[SOLVED] Should I downgrade?

jvinsnes

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I was thinking about downgrading my GPU to upgrade my CPU. I've got an i5-8400 with a 1080Ti and was offered to trade the 1080Ti for a 1660Ti and $200. Both GPUs would be bottlenecked by the CPU, so I was wondering if a new system with 1660Ti and maybe an i7-8700 would generally perform better
 
Solution
That'd be an idea, I paid $50 for the 8400. Can probably find an 8700k for $180. Did the trade btw, but also picked up an RTX 2070 for $550 so I ended up installing that instead of the 1660Ti lol. Will be looking for an i7-8700k then. Or maybe even an i9-9900 if I can find it for a good price. If I remember correctly, the B360M-K isn't a great overclock mobo

The 2070 isn't really an upgrade, over the 1080ti. It's actually a slight downgrade, unless playing games that allow for DLSS. You would have been better off using that $550 on an alder lake upgrade, 11th gen, or a Zen 3 build. For example, on Zen 3. Alder lake comes out next week.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor...

DSzymborski

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I don't see the benefit if you're talking about gaming. The CPU isn't a major problem; it is a relatively modern hexacore, after all. An 8700 will give you hyperthreading and about 10% in single core performance, which is helpful but dwarfed by the fact that a 1660 Ti is a giant downgrade from a 1080 Ti.

If this were primarily a work rig, I'd definitely take that trade. If you're gaming, I wouldn't even consider the offer.
 
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jvinsnes

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I've been playing games like Horizon Zero Dawn and seen my CPU on 100% while the GPU is at 80-90% and when it stutters the CPU drops to 80% for a second then back to pinned at 100%
 

jvinsnes

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That'd be an idea, I paid $50 for the 8400. Can probably find an 8700k for $180. Did the trade btw, but also picked up an RTX 2070 for $550 so I ended up installing that instead of the 1660Ti lol. Will be looking for an i7-8700k then. Or maybe even an i9-9900 if I can find it for a good price. If I remember correctly, the B360M-K isn't a great overclock mobo
 
B360M-K is not an overclocking motherboard with a B360 chipset.
The value of a I9-9900 is that you get 16 threads vs. 12 on the I7-8700K.
Good if you will be running multithreaded batch apps.
Not so helpful in games which usually depend on fast single thread performance. Perhaps a 4% benefit in that regard.
And, The motherboard does not look to have the vrm cooling that would allow you to get even that.
 

logainofhades

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That'd be an idea, I paid $50 for the 8400. Can probably find an 8700k for $180. Did the trade btw, but also picked up an RTX 2070 for $550 so I ended up installing that instead of the 1660Ti lol. Will be looking for an i7-8700k then. Or maybe even an i9-9900 if I can find it for a good price. If I remember correctly, the B360M-K isn't a great overclock mobo

The 2070 isn't really an upgrade, over the 1080ti. It's actually a slight downgrade, unless playing games that allow for DLSS. You would have been better off using that $550 on an alder lake upgrade, 11th gen, or a Zen 3 build. For example, on Zen 3. Alder lake comes out next week.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($309.00 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Vetroo V5 52 CFM CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI B550-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory ($84.99 @ B&H)
Total: $543.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-10-29 09:25 EDT-0400


An 11th gen build.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-11600K 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($254.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Reeven Justice 82.1 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z590 AORUS ELITE ATX LGA1200 Motherboard ($179.45 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $532.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-10-29 09:32 EDT-0400
 
Last edited:
Solution
That'd be an idea, I paid $50 for the 8400. Can probably find an 8700k for $180. Did the trade btw, but also picked up an RTX 2070 for $550 so I ended up installing that instead of the 1660Ti lol. Will be looking for an i7-8700k then. Or maybe even an i9-9900 if I can find it for a good price. If I remember correctly, the B360M-K isn't a great overclock mobo
You have a budget motherboard with poor VRM that you don't want to pair with a 12/16 thread K CPU. It will be thermalthrotteling. Stick with your current CPU and save money for a total replacement of CPU, motherboard and RAM.
 

jvinsnes

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Actually I am also looking for a more compact build as I will be moving quite frequently in the upcoming years. Might as well go for an ITX motherboard and do a whole new build while I am at it. Can I get any good ITX sub $150?
 
What is your budget?

Love those ITX builds. I have done a few.
You need to pick the case before anything.
For portability, look at lian-li. Their cases are aluminum.
Look at the TU-150:
https://www.newegg.com/p/2AM-000Z-00055?quicklink=true
Here is a review:

This case requires a sfx psu.

I might suggest a i5-11400 processor.
Here is a review:
It comes with a cooler, but I would spend $50 on a noctua NH-U12s redux or better.
They are efficient and quiet.
Here is a list of coolers suitable for the 11400:
https://ncc.noctua.at/cpus/model/Intel-Core-i5-11400-1276

On an itx build, you will want a motherboard with included wifi.
There are no other expansion slots besides the X16 graphics slot.
I would give your GTX1080ti blower card a try.
It will give you time until you find something you like better.

Here is an inexpensive ITX motherboard for $106:
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157995?quicklink=true
 

jvinsnes

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Nice mobo and case, but optimally it would be a case where the gpu can be mounted vertically with mesh side panel so it gets fresh air. I Won't need hardrive space as I will probably upgrade to a 1tb nvme soon because I am having problems with my current 512gb. It is pinned at 100% just be running a speedtest on google and windows is very unresponsive while updating games stored on it. While it is at 100%, the transfer rates are only 5-20MBs
 
It may not be clear in the newegg link, but there is room for two bottom 120mm fan intakes directed directly at the gpu.

What is your current ssd?
How full is it? something like 90% full will be slow updating.

You may have other issues with speedtest and google.

It turns out that a user can not tell if the drive is sata or m.2 pcie 3 or 4.
 

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
Nice mobo and case, but optimally it would be a case where the gpu can be mounted vertically with mesh side panel so it gets fresh air. I Won't need hardrive space as I will probably upgrade to a 1tb nvme soon because I am having problems with my current 512gb. It is pinned at 100% just be running a speedtest on google and windows is very unresponsive while updating games stored on it. While it is at 100%, the transfer rates are only 5-20MBs

Coolermaster NR200 might be the case you are looking for, then.

https://www.newegg.com/black-cooler-master-masterbox-nr200-mini-itx-tower/p/N82E16811119407