[SOLVED] GPU or CPU Upgrade

[AppleUK]

Hello all. I'm currently deciding whether to upgrade my CPU or GPU, having done some research I'm leaning towards upgrading my GPU. I know I should upgrade my CPU as well but cannot upgrade both at the same time. Here are my specs:
Intel Core i5 7500 (No HT, No Overclock)
Gigabyte RX 580 8GB
16GB RAM ...
If I were to upgrade my CPU then I would likely upgrade to the Ryzen 7 3000s' line up and would buy a new motherboard as well.
If I were to upgrade my GPU then I'm planning to go for the RTX 2070 Super.
I don't do any video editing, multitasking, I only use it for Flight Simulation, which is very demanding compared to other types of games. My CPU load remains high but never remains consistently at 95% plus. I currently have shadows off and object draw distance set to low, so I'm hoping that by upgrading I should be able to turn these on.
I'm a bit concerned about bottlenecks, but I think I would definitely use the extra power of the GPU by increasing the graphical settings. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.... thank you! 👍

 

[tennis2]

What resolution?

 

[AppleUK]

1920x1080p, but I think I have the Virtual Super Resolution set to 1440p but the monitor is 1080p

What resolution?

 

[jitteRs]

Hello all. I'm currently deciding whether to upgrade my CPU or GPU, having done some research I'm leaning towards upgrading my GPU. I know I should upgrade my CPU as well but cannot upgrade both at the same time. Here are my specs:
Intel Core i5 7500 (No HT, No Overclock)
Gigabyte RX 580 8GB
16GB RAM ...
If I were to upgrade my CPU then I would likely upgrade to the Ryzen 7 3000s' line up and would buy a new motherboard as well.
If I were to upgrade my GPU then I'm planning to go for the RTX 2070 Super.
I don't do any video editing, multitasking, I only use it for Flight Simulation, which is very demanding compared to other types of games. My CPU load remains high but never remains consistently at 95% plus. I currently have shadows off and object draw distance set to low, so I'm hoping that by upgrading I should be able to turn these on.
I'm a bit concerned about bottlenecks, but I think I would definitely use the extra power of the GPU by increasing the graphical settings. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.... thank you! 👍

I think you are better off getting a GPU because your CPU should be good enough that it won't create a bottleneck.

 

[tennis2]

Have you considered turning VSR off so you can increase quality settings?

What FPS are you getting with your current setup?

Is it safe to say you've got a 1080p 60Hz monitor?

 

[Matthew_Smith]

Hey, AppleUK.

In my opinion, you should defenitely upgrade the GPU for faster performance at higher settings. You should watch out for a CPU bottleneck though, although I think the i5 is powerful enough.

Haven't really 'gone-into' it, sorry.

 

[AppleUK]

I think you are better off getting a GPU because your CPU should be good enough that it won't create a bottleneck.

Thank you for the reply, I'm coming to that conclusion as well. If lets say there is a bottleneck from the CPU, to solve the problem do you simply lower the settings to reduce load on the GPU?

 

[AppleUK]

Have you considered turning VSR off so you can increase quality settings?

What FPS are you getting with your current setup?

Is it safe to say you've got a 1080p 60Hz monitor?

At the moment I get stutter free gameplay with around 30-40 FPS on the ground at the airport and 60FPS in the air. It's very playable it just that I don't have shadows enabled, reflections and I set my scenery objects distance rather low. These are the things I'm hoping to enable with a new GPU. Furthermore Microsoft are releasing a brand new similar MSFS2020 and so want to be ready for its release.

Yes, I actually currently game on a 1080P TV, I use VSR as I don't have to use SSSA, which impacts my performance. Originally my plan was to buy a 1440P 144HZ IPS Monitor, but if I'm not even going to achieve such FPS I don't see the point

 

[AppleUK]

Hey, AppleUK.

In my opinion, you should defenitely upgrade the GPU for faster performance at higher settings. You should watch out for a CPU bottleneck though, although I think the i5 is powerful enough.

Haven't really 'gone-into' it, sorry.

Thanks for the reply, yeah I've come to the same conclusion, just wary of the potential for a bottleneck.

 

[tennis2]

Couple things, VSR and rendering at 1440p then outputting 1080p to the TV certainly has a performance impact. You're rendering 75% more pixels.

It's less about the 144Hz and more about variable refresh rate and LFC. Also, just because you get lower FPS in one game, doesn't mean you will on all of them.

 

[AppleUK]

Yeah the 1440P does probably have some impact but the output is far nicer with no jagged edges. When I compared it against 1080p the FPS impact isn’t too severe.

 

[Marjancm]

Gpu is for gaming, cpu is second component.

 

[jitteRs]

Thank you for the reply, I'm coming to that conclusion as well. If lets say there is a bottleneck from the CPU, to solve the problem do you simply lower the settings to reduce load on the GPU?

Yes, that could help but you will intentionally be using a weaker GPU like your old 580. You won't be using all the power that a 2070 super can handle. Therefore, if you do get a bottleneck but I don't think that you will then you might as well save to upgrade your GPU and CPU together.

 

[tennis2]

I think a 2060 Super or 5700XT is max I'd recommend.

 

[Zoel.fahmi]

Hello all. I'm currently deciding whether to upgrade my CPU or GPU, having done some research I'm leaning towards upgrading my GPU. I know I should upgrade my CPU as well but cannot upgrade both at the same time. Here are my specs:
Intel Core i5 7500 (No HT, No Overclock)
Gigabyte RX 580 8GB
16GB RAM ...
If I were to upgrade my CPU then I would likely upgrade to the Ryzen 7 3000s' line up and would buy a new motherboard as well.
If I were to upgrade my GPU then I'm planning to go for the RTX 2070 Super.
I don't do any video editing, multitasking, I only use it for Flight Simulation, which is very demanding compared to other types of games. My CPU load remains high but never remains consistently at 95% plus. I currently have shadows off and object draw distance set to low, so I'm hoping that by upgrading I should be able to turn these on.
I'm a bit concerned about bottlenecks, but I think I would definitely use the extra power of the GPU by increasing the graphical settings. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.... thank you! 👍

GPU upgrade would be optimum choice considering RX 580 ageing more than 3 years now

 

[hdgaming]

uhm,

Hello all. I'm currently deciding whether to upgrade my CPU or GPU, having done some research I'm leaning towards upgrading my GPU. I know I should upgrade my CPU as well but cannot upgrade both at the same time. Here are my specs:
Intel Core i5 7500 (No HT, No Overclock)
Gigabyte RX 580 8GB
16GB RAM ...
If I were to upgrade my CPU then I would likely upgrade to the Ryzen 7 3000s' line up and would buy a new motherboard as well.
If I were to upgrade my GPU then I'm planning to go for the RTX 2070 Super.
I don't do any video editing, multitasking, I only use it for Flight Simulation, which is very demanding compared to other types of games. My CPU load remains high but never remains consistently at 95% plus. I currently have shadows off and object draw distance set to low, so I'm hoping that by upgrading I should be able to turn these on.
I'm a bit concerned about bottlenecks, but I think I would definitely use the extra power of the GPU by increasing the graphical settings. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.... thank you! 👍

Uhm well at the moment your setup is pretty balanced, but I would get a better CPU first, you could get an i7 7700 (second hand?) this will save you money and time, because you can just plug the i7 in and it will work.

The i7 7700 will work great with a RTX 2070s.

 

[thekillerx10]

it will bottleneck of course if you buy rtx 2070 super

i suggest getting 5700 or 5700 xt and then plan to upgrade the cpu to something like ryzen 5 3600 or ryzen 5 2600

but if you found a good deal for i7 7700 get it, and you can take a look at used 1080 ti's for 500$ they are the best price to performance cards rn for high end gaming they are the same as rtx 2080