CPU or GPU

[Matt_336]

I am looking to upgrade one or the other and was wondering which one would help me the most with gaming and overall performance.

CPU: i5-6400 @ 2.70ghz
GPU: GTX 960 2gb

 

[velocityg4]

The GPU will make the biggest difference. Perhaps a GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or Radeon Rx 480 8GB. They have similar performance. So get whichever is a better price. Either would be a big improvement. If you have the money. Perhaps look at a GeForce GTX 1070 8GB.

Jet.com has a 15% discount (up to $30) for new customers. Also check slickdeals.com and PCpartpicker.com for the best prices.

 

[geofelt]

It depends.
My stock approach to the question:

Some games are graphics limited like fast action shooters.
Others are cpu core speed limited like strategy, sims, and mmo.
Multiplayer with many participants tend to like many threads.

You need to find out which.
------------------------------------------------------------
To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You should also experiment with removing one or more cores. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option.
You will need to reboot for the change to take effect. Set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many threads.
If you see little difference, your game does not need all the threads you have.



It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system,
and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.
-------------------------------------------------------------