I'm in need of an upgrade but not sure where to start. I have a pretty obsolete AMD FX 6300 CPU and want to upgrade to a Ryzen 2600 (along with mobo and RAM DDR4) I also have a GTX 960 but with Nvidia's new cards being announced soon I'm tempted to upgrade the graphics card instead. What would be the better choice at this time?? I would like people's opinions. Thanks.
What should I upgrade, CPU or Graphics Cards??
- Thread starter Filonzo
- Start date
Solution
- Jul 18, 2014
- 21,771
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Yup, you'll see a bigger improvement gaming wise to get a better CPU over the GPU currently. Just to avoid possible incompatibilities I'd pair that 2600 with a B450 or X470 motherboard.
geofelt
Titan
- Oct 9, 2006
- 54,307
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There are both cpu and graphics upgrade launches coming.
If you are thinking of a graphics card in the gtx1080ti class, then wait for the nvidia GTX next gen cards.
On the cpu side, you will certainly benefit from a cpu/mobo/ram upgrade.
The 9th gen intel chips are coming soon if you are interested in a fast gaming chip.
I think it is a good time to wait.
My stock text on the cpu vs. gpu question:
Some games are graphics limited like fast action shooters.
Others are cpu core speed limited like strategy, sims, and mmo.
Multiplayer tends 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/threads. 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 threads 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.
-------------------------------------------------------------
If you are thinking of a graphics card in the gtx1080ti class, then wait for the nvidia GTX next gen cards.
On the cpu side, you will certainly benefit from a cpu/mobo/ram upgrade.
The 9th gen intel chips are coming soon if you are interested in a fast gaming chip.
I think it is a good time to wait.
My stock text on the cpu vs. gpu question:
Some games are graphics limited like fast action shooters.
Others are cpu core speed limited like strategy, sims, and mmo.
Multiplayer tends 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/threads. 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 threads 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.
-------------------------------------------------------------
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