Time to replace CPU?

Ergates · 29 Feb 2024 at 23:34

I'm currently running an i5-7500 CPU @ 3.40GHz CPU with a 1660Ti.

I'm thinking of replacing the GPU with maybe a 4060 or a 7700XT - something around that level.

But I'm wondering about the CPU - I've had it a *long* time (long enough ago that Overclockers have forgotten the order history), and it's probably getting a bit long in the tooth. Thing is - to replace the CPU I'd also have to replace the motherboard and.... <sigh>

So... is it worth it? Or would replacing the GPU suffice? I use a 27" monitor at 1900x1200.

Tetras · 29 Feb 2024 at 23:39

i5-7500 would be a massive bottleneck for a 7700 XT (4060 is not equivalent) in the majority of newer games.

That said, if you haven't noticed yet how slow they are...

sx_turbo · 29 Feb 2024 at 23:41

Think it's time to do major upgrade

Ergates · 29 Feb 2024 at 23:49

Tetras said:
i5-7500 would be a massive bottleneck for a 7700 XT (4060 is not equivalent)

When you're an ant, both an elephant a buffalo seem very large...

Ergates · 29 Feb 2024 at 23:49

sx_turbo said:
Think it's time to do major upgrade

Awwww maaan

tamzzy · 29 Feb 2024 at 23:51

yeah, it's time to sell that whole rig and restart
the 7500 + 1660ti seems well balanced and you can't upgrade one without unbalancing the build

Wing-Man · 1 Mar 2024 at 00:14

if on a budget a i7-7700 would be better, but would still be hammered hard at that res with a 7700xt

my boy had a i7-6700k with a 5700xt and the CPU help back the GPU but was a massive upgrade over his i5-6500, so a 7700xt would be so very much held back by a i5-7500 or a i7-7700

if on a budget buy a I7-7700, if not buy a new rig

Ergates · 1 Mar 2024 at 01:27

The 7700xt may well be overkill tbh (especially at 1920x1200) - I only started looking this evening. My son wanted me to play Sea of Thieves with him (him on the Xbox, me on PC) and the 1660Ti wasn't having it! Other than that.... BG3 made it struggle a bit.

OK, so... spec suggestions?
I don't need a case, or monitor, or storage, don't particularly need on-board wifi (I use ethernet), I could probably re-use the cooler (assuming it's compatible).

Lets set an upper limit of.... £800-1000.

mickyflinn · 1 Mar 2024 at 09:36

Ergates said:
The 7700xt may well be overkill tbh (especially at 1920x1200) - I only started looking this evening. My son wanted me to play Sea of Thieves with him (him on the Xbox, me on PC) and the 1660Ti wasn't having it! Other than that.... BG3 made it struggle a bit.

OK, so... spec suggestions?
I don't need a case, or monitor, or storage, don't particularly need on-board wifi (I use ethernet), I could probably re-use the cooler (assuming it's compatible).

Lets set an upper limit of.... £800-1000.

You should be able to play sea of thieves at 1080p 60 FPS with your 1660ti, did you turn down the detail settings?

Tetras · 1 Mar 2024 at 13:21

Ergates said:
The 7700xt may well be overkill tbh (especially at 1920x1200) - I only started looking this evening. My son wanted me to play Sea of Thieves with him (him on the Xbox, me on PC) and the 1660Ti wasn't having it! Other than that.... BG3 made it struggle a bit.

OK, so... spec suggestions?
I don't need a case, or monitor, or storage, don't particularly need on-board wifi (I use ethernet), I could probably re-use the cooler (assuming it's compatible).

Lets set an upper limit of.... £800-1000.

My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Six Core 5.10GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DW-AM) = £188.99
1 x Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6K1-AS) = £159.98
1 x Kingston FURY Beast EXPO 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 PC5-44800C36 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KF556C36BBEK2-32) (SKU: MY-29U-KS) = £100.00
1 x Gigabyte Radeon RX 7700 XT Gaming 12GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-GIG-01266) = £419.99
1 x Seasonic Focus GX-850 850W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-06T-SS) = £119.98

Total: £996.94 (includes delivery: £7.99)

Threepwood · 1 Mar 2024 at 13:39

Tetras said:
My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Six Core 5.10GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DW-AM) = £188.99

1 x Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6K1-AS) = £159.98

1 x Kingston FURY Beast EXPO 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 PC5-44800C36 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KF556C36BBEK2-32) (SKU: MY-29U-KS) = £100.00

1 x Gigabyte Radeon RX 7700 XT Gaming 12GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-GIG-01266) = £419.99

1 x Seasonic Focus GX-850 850W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-06T-SS) = £119.98

Total: £996.94 (includes delivery: £7.99)

just in case the OP was wondering, I'd like to add that that CPU comes with a cooler

Tetras · 1 Mar 2024 at 13:41

Threepwood said:
just in case the OP was wondering, I'd like to add that that CPU comes with a cooler

Thanks, I should have mentioned that!

Ergates said:
I could probably re-use the cooler (assuming it's compatible).

If you have an AM4 mount/bracket, then it probably is, but you'd need to check.

Ergates · 1 Mar 2024 at 13:49

Tetras said:
My basket at OcUK:

1 x AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Six Core 5.10GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DW-AM) = £188.99

1 x Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6K1-AS) = £159.98

1 x Kingston FURY Beast EXPO 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 PC5-44800C36 5600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KF556C36BBEK2-32) (SKU: MY-29U-KS) = £100.00

1 x Gigabyte Radeon RX 7700 XT Gaming 12GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-GIG-01266) = £419.99

1 x Seasonic Focus GX-850 850W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply (SKU: CA-06T-SS) = £119.98

Total: £996.94 (includes delivery: £7.99)

Thank you.

Tetras said:
If you have an AM4 mount/bracket, then it probably is, but you'd need to check.

Even if it came with one it is exceedingly unlikely I still have it after all this time and even less likely I'd be able to find it!!

Tetras · 1 Mar 2024 at 14:00

Ergates said:
Even if it came with one it is exceedingly unlikely I still have it after all this time and even less likely I'd be able to find it!!

If you ask the manufacturer nicely they may help you, especially if it was a pricey Noctua, since they supply the AM5 mounting brackets for free anyway.

Threepwood · 1 Mar 2024 at 15:11

there is just no point waiting around for that when he can upgrade to a cpu that comes with a cooler anyway

Tetras · 1 Mar 2024 at 15:17

Threepwood said:
there is just no point waiting around for that when he can upgrade to a cpu that comes with a cooler anyway

If the cooler is a high-end Noctua, or something like that, then it is a lot better than the bundled cooler, so I think worth an email to their CS, but if it is a mediocre £20 tower cooler, meh.

sx_turbo · 1 Mar 2024 at 19:17

Ergates said:
Thank you.

Even if it came with one it is exceedingly unlikely I still have it after all this time and even less likely I'd be able to find it!!

If you shop around a bit, I'd advise getting the 7800xt, it's worth the £50 extra.

Oc list a sapphire pulse 7800xt @479 but it's currently on pre -order

Yrkoon · 1 Mar 2024 at 20:26

sx_turbo said:
If you shop around a bit, I'd advise getting the 7800xt, it's worth the £50 extra.

Oc list a sapphire pulse 7800xt @479 but it's currently on pre -order

aye the sapphire pulse 7800xt is a sweet card, dont think ive seen mine go much past 70c and its quiet