Upgrading GPU or build new PC

[Masha]

Hi,

Currently I'm running i5-4690k + GTX960, which has served me well the last years. But now it is really struggling to run Borderlands 3 on the lowest settings, and with Cyberpunk 2077 coming later this year I'm concidering either buying a new GPU or just building a new PC. When I'm playing BL3 I can see the CPU running at 80%, and GPU is pinned at 100% all the time...

 

I'm concidering the GTX 1660 Super, or anything in that price range. I do have the money to buy a new PC, but I don't want to blow money unnecessary. I would like some input on if I can get by with a new GPU and possibly overclock my current CPU, or if I should buy a new PC altogether. 

 

[flashiling]

a 1660super is going to be okay with your cpu,

so if you don't want to blow a lot of money on a new pc i'd go with just overclocking your cpu and getting the new gpu (if it's compatible with your motherboard and fit's in the case and all that stuff)

[Streetguru]

13 minutes ago, Masha said:

Hi,

Currently I'm running i5-4690k + GTX960, which has served me well the last years. But now it is really struggling to run Borderlands 3 on the lowest settings, and with

Your CPU should mostly be fine for 60fps

 

what's your budget/country for a GPU?

 

Borderlands 3 is just an unoptimized game mostly.

[Mateyyy]

That i5 will bottlenecking a 1660S pretty hard, especially in CPU intensive games, but you should still see an improvement even with just the GPU upgrade.

Definitely do overclock the i5 if your cooling allows it to get the most you can out of it.

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, Masha said:

Hi,

Currently I'm running i5-4690k + GTX960, which has served me well the last years. But now it is really struggling to run Borderlands 3 on the lowest settings, and with Cyberpunk 2077 coming later this year I'm concidering either buying a new GPU or just building a new PC. When I'm playing BL3 I can see the CPU running at 80%, and GPU is pinned at 100% all the time...

 

I'm concidering the GTX 1660 Super, or anything in that price range. I do have the money to buy a new PC, but I don't want to blow money unnecessary. I would like some input on if I can get by with a new GPU and possibly overclock my current CPU, or if I should buy a new PC altogether. 

 

Keep the PC, it is still very usable - I would get a 1660 super and maybe a second hand haswell i7 for your system, and then OC it if you are comfortable with that

[5x5]

Look for a used i7 and get a 1660 To or Super or RX 5600 (XT)

[Masha]

3 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

Your CPU should be fine for 60hz

 

what's your budget/country for a GPU?

Budget is around 3000 NOK (Norway).
 

 

Also if anyone has a decent guide for overclocking, please share it. My MB (Gigabyte Z97-HD3) comes with an  "EasyTune" tool for overclocking, but when I tried it, the CPU was running a square wave of 5 sec at 30% and 5 sec at 3-4% at idle.

[Streetguru]

1 hour ago, Masha said:

Budget is around 3000 NOK (Norway).
 

 

Also if anyone has a decent guide for overclocking, please share it. My MB (Gigabyte Z97-HD3) comes with an  "EasyTune" tool for overclocking, but when I tried it, the CPU was running a square wave of 5 sec at 30% and 5 sec at 3-4% at idle.

I'd save some money and just go for an RX 590 for a decent amount less, should only be like 15% slower than the 1660 Super with a bit of an overclock.
 

Maybe even look for one used, or a used RX 470/480/570/580 8GB if it's a lot cheaper. Would still be a bit more than twice as fast as the 960.

 

https://no.pcpartpicker.com/product/KFzkcf/powercolor-radeon-rx-590-8-gb-red-dragon-video-card-axrx-590-8gbd5-dhd

Then just upgrade your CPU to a Ryzen 5 3600 whenever, or Ryzen 4000 might be out by then.

Should do medium-high in Cyberpunk at 1080p 60fps, that's where your CPU still sits
 

 

[Masha]

As the market for used PC components in Norway is quite sparse, I don't think I will buy anything used for a reasonable price.

Sadly the RX590 is not sold on any reliable websites here in Norway anymore, so I think I have to go for the 1660S. Pricewise it wouldn't make too much of a difference anyways.

 

Thanks for the help though! I think my plan now is to buy the 1660S, try to get a stable overclock on my CPU, and then maybe order the Ryzen 5 3600 if I catch it on sale sometime soon.

[Streetguru]

47 minutes ago, Masha said:

As the market for used PC components in Norway is quite sparse, I don't think I will buy anything used for a reasonable price.

Sadly the RX590 is not sold on any reliable websites here in Norway anymore, so I think I have to go for the 1660S. Pricewise it wouldn't make too much of a difference anyways.

 

Thanks for the help though! I think my plan now is to buy the 1660S, try to get a stable overclock on my CPU, and then maybe order the Ryzen 5 3600 if I catch it on sale sometime soon.

You need a CPU/Motherboard/RAM for Ryzen, that's why you should just hold out for Ryzen 4000

 

is the 5500 XT way cheaper than the 1660 super? It's the 580/590 replacement

[Masha]

5 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

You need a CPU/Motherboard/RAM for Ryzen, that's why you should just hold out for Ryzen 4000

 

is the 5500 XT way cheaper than the 1660 super? It's the 580/590 replacement

I know about the MB/RAM part, that's why I'm waiting to upgrade it, but I had not considered wating for the Ryzen 4000 series.
The 5500 XT costs exactly the same as the 1660 Super.

EDIT: 5500 XT is slightly cheaper, but not much.

[Streetguru]

2 minutes ago, Masha said:

I know about the MB/RAM part, that's why I'm waiting to upgrade it, but I had not considered wating for the Ryzen 4000 series.
The 5500 XT costs exactly the same as the 1660 Super.

1660 super is the easy choice then