Can i only upgrade my GPU for better performance?
Posted by ItseKeisari@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 44 comments
I recently started gaming on my old PC again and the performance is quite bad in modern games. I was wondering if only upgrading my GPU is worth it, or will my CPU or something else be a big bottleneck. Current specs:
- CPU: Ryzen 5 2600
- GPU: GTX 1060
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200Mhz
- Motherboard: B350 Tomahawk
I was thinking of the RTX 5060 for around 340€. The 5060 Ti 16GB is over 480€, which is more than what I’m hoping to spend on this. I don’t play much, so I am not in any immediate need of upgrading, if there are some good news in the horizon.
xRocom@reddit
The 5800xt is relatively cheap compared to the 5700x3d and from cpubenchmark, is a better cpu. But be sure to update the motherboard before doing any upgrades.
As for the gpu, whatever one else says.
InevitableSherbert36@reddit
The 5800XT has slightly higher per-core performance due to its higher clocks, but the 5700X3D generally does better in games due to its larger L3 cache.
SirVanyel@reddit
You can, but you're about due for a full overhaul. Might as well go for it
CrazyzaiMB@reddit
Well anything beyond a 3060 will be bottlenecked by your CPU, I'd get a 5600 and 6700XT if you're pn a budget (still will kill any game in 1080p) or a 5700X3D and anything up to a 5070 Ti for 1440p gaming if you have a lot to spend
thatissomeBS@reddit
As someone with a 5600 and a 6750xt, I'd probably recommend trying to get at least a 5700x or one of the X3Ds used if possible, and then I'd pair that with a 9060xt or 5060ti or something along that line. Don't get me wrong, my 6750xt is still quite strong, and I'm not looking to replace it quite yet, but I don't think now is the time to upgrade to it. I know the 6750xt and 9060xt are relatively equivalent in raster (and the 6750xt may even be slightly ahead), but the features on the newer gen seems more worth it right now. I know FSR4 may not be widely adopted quite yet, but it will be.
RangerDickard@reddit
I think the 5060 is better than the 3060 for the same price though right?
Siul19@reddit
You mean $300 second hand 3060?? At that price I can easily get a 6700XT or better.
Errorr404@reddit
OP said modern games so having DLSS is a must, FSR 3 looks terrible and FSR 4 has no wide scale support yet.
Siul19@reddit
6700xt has enough raster performance for modern games
Soulspawn@reddit
As someone with a 6700xt. I can't recommend it these days, not with 9060xt or 5060(ti) out there at a similar price new.
Sure it at 12GB of vram which helps in a few situation but the dogshit RT performance and terrible upscaling just kills the cards before that 12GB vram an issue.
Siul19@reddit
Yeah that makes sense
beirch@reddit
You can get 2080 Supers for dirt cheap nowadays, I'd rather get that. $180-200, DLSS, and it's as fast as a 3060Ti.
Huge upgrade over a 1060.
Content-Fee-8856@reddit
Imo if you have a lot to spend upgrade to am5
CrazyzaiMB@reddit
By a lot I meant like ~800$
beirch@reddit
I'd get a used 2080 Super and a Ryzen 5600X and you'd be set for 3-4 years at least if you play at 1080p. You can get both those for $300 easy.
2080 Super is a 220% upgrade over the 1060, and the 5600X is a 50-100% upgrade. Depends on the game. It's equivalent to an i5 12600K.
You'd be absolutely flying with those two parts.
pokta@reddit
I was using Ryzen 2600 and RX 460. Mostly playing Dota. I upgraded the GPU first to RX 6600, I was very surprised by the minimal difference. Then I upgraded to Ryzen 5600, fps improved drastically, most importantly the 1% low fps more than doubled.
fuzzynyanko@reddit
Fantastic post. Thanks for sharing. We don't get a lot of actual experience online when it comes to upgrades
no6969el@reddit
I had that CPU paired with a 3090 and it was bottlenecking it to all hell. I upgraded to a 5800x and it opened up.
Nowadays I'm on a 9800x3d and a 5090. But I'm curious about now Is how much will the 9800x3d hold back a 60 or 7090.
Moist_Limit3953@reddit
I have personal experience with this - i recently got a 5070ti, and im running an i5 10400f.
I don't get extra fps anywhere because my cpu is seriously holding me back. Im even losing 15% performance on gpu benchmarks because of it.
In short, your game will look prettier, but not run faster.
Just finished my run of expedition 33 at 60fps with my cpu pinned at 100% the whole time and my gpu not being fully utilized. In Overwatch, I get stuck at 240fps even though the gpu should be able to spit out close to 600.
Im upgrading to a 9800x3d this month, which will alleviate the bottleneck. I'd recommend at least a 7800x3d for this card in particular. For the one you're looking at, probably a 5800x3d would work
bobsim1@reddit
Youd definitely notice improvement. The new mid range cards with only 8 pcie lanes like would be limited. Also higher end cards depending on the games. You could definitely go with a used RTX 3070 or RX 6800xt though.
mig_f1@reddit
The PCIe 3.0 really matters ONLY if VRAM gets exhausted. If need be just lower the settings in your game and you'll be fine.
I'd upgrade both the CPU and the GPU, to keep things balanced.
Look at ebay or AliExpress for a Ryzen 5 5600X at around $100 (elsewhere seems to cost $130+ for some weird reason). Alternatively Look for R5 5600 (non X).
You will need to GRADUALLY update your BIOS to its latest version with your R5 2600 then swap it with the new CPU.
Next, if you can find an RTX 4060 around $200 (ebay, aliexpress, or even Jawa or fb-market) go for it and call it a day with $350 in total.
Else look for a RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT 8gb (they go around $300+ new).
Either way you will get a big uplift, and you'll be able to play all games at 1080p as long as you dont expect to play new AAA games at Ultra with RT and PT.
I wouldn't spend more than $400 on a B350 platform.
flushfire@reddit
It's why I don't like the tests made by HUB linked in one comment, they purposely picked titles, 1440p and settings that exceed 8gb. I can understand for the 5060 Ti, but the 5060 and 8gb 9060 XT are $300 cards, a price segment that is typically where budget gamers that still use 1080p buy. Data about the performance loss in pcie gens without hitting the vram limit would've been useful, instead they're cherry-picked tests to fuel the drama.
mig_f1@reddit
I know, exactly my thoughts when I first watched their video when it got released.
They do have a point though, because initially the 4060 was advertised as a 1440p card, before Nvidia got forced to admit it's a 1080p after all, but that doesn't mean 8gb VRAM GPUs are trash for 1080p.
They are fine for at least 1080p@60fps, and will be for a good while as long as people keep their expectations realistic.
National-Property29@reddit
your monitor and PSU?
ChrsRobes@reddit
You should look at replacing the whole system that CPU will bottleneck really bad. Cpu bottlenecking ur GPU can make ur system very slow, not recommend
ReasonableNetwork255@reddit
youll definitely get an increase in gaming performance .. i wouldnt attempt it though unless your current system is running very good and stable ... only you know that, first things first as they say ..
outworld_architect@reddit
Get ryzen 5600 and rx 9060 xt 16 gb
Capital_Influence_57@reddit
Better CPU will get you much better performance gains if you run low graphics settings.
Upgrading GPU won't really get you any better fps, it'll just allow you to run higher graphics settings at the same fps you are getting now.
xxspex@reddit
I'd get 5700x3D/5600x and a 9060xt 16GB which is pretty unbeatable for the price, also Nvidia 50xx cards have well documented driver quality issues. You don't have to do both at the same time, you'll notice an improvement with either but more with the gpu, double check the additional power connector for the GPU as some need two six pins which you might not have.
KevinMcNally79@reddit
I’d see if you can get a used 5600, 5700x or something like that (assuming your motherboard supports the 5xxx series). Even a 3600x would be a slight improvement. While a 5700x3d or 5800x3d would be nice, they’re simply a terrible value for the prices they demand right now. I just checked the sold listings on eBay and people are paying north of $350 for a used 5800x3d. If you live close to a micro center, you could get a whole CPU/MB/RAM bundle that would perform better for the same price.
As far as GPUs go, I’m seeing used 3060s around me for under $200. That would be a. If step up from your 1060.
Errorr404@reddit
Depends what you want to play, if it's just mainly GPU intensive games then even a 5070 would work with a 2600. Where you will see bottlenecks is mainly at 1080p or in CPU intensive games like esports titles but you will still most likely be at 200+ fps in most esports titles.
juan_bito@reddit
I recently went from a rx 570 to rx 6600 and I have same cpu as you and ram and over doubled my performance so yes definitely worth it
No-Opposite5190@reddit
my advise just save and invest in a new system..nothing is worth keeping and upgrading to better hardware for since if you stick with your hardware and just upgrade the gpu..you will be bottlenecked to shit. beacuse of the cpu.
iredditshere@reddit
Processors are cheap at the moment. Do both.
aizzod@reddit
This video may help.
https://youtu.be/AlfwXqODqp4?si=uyoa9dBIx6Ihl_Q0.
Or this.
https://youtu.be/4JebBhH-B88?si=ZmBbM5IhJoqtMOEy
UnsaidRnD@reddit
A new GPU will be bottlenecked, but who cares. You're definitely going to be fine with smth with 16 pcie lanes, low end. Maybe some previous gen Radeon cards idk
Saneless@reddit
Ryzen 5600 and Rx 9060xt since it actually has 16 pci lanes
Ryzen 5700x3d if you want to spend a bit more and get a little more
But the 5600 and 9060xt will be a great upgrade
MoisterThings@reddit
Idk if your motherboard can be flashed to accept a newer AM4 cpu, but you would need a better CPU (e.g.- 5700X3D or 5800XT) and GPU (B580).
Redrive_PC_Build@reddit
Your motherboard has gen3 pciex16. 5060 has only 8 pcie lines and on gen3 speed might be not perform at full potential. I recommend gpu with 16 pcie lines, like budget 3060.
szczszqweqwe@reddit
You are on PCIe3, those current 8GB GPUs are pretty horrible on that version, watch at those two videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEsSUPuvHI4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LhS0_ra9c4
Check something like:
b550, 7700xt or 9060xt16GB (you already spoken against 5060ti16gb)
dabocx@reddit
That cpu will hold you back. At minimum I’d update the bios and drop in a 5600
Public_Courage5639@reddit
You will be cpu bottlenecked if you buy a much better gpu and if you don't, the upgrade won't be worth it. Check if your mobo supports the ryzen 5 5600, some b350 support 5000 series cpus. Also buy 32gb ddr4 because it's dirt cheap rn. For the gpu, I would suggest a 9060 xt 16g if it's under 450$.
Plane-Produce-7820@reddit
Use a hardware monitor and check your gpu and cpu (each core individually) utilisation.
If your gpu is at 99% a gpu upgrade will improve performance. If it’s under 90% a cpu upgrade will increase performance. If it’s in between technically a cpu upgrade will improve performance but might be worthwhile upgrading both.
RegularAimer@reddit
amd 9060 xt 16gb or 7800 xt, ryzen 5 7600x