RTX 4000 series, will my 9900k still be suitable for these GPU’s

[Phillip Gwynne]

I’m thinking of upgrading my current RTX2080 gpu to either the RTX 4070/4080 gpu when they’re released. Currently I have an Asus Z370-G motherboard with 9900k cpu, 64Gb of Corsair vengeance ram (3,200MHZ overclocked to 3,600), an EVGA RTX2080xc and EVGA 750w psu. I know the PSU is probably the most likely first thing that needs upgrading. But what about the CPU? I’m sure a better one would benefit. But this is where recommendations are needed. I guess I’d aim for similar but newer versions of current set up, like the same level of product range for motherboard and if not one of the top end CPU’s best of the average type. But is it also wise to go for DDR5 ram? I also have lost a little faith in Asus boards found their bios updates caused problems so thinking of maybe EVGA or Gigabyte. The main reason I want to upgrade is I now have a 4k tv and can only get fairly decent frame rates if I turn most settings down. And for me, that seems like getting a really expensive tv or camera and smearing it with Vaseline. Ppl say MSAA isn’t too important, but I’ve found a lot of games, look better in 14400p on max settings than 4k with settings like MSAA turned down. Even GTA V I can only get fairly decent image quality and fps at something like 1600p. It’d be brilliant if I could just swap the rtx2080 for the rtx4080 and I’m sure I’d get improvements, but probably a melted CPU and processor. But that said, I’ve always thought it’s best to try and get the best chipset for latest gen of CPU, and try to aim for too range of second best CPU, but was fairly lucky that I was able to upgrade easily from a 9600k to a 9900k cpu and that made small differences. If realistically I’m better of just starting again, then just say. But if there’s ways I can do this in stages, any advice is highly appreciated

 

[.Lethal]

It'll be fine.

The only drawback if anything (which I doubt you'd notice) is that the motherboard is PCIe 3.0 where as the graphics card supports 4.0

 

[Cooper]

The main reason I want to upgrade is I now have a 4k tv and can only get fairly decent frame rates if I turn most settings down.

That's not down to your CPU but purely your GPU.

The higher the resolution you game at, the less important your CPU becomes, as long as you have at least a modern six core twelve thread CPU running in the 3.5 to 5Ghz range.

There are only really a handful of games that need more CPU grunt than a 9900K can provide, such as MS Flight Simulator, but even the fastest CPU currently out there, the 12900K, can hit its limits in that, down to the game using old legacy code, more than current CPU's not being fast enough.

I have a 9900K & RTX 3080 and can't think of a single game where I've thought..damn, I wish I had a faster CPU, because I always hit the GPU's limits long before the 9900k's.

IMO, The 9900K will be good enough for at least another two generations of GPU (40xx & 50xx)

After that games will be using more & more Ray Tracing effects which are very CPU demanding, so that's when I predict the 9900K will be at the end of the road in terms of not bottlenecking a GPU, if you want to run games with all the bells & whistles turned on.