What should I upgrade first? CPU or GPU?

[Maxim0815]

Hello guys, I just want to ask you what will be better, upgrading my CPU or my GPU?

My current GPU is R9 380x Nitro from Sapphire and my CPU is an i5-4460 and I have 12 GB RAM.

I can buy myself an I7-4790K or an GTX 970, but I dont know what to buy first, can you guys help me please? I dont have the oppurtunity to buy both.

I am planning to play newest FPS games today, like BF1, GTA V etc on High-Ultra Settings.

 

[EpIckFa1LJoN]

Upgrading GPU will almost always give you a bigger increase in performance for gaming. The CPU isn't that bad and upgrading you would see maybe 10% increase and thats upgrading to like an i7 6700K, whereas upgrading the GPU could possibly give you 30% or more GPU power depending on what you upgrade to, forgive me I am unfamiliar with Radeon cards.

But at the same time GTA V is an incredibly processor intensive game and no matter what GPU you have your CPU is most likely going to limit you on that.

But for most games you won't even notice that much of a difference between a better processor and the one you have. And that's if you were to get a 6th gen i7

 

[Hamperking68]

If those are the games you're looking at that a new GPU would be the way to go. However see if you can get some more funds and get something in the pascal series. E.g. 1060 or 1070.

 

[Maxim0815]

Upgrading GPU will almost always give you a bigger increase in performance for gaming. The CPU isn't that bad and upgrading you would see maybe 10% increase, whereas upgrading the GPU could possibly give you 30% or more GPU power depending on what you upgrade to, forgive me I am unfamiliar with Radeon cards.

But at the same time GTA V is an incredibly processor intensive game and no matter what GPU you have your CPU is most likely going to limit you on that.

But for most games you won't even notice that much of a difference between a better processor and the one you have. And that's if you were to get a 6th gen i7

If those are the games you're looking at that a new GPU would be the way to go. However see if you can get some more funds and get something in the pascal series. E.g. 1060 or 1070.

I dont have that much money to buy a 1070 or 1080, I would like to buy one but I just cant. I can give away like 350€. Thanks for your quick answers! I think im going to get a GPU. Next year Im going to get a CPU. I think I could afford a GTX 1060, but is it better than a GTX 970?

 

[EpIckFa1LJoN]

1060 3GB is better but not by a whole lot (8% or so) 1060 6GB is just a little more than that (about 11%) And you won't be able to hit high quality on everything. You're looking at medium-good settings at 1080p

 

[Maxim0815]

1060 is better but not by a whole lot. And you won't be able to hit high quality on everything. You're looking at medium-good settings at 1080p

Ok thanks alot buddy! I think im going to get a 1060 or maybe a 1070 if I can get some more euros!

 

[EpIckFa1LJoN]

I would definitely get a 1070 if you can, you should be able to max out a lot at 1080p.

 

[Maxim0815]

I would definitely get a 1070 if you can, you should be able to max out a lot at 1080p.

Im not really sure if I can afford that! But upgrading to a 1060 from a R9 380x is a massive boost.

 

[EpIckFa1LJoN]

Yeah a 6GB 1060 will still do fine.

 

[Hamperking68]

You could sell the 380?

 

[Maxim0815]

You could sell the 380?

True I didnt even think about that Thanks for the Idea!