8y.o. PC with constant FPS drops: New Build or Upgrade?
Posted by Scoobaca@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 19 comments
My current PC is 8 years old now without upgrades and has been giving me a headache lately. I'm getting terrible FPS drops to 40 in games like CS2. Seems to be a CPU issue considering my <50% GPU utilization. I'm hoping to just stop dealing with these terrible drops and for some more reliability. Specs are here:
CPU- AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Cooler- Corsair H100i v2
Motherboard- GIGABYTE AB350-Gaming 3-CF
Memory- G.Skill Ripjaws DDR4 16GB (g.skill f4-3200c16-8gvgb)
Storage- 466 B SSD Samsung SSD 860 Evo 500GB
GPU- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB)
Power- EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G3
Monitor- ROG PG248Q
So, upgrade or build new? I would prefer to keep new builds <$2000, but prioritize not having to upgrade for a while if possible. I have really limited knowledge, so any insight or reading recs would be appreciated.
Thanks for the help!
Ok_Comparison_2635@reddit
You shouldn't be getting only 40 fps. I will check temps. Probably the thermal paste is harden.
Scoobaca@reddit (OP)
Avg FPS is like 120, it's just constantly tanking during fights in game. Temps don't exceed 43 for CPU and 65 for GPU under load. I'm under the impression that those temps are fine, but please correct my if I'm wrong.
Ok_Comparison_2635@reddit
The temps look fine. 120fps seems to be normal for high settings. But generally you should be playing at low settings for esports for high responsiveness.
But even then, at high settings during heavy fights you should not even come close to 40fps. You would be somewhere at 70fps.
What is your ram speed, did you turn on xmp? Are you using an nvme ssd or mechanical hard drive?
Scoobaca@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the advice! I'll look into other drives and the CPU update. Is there a reason that would improve my performance that much? I know NVMEs outperform SATA, but I thought that had more to do with loading times and didn't affect FPS that much.
Luckyirishdevil@reddit
Upgrade is going to be cheapest and should be the first thought. Look up CPU compatibility for your CPU. I if a 5600 is possible, get one of those. Ram will be alright. A 9060x5 16gb gpu or 5060 Ti 16Gb would be excellent upgrades, price dependant.
Like another said, check the SSD health and keep it under 75% full
Scoobaca@reddit (OP)
Cleaned up the SSD significantly. I'll see if that helps.
I keep seeing posts recommending the 5700x over the 5600. Easily affordable for me to get the 5700x. Is there a reason not to go for that?
Luckyirishdevil@reddit
How is the 5800xt? That would be the best new CPU to shoot for. 5700x is going to give you the same v gaming as a 5600x, but with 2 more cores in case you steam or do crap in the background. Up to you. If price is close, might as well go for the 5700x... I would.
Scoobaca@reddit (OP)
Definitely do things in the background and would appreciate the extra 2 cores for $30. 5800XT is $55 more than the 5700x and has the huge power difference, so I think I'll go for the 5700x.
9okm@reddit
If you don't get to the bottom of why your performance has decreased, a hardware upgrade may not do anything for you.
Scoobaca@reddit (OP)
It's been this way ever since I started playing CS again. It's been years since I played on CSGO, so It wasn't some sudden decrease. I will see how cleaning up the disk and resetting works, but any suggestions for more troubleshooting past that?
9okm@reddit
Check temps.
Do a fresh install of windows.
Reevaluate.
Scoobaca@reddit (OP)
Temps don't exceed 43 for CPU and 65 for GPU under load. Aren't those fine?
No_Spare1827@reddit
Well u could probably gwt away with an simple upgrade to a 5700x it not the fastest but its plenty capable at any resolution and still gets the job done in most games making it a great final upgrade for any AM4 build.
Alternatively u could just move the DDR4 over to a 14600k and get a massive boost in performance it will really depends on what u value performance now or possible upgradability.
But if u are looking for a modern powerful build that has plenty of upgradability to it under $2k then maybe check this out
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/yvxw6B
Scoobaca@reddit (OP)
I've seen several suggestions for the 5600x vs. 5700x. Most places I've looked the 5700x seems superior. Do you have any take on which one is better and why?
No_Spare1827@reddit
So it will depend on the game, most titles wont really care which CPU u are using between these 2 and that goes for Esports titles as well but in the last few years we have started to see games that prefer having 8 cores instead of 6 this is likely due to consoles having 8 cores and games are almost always made to run on consoles.
I would personally go for the 5700x as it has the extra 2 cores which can be nice for multi tasking but also for more modern games that run better on 8 cores, both are fine on a modest GPU
Scoobaca@reddit (OP)
Modest price difference, so I'll go for the 5700x. Thanks for the advice!
Weak-Kitchen-5068@reddit
your pc is showing its age and those fps drops make sense because your cpu can’t keep up while the gpu sits under low utilization. a new build will fix that and give you much more performance and reliability.
here is a complete parts list that matches a roughly 2000 dollar budget and gives you a big jump in performance and future longevity:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D — best for gaming performance without overpaying
Motherboard: MSI B650 Tomahawk WiFi — solid power delivery, good features, future proof
Memory: 32GB DDR5 6000MHz CL30 (2x16GB) — balanced speed and latency for Ryzen
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT or Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti depending on pricing in your area — both are strong for 1080p or 1440p gaming
Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD — fast system and game drive
Power supply: 750W 80+ Gold quality unit such as Seasonic Focus Gold or Corsair RM750 — clean, stable power
CPU cooler: Noctua NH‑D15 or Corsair iCUE H100i AIO — enough cooling for the 7800X3D under load
Case: Phanteks P400A or Lian Li Lancool II — good airflow and easy build experience
this combo gives you very strong gaming performance, minimal bottlenecks, modern connectivity, and room to upgrade later if needed. if the RX 7800 XT is expensive in your market then the RTX 4070 Ti is a solid alternative that still fits this budget. make sure the psu you pick is from a reputable brand with a gold rating rather than a cheap model, because that’s important for stability and longevity.
with this build you should see smooth high fps in modern games without the drops you’re dealing with now, faster load times, and a system that stays relevant for years.
Merrick222@reddit
You need to upgrade your CPU, add 16GB RAM, check your SSD health. You have more than 80% of the capacity filled? You’re not supposed to, delete some stuff.
Your GPU is old get something newer.
VersaceUpholstery@reddit
CPU upgrade to a 5600 should boost performance for cheap, assuming the CPU really is the issue
Then you can get a GPU like a 9060 XT 16gb
5600 + 9060 XT sounds perfect for 1080p 144hz
If you haven’t done a reset/fresh install in a while, it’s good to speed up your system.