Upgrade GPU or CPU for better fps and gameplay?

Matricks

Matricks

Matricks

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Joined
21 Nov 2023
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UK
Hi all,

Some advice from the wise please.

Recently built my first PC in a long time (with parts help from the forum) for a combination of predominantly gaming, a bit of MS Office and general home use, but dual purpose the monitor for work which is connected via HDMI from my laptop.

I'm running:

GPU - Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT
CPU - Intel i5 12400 (with integrated Graphics - but not used)
Monitor - 34WP65CP-B (LG 34 Widescreen) I connect via DP to take advantage of AMDs Freesync when gaming/ not working and run 160hz.
RAM - 34Gb Corsair Dominator
SDD - 1TB MSI Spatium
MB - Asus B760i

I'm pretty happy with the set up, but... there's always room for improvement. When gaming (almost exclusively MW3/ Warzone) i get an average of 131fps, with the CPU running at around 100% and the GPU at around 90% Temperatures are around 70 for the CPU and 60 for the GPU. Both are quiet.

Ideally, i think i'm chasing a higher FPS and slightly more crisp image when playing WZ, if i was to change the GPU it would be to a Radeon RX 7900 xtx - but not really sure what sort of fps increase id see by upgrading? Also I think this would mean a new PSU? (currently running a Corsair RMX 750w) Advice here would be appreciated.

Alternatively thinking about swapping out the CPU for an i7/i9, probably a 14700/14900, I believe there would be a fps improvement? but i doubt it would be as significant as the swapping the GPU?

Cooling wise, I'm using a lowprofile aircooler with a TDP of 170w - which i believe is fine for an i7/i9? I don't think i'd need to upgrade the PSU for either of these?

From what i understand there's not really much in it when it comes to CPUs and gaming (i7vs i9)- the important thing is apparently clock speed, not cores - so if that's accurate then i'd be better off getting an i7 over an i9 given the potential saving of around £150 (14700 vs 14900k)?

So, checking my thoughts (please)

Option 1. Swap out the CPU, get the i9, no need to change the cooler or PSU.
Option 2. Swap out the CPU, get an i7 over an i9, no need to change the cooler or PSU and save c£150 (or more depends where its brought)
Option 3. Swap out the CPU and GPU, using the saving of £150 to offset the GPU cost, but would need a new PSU (would an 850w be ok or would i need 1000w)

Is there anything i've missed or should be considering if i went with any of the above?

Much Obliged.
 
Hi,

If you gaming at 1080p or 1440p then moving to a 14600k is going to get you 20% to 25% more FPS, 4k 10%. That would be a £200 upgrade after selling your 12400 , then Add a cooler


That's what I would consider if not 4k gaming.

Read this review.

www.techpowerup.com

Intel Core i5-14600K Review - Impressive OC Potential

Intel Core i5-14600K is the most affordable new processor released today. While it may look weaker on paper it still packs an impressive punch, especially for gaming. In our review we reached an impressive 5.7 GHz on all cores, which unlocks quite a bit of additional performance.
www.techpowerup.com www.techpowerup.com
 
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Matricks said:
Alternatively thinking about swapping out the CPU for an i7/i9, probably a 14700/14900, I believe there would be a fps improvement? but i doubt it would be as significant as the swapping the GPU?
Click to expand...
It really depends on the game and unfortunately I don't know enough about that game to say. Your CPU and the graphics card are both pretty decent in modern games, but a "real" raptor lake CPU (13600K and up) is definitely a step above if you're CPU limited. Realistically, I'd expect 3440 x 1440 to be GPU limited most of the time, but games are loading the CPU more and more, so I wouldn't want to put money on it either way.

Matricks said:
if i was to change the GPU it would be to a Radeon RX 7900 xtx - but not really sure what sort of fps increase id see by upgrading?
Click to expand...
If you look at TPU's GPU reviews they give an average fps figure for each game tested and overall, which might help. You can also look at YouTube for similar specs, but do note their settings and only use the ones with actual footage, since some of these numbers are obviously plucked from nowhere.

Matricks said:
Cooling wise, I'm using a low profile aircooler with a TDP of 170w - which i believe is fine for an i7/i9? I don't think i'd need to upgrade the PSU for either of these?
Click to expand...
It almost certainly would not be fine. A power unlimited i7/i9 would destroy a low profile air cooler. If it can handle the quoted 170 watts I'd be very surprised, since even a tower air cooler would need to be a very good one to handle that kind of load.
 
Thanks all,

Looks like i will need an AIO then... but not a new PSU (unless i go with a 7900 as well.. crikey.

@mickyflinn - i have a Thermal Take The Tower 200 (https://www.overclockers.co.uk/thermaltake-the-tower-200-mini-tower-case-white-cas-ttk-00865.html) But mine's blue.

I'd probably end up getting one of these then - id stick with Asus as it'd pair with the MB

www.overclockers.co.uk

ASUS ROG Ryujin II 240 ARGB Performance AIO CPU Liquid Cooler with OLED Display - 240mm

Order ASUS ROG Ryujin II 240 ARGB Performance AIO CPU Liquid Cooler with OLED Display - 240mm now online and benefit from fast delivery.
www.overclockers.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk
 
Matricks said:
Thanks all,

Looks like i will need an AIO then... but not a new PSU (unless i go with a 7900 as well.. crikey.

@mickyflinn - i have a Thermal Take The Tower 200 (https://www.overclockers.co.uk/thermaltake-the-tower-200-mini-tower-case-white-cas-ttk-00865.html) But mine's blue.

I'd probably end up getting one of these then - id stick with Asus as it'd pair with the MB

www.overclockers.co.uk

ASUS ROG Ryujin II 240 ARGB Performance AIO CPU Liquid Cooler with OLED Display - 240mm

Order ASUS ROG Ryujin II 240 ARGB Performance AIO CPU Liquid Cooler with OLED Display - 240mm now online and benefit from fast delivery.
www.overclockers.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk
Click to expand...
Come on £260 on a aio Asus tax in play, there are loads of alternatives.


Yes 7900xt will mean your psu will be fine..
 
Matricks said:
I'd probably end up getting one of these then - id stick with Asus as it'd pair with the MB
Click to expand...

You would have to be clinically insane to pay £260 for a 240mm AIO.

www.overclockers.co.uk

Arctic Liquid Freezer II High Performance CPU Water Cooler - 240mm

Order Arctic Liquid Freezer II High Performance CPU Water Cooler - 240mm now online and benefit from fast delivery.
www.overclockers.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk

www.overclockers.co.uk

Phanteks Glacier One D30 240mm Black RGB All In One CPU Water Cooler

Add high-performance cooling to your gaming PC, with a Phanteks Glacier One D30 AiO. Boasting a powerful pump, beautiful aesthetics, and superb D30 fans.
www.overclockers.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk

Just a couple of alternatives. There are 240 AIOs by bequiet, DeepCool, etc. all in the ~£100 region. The Arctic is the best performer but if you like the looks of one in particular go for that.

You absolutely don't need a 14900K for gaming and it will be difficult to keep cool. A 14600/14700K will be plenty.
 
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Box of goodies arrived from OC again today. All built and running quite quietly.

Thanks for the advice all.

Super pleased with the RX 7900, its crushing MW3 and running in perfect sync with my 160hz monitor via Freesync. Consistent 160fps. The Lian Li AIO is "cool" the tower's on the desk next to my Monitor and i can't hear the fans. Yes when gaming they speed up, but that's to be expected and they aren't overly loud or annoying. CPU/GPU running circa 60 and 70c under load, no load 30 and 35c. Benchmark stats are off the chart.
Had the annoying inaccessible boot device after the strip down and rebuild, almost ended up doing a reinstall of W11. Remembered when i built the PC not long there was a BIOS setting to that needed to be changed, and lo and behold it had reverted to enabling the VMD controller in the BIOS - changed to disabled and straight in and up and running again.

All, in very happy.
 
Matricks said:
I'll likely be putting it up on ebay, along with an RMX750, i5 12400, and a low profile cooler (boxed)

A tidy little bundle...
Click to expand...
You probably know already, but if you're selling on the bay, take photos/videos of everything, serial numbers the lot. I wouldn't sell on there personally, in case of scammers. If I didn't have access to any forum classifieds, I would try locally via FB or Gumtree.
 
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