CPU and/or GPU upgrade to run CSGO smoothly

[mc218132]

Hey guys,
Right now, I'm not satisfied with the fps I'm getting in CSGO. My current build is:
Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 (3.2GHz)
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/F63RsY/intel-cpu-bx80646i54460
GPU: EVGA GTX 960 2gb SuperSC ACX 2.0 https://pcpartpicker.com/product/ZMp323/evga-video-card-02gp42966kr
PSU: Corsair CSM 450W https://pcpartpicker.com/product/H9fp99/corsair-power-supply-cs450m
Mobo: ASRock Fatal1ty H97 Killer
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/MHYXsY/asrock-motherboard-fatal1tyh97killer
RAM: HyperX Fury Red 8gb
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wjPfrH/kingston-memory-hx318c10frk28
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO (500gb)https://pcpartpicker.com/product/FrH48d/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e500bam
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 https://pcpartpicker.com/product/FtV48d/corsair-case-cc9011051ww
OS: Windows 10
Right now, I'm running at about medium-high settings at an average of 180fps. I'd like to upgrade either my GPU or CPU so that I can get up to around 300fps (stable). My budget is flexible, but I'd prefer to stay below $300. My questions are:
If I upgrade one of these (GPU or CPU), will a new card/CPU bottleneck the other part? Do I need to upgrade both?
Since CSGO is a CPU intensive game, should I primarily upgrade my CPU, or should I upgrade my GPU to save some cash?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[hang-the-9]

Aside from just seeing higher numbers, do you actually have a reason to play at 300 fps? What monitor do you use? Even if you have a 144hz monitor and are a pro level player you don't need to go any faster.

You can try upgrading the video card first to something like a 1060 6gb or a 1070 and see if that does anything for you. Past that to get a faster CPU there is nothing much better that will not require a new motherboard and RAM and a clean Windows setup. Going to an i7 is not likely to help you.

 

[mc218132]

Aside from just seeing higher numbers, do you actually have a reason to play at 300 fps? What monitor do you use? Even if you have a 144hz monitor and are a pro level player you don't need to go any faster.

ASUS VG248QE. If I can feel the difference when my fps is 144 vs 200, then I'm sure there's a difference between 200 and 300. Verifying that is easy - just look at the fact that every pro player in every game gets an overkill PC. That "144hz=144fps necessary" is not a true assumption.

 

[hang-the-9]

Aside from just seeing higher numbers, do you actually have a reason to play at 300 fps? What monitor do you use? Even if you have a 144hz monitor and are a pro level player you don't need to go any faster.

ASUS VG248QE. If I can feel the difference when my fps is 144 vs 200, then I'm sure there's a difference between 200 and 300. Verifying that is easy - just look at the fact that every pro player in every game gets an overkill PC. That "144hz=144fps necessary" is not a true assumption.

Up to you if you want to spend the money, the monitor won't care if you are at 200 fps, it will still only display 144 to you. The higher FPS will smooth out the lowest you will see, so your low is higher, which makes things smoother. If you are at a 300 max FPS, your average will be very good, which is where you will see the smoothness. Get a faster video card and see how that works for you. A 1060 should be OK to run on your power supply, 1070 you may want to upgrade the PSU first.