Question Improving Desktop Performance

[xenia]

Hello, my older system components are listed below (copied from post around 2016), can you please suggest a graphics card upgrade? Anything else stand out as obvious upgrades without getting a complete new system?

CPU Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor $373.98 @ Newegg
CPU Cooler | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler]| $24.99 @ Newegg
Motherboard | [Asus MAXIMUS VIII HERO ATX LGA1151 | $231.98 @ Newegg
Memory | [Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 | $112.49 @ Newegg
Storage | [Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" | $109.99 @ Newegg
Video Card | [MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card] | $353.98 @ Newegg
Case | [Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case] | $99.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply | [EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply) | $104.99 @ Newegg
Optical Drive | [LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer] | $19.99 @ Newegg

 

[SkyNetRising]

can you please suggest a graphics card upgrade?

Specify your budget first.
Also - monitor resolution.

 

[xenia]

1920 x 1200, on the budget, Id like to stay under $200.

 

[SkyNetRising]

1920 x 1200, on the budget, Id like to stay under $200.

For $200 you can't get anything significantly better than GTX 970. May be only something used.
RTX 3060 ti would be a good upgrade. But that's at least $400.

 

[xenia]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[geofelt]

Your title says desktop performance.
Do you really mean gaming performance?

Some games are cpu limited, and some are graphics limited.
To see which, try this test:
Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
This makes the graphics card loaf a bit.
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.

If you are cpu limited, a typical I7-6700K can be overclocked to 4.5; 4.7 is reasonable:
https://siliconlottery.com/pages/statistics
Your motherboard is one of the best to do so, so all you really need is a good cooler.
Here is one for example:
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermalright-peerless-assassin-120-se

If you are graphics limited, that is a tough issue to solve with your budget.