the current specs:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5820K CPU @ 3.30GHz 3.30 GHz
64GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 RAM
GTX 980Ti

thank you for your help!

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

A lot has changed since 9 years and I doubt your PSU is up to par to power what's available since 2020. You would most likely need to change the PSU while you're swapping the GPU out. Ideally you should look into a new platform, so your system is balanced.

Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model.

 

[Tolstoy1990]

Thanks for replying... I was concerned I might have to put together a whole new build... but it makes sense... can I get away with a budget of 600-800 or is that unrealistic for what I'm trying to do?

 

[ohio_buckeye]

What speed of ram is that? Might be able to grab an Intel 12th Gen cpu such as the i5 12400 and a cheap board. Ironically some of the z690 boards from last gen are well priced and will support up to 14th generation. Some of the boards will accept ddr4 as well so you may be able to save on the ram kit.

What case are you using now? Wondering if it could be reused with a new psu, board, cpu and gpu.

 

[Tolstoy1990]

the ram is 2133 MHz I think. it has a full size ATX case but its pretty beat up, id like to
get something with a smaller form factor

 

[m3m7uk]

you need both a base upgrade, and gpu. for my 2 cents, i think you should find a refurbed workstation, with a higher specced cpu, and buy a new video card with the rest of the budget. imo, it's well worth it to pay a little more for a tower model, for the extra room. you may have to buy a secondary psu and splice it in to power the gpu. trust me, it's worth the hassle.

 

[Tolstoy1990]

That's a great idea actually thank you... any suggestions then on what I can do with the PC I have now?... It still runs really well for what it is... it was worth about 1200 when I built it 9 years ago... maybe I could sell it for 150-200? or can I convert it to something else?

 

[ohio_buckeye]

You may also price what building something would be. If you get a decent psu you could probably reuse the 980ti and upgrade that when ready.

 

[Lucky_SLS]

Get LGA 1700 mounting brackets for your cooler.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-12600KF 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor ($154.65 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z690 Pro RS ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Speedster SWFT 319 Radeon RX 6800 16 GB Video Card ($380.53 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks XT PRO ULTRA ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS GX-750 ATX 3.0 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ B&H)
Total: $815.15
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-24 07:07 EDT-0400

If you want good VR performance at 2k, i would recommend this card: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Ln...x-7900-gre-16-gb-video-card-rx7900gre-cl-16go

 

[35below0]

Thanks for replying... I was concerned I might have to put together a whole new build... but it makes sense... can I get away with a budget of 600-800 or is that unrealistic for what I'm trying to do?

It's not unrealistic.
Note that small form factor cases and equipment is more expensive.

The biggest obstacle is finding hardware to match your generation. That stuff will cost money. Newer tech performs much much better and has a longer future.

You might have to compromise a bit with a smaller budget, but it's doable.
Where are you buying? the US?

 

[Joseph_138]

I think 5th generation Intel Core i7 is going to be in need of upgrading to a newer platform. I have a 6th generation i7 system that I use for a backup, but rarely use it for anything, otherwise. It's just getting too slow.

 

[35below0]

Here's an option for ~$550

First of all you reuse your 980 Ti. You do this because you can either buy a GPU that costs around ~$700-1000, or buy a weak, entry level GPU for ~$300. That would outperform the 980 Ti, but it's better to keep the $300 in your pocket and shop for a new GPU later.
50XX nvidias are expected early in 2025, and it's thought they will both offer better price/performace than current gen 40XX series, and also push down prices of these GPUs.

Also, the XFX 6800 Lucky_SLS recommended is out of stock. Too bad.

You buy a new motherboard that can support up to the latest and greatest 14th gen i9.
But you stick a much cheaper 12th gen i5 in it. This CPU only has to last you until 14th gen prices come down, which will happen in a 1-2 years, and it has to be a noticeable improvement on your current 5th gen i7. The 12500 does that, and it comes with a cooler and has integrated graphics. It's handy to have an iGPU either for testing or troubleshooting or for those times you haven't got a working GPU.

There are better CPUs than this, but my aim is to save you money towards a much better CPU once it's price comes down. If you want a 14700 right now, you can do that. Good choice but the 12500 is hardly slow.
I wouldn't but it's your decision.

You reuse your DDR4 ram. Simple, cost effective and unless/until you know RAM is holding you back you shouldn't have to shop.

The 1Tb NVMe is older tech but you won't notice much difference. Once you have a budget and can justify a faster drive, you can upgrade. Maybe to a 2 or 4Tb gen 4 NVMe.

The case is mostly a personal choice. The one i selected has the space and features that can acomodate future upgrades. Also comes with a front panel USB-C. (There is a USB-C on the back of the motherboard as well).
It's got loads of clearance for coolers or radiators. And it's not even expensive.
https://www.antec.com/product/case/c8

The power supply is good and reliable. Good enough even for future upgrades but extremly power hungry CPUs and GPUs will overwhelm 750w. You may never buy such components but it's good to know there is a limit.
(if you're gonna throw four figures on such stuff, you will be able to afford a new PSU too)


So that's my thinking. Let me know if it's right or wrong.
Here's the build:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-12500 3 GHz 6-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z690 Extreme ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial P3 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($68.98 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec C8 ATX Mid Tower Case ($61.29 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS GX-750 ATX 3.0 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ B&H)
Total: $540.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-24 06:17 EDT-0400

 

[RodroX]

I have a video editing pc that is about 9 years old now that I would like to upgrade to be able to learn unreal engine and to play vr games.

I'm new to unreal so Id like to have the right setup to be able to run all parts of the program smoothly so I can just test out all the different features and see what I like best.. and also to be able to create environments that I can explore with my vr headset and be able to run games on high graphics settings in at least 2k Resolution. I know this is mainly the job of the graphics card but I'm curious as to if the CPU I currently have is adequate enough to run UE5 smoothly or if I will run into problems? And If I do need to upgrade What would the cheapest viable upgrade for the CPU be?

These are the current specs:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5820K CPU @ 3.30GHz 3.30 GHz
64GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 RAM
GTX 980Ti

thank you for your help!

Do you work with your PC?, cause if thats the case I would ask: Do you feel limited by your current hardware?
Also: Will learning UE5 be part of your daily working, or its just for curiosity and fun with a VR headset?

 

[Tolstoy1990]

Do you work with your PC?, cause if that's the case I would ask: Do you feel limited by your current hardware?
Also: Will learning UE5 be part of your daily working, or its just for curiosity and fun with a VR headset?

Right now its just for learning how to use the program because I'm brand new to it... at some point I would like to use it for working but right now just gaming and learning the new software. I don't have a headset yet so I'm not sure the limitations I will have once I do get a headset... and just like everyone is saying a lot has changed in 9 years so I just want something that will run smoothly at 2k resolution with games and be able to run ue5 smoothly also... I don't need anything crazy just enough to not have hiccups... if that makes sense

 

[Tolstoy1990]

thank you all so much. I really appreciate all your help.

 

[Tolstoy1990]

Here's an option for ~$550

First of all you reuse your 980 Ti. You do this because you can either buy a GPU that costs around ~$700-1000, or buy a weak, entry level GPU for ~$300. That would outperform the 980 Ti, but it's better to keep the $300 in your pocket and shop for a new GPU later.
50XX nvidias are expected early in 2025, and it's thought they will both offer better price/performace than current gen 40XX series, and also push down prices of these GPUs.

Also, the XFX 6800 Lucky_SLS recommended is out of stock. Too bad.

You buy a new motherboard that can support up to the latest and greatest 14th gen i9.
But you stick a much cheaper 12th gen i5 in it. This CPU only has to last you until 14th gen prices come down, which will happen in a 1-2 years, and it has to be a noticeable improvement on your current 5th gen i7. The 12500 does that, and it comes with a cooler and has integrated graphics. It's handy to have an iGPU either for testing or troubleshooting or for those times you haven't got a working GPU.

There are better CPUs than this, but my aim is to save you money towards a much better CPU once it's price comes down. If you want a 14700 right now, you can do that. Good choice but the 12500 is hardly slow.
I wouldn't but it's your decision.

You reuse your DDR4 ram. Simple, cost effective and unless/until you know RAM is holding you back you shouldn't have to shop.

The 1Tb NVMe is older tech but you won't notice much difference. Once you have a budget and can justify a faster drive, you can upgrade. Maybe to a 2 or 4Tb gen 4 NVMe.

The case is mostly a personal choice. The one i selected has the space and features that can acomodate future upgrades. Also comes with a front panel USB-C. (There is a USB-C on the back of the motherboard as well).
It's got loads of clearance for coolers or radiators. And it's not even expensive.
https://www.antec.com/product/case/c8

The power supply is good and reliable. Good enough even for future upgrades but extremly power hungry CPUs and GPUs will overwhelm 750w. You may never buy such components but it's good to know there is a limit.
(if you're gonna throw four figures on such stuff, you will be able to afford a new PSU too)


So that's my thinking. Let me know if it's right or wrong.
Here's the build:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-12500 3 GHz 6-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z690 Extreme ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial P3 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($68.98 @ Amazon)
Case: Antec C8 ATX Mid Tower Case ($61.29 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS GX-750 ATX 3.0 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ B&H)
Total: $540.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-04-24 06:17 EDT-0400

good thinking, I do like this option as it will save me the most money... I don't need anything crazy powerful right now I just want to be able to run Ue5 smoothly.

 

[RodroX]

Right now its just for learning how to use the program because I'm brand new to it... at some point I would like to use it for working but right now just gaming and learning the new software. I don't have a headset yet so I'm not sure the limitations I will have once I do get a headset... and just like everyone is saying a lot has changed in 9 years so I just want something that will run smoothly at 2k resolution with games and be able to run ue5 smoothly also... I don't need anything crazy just enough to not have hiccups... if that makes sense

OK, well as others have pointed out already, keeping your current GPU is not a bad idea.
But yeah is a good idea to update the motherboard, cpu, ram and psu (power supply).
As for the Case, there are some good and budget options out there that will help you ensure there is decent airflow inside for all the components to work with as little stress as posible. So if your case does not have good airflow maybe is also time to upgrade it. Just keep in mind almost all new cases don't have support for cd/dvd/br.
Depending on what you want to run/try you may need to change your GPU (sooner than later) in order to support some particular content in 1440p. It will depend on what you end up doing with your PC.

 

[35below0]

... Just keep in mind almost all new cases don't have support for cd/dvd/br

There's good and affordable cases that do have 5.25" trays. Phanteks and Fractal Design for example. I deliberately avoided them though. My main criteria was price, intake fans/airflow, and GPU/Cooler clearance. Didn't know if optical drives were needed.

That Antec C8 is three times cheaper than my North, and arguably better in every way. It wasn't a case that fit my needs, and i kinda started to like the North more and more after initially dismissing it as a silly looking thing.
Plus i trust Fractal Design to make a comfortable case. Happy with my choice and everything but... hmm that price ^^

 

[RodroX]

There's good and affordable cases that do have 5.25" trays. Phanteks and Fractal Design for example. I deliberately avoided them though. My main criteria was price, intake fans/airflow, and GPU/Cooler clearance. Didn't know if optical drives were needed.

That Antec C8 is three times cheaper than my North, and arguably better in every way. It wasn't a case that fit my needs, and i kinda started to like the North more and more after initially dismissing it as a silly looking thing.
Plus i trust Fractal Design to make a comfortable case. Happy with my choice and everything but... hmm that price ^^

Thats why I wrote it, in case OP was not aware of that. OP PC was build 9 years ago. It was a differente story back then.
And yes there are good fractal and phantek options.

 

[35below0]

And yes there are good fractal and phantek options.

And beQuiet! Pure Base too. Now i see it in your sig i recall i considered that one.

 

[RodroX]

And beQuiet! Pure Base too. Now i see it in your sig i recall i considered that one.

Yes ther pure base is awesome, specially if you can get it with some discount. If not there may be other option from different brands with similar results but cheaper

 

[Tolstoy1990]

can the 980 ti still run most games at 1080p high settings? (like non AAA titles} and will it be able to run most ue5 features smoothly also? at least at a level good enough for learning the software?

 

[RodroX]

Those are both hard to answer questions.

Will depend on the game, both GPU and CPU have many generations above. At 1080p and lower resolution is when CPUs have a harder time keeping the pace with the GPU, but since the GPU is also old maybe the limitations are not that bad between them.

Heres a recent video testing many "newer" AAA games with all sorts of GPUs (using modern CPU and RAM), including the GTX 1080TI wich is a step higher than you 980TI.

Maybe the video will help you see the huge gap we have had in last 9 years:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmMWNrRHiNY

 

[Tolstoy1990]

I just want to take the time to thank everyone for their time and answering my questions...

9 years ago when I built the Pc I have now, I came to the forums here for answers and you all so generously helped me out with that build also. And I know I'll probably have 100 more as go through this new build and venture in to VR and beyond... And even with all my own research I still don't fully trust my own senses when it comes to all the new hardware and software, Which is why I really apricate having a place to come where I know Ill find good answers... So I would like to give back and show my respect to the platform...

Is there a place for donations or what is the best to help support?... I will be going through the guidelines and familiarize myself with other pages in the forum...(I apologize if I have missed something already) but again I just wanted to say thank and I appreciate you're time helping me... I know I will be coming back frequently.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

No worries. I’m a tech but I it’s useful to be able to ask things on here that I may not have an immediate answer to. We all need help sometimes.