CPU vs GPU Upgrade

[FormulaLes]

Budget (including currency): $2,000AUD (over two stages)

Country: Australia

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Sim Racing - iRacing, Assetto Corsa in VR, and possibly the new Microsoft Flight Simulator in the future. 

Other details:

 

 

First time poster, long time Linus Tech Tips watcher. 

 

I am currently using a fairly old computer for my sim racing rig with an Oculus Rift. It works okay on medium settings in iRacing and Assetto Corsa, but sometimes the frame rate drops right down.

 

I would like to eventually upgrade to a HP Reverb (2160 x 2160 per eye) which is higher res than the Oculus Rift (1080 x 1200 per eye), but also run iRacing and Assetto Corsa on high graphics settings, and keep higher frame rates (90FPS). Obviously my current computer is not going to cut it, so I am planning to upgrade to:

• AMD Ryzen 3800X;

• 16GB of 3200MHz DDR4 RAM; and

• RTX 2070 Super GPU.

To do this I will need to get myself a new motherboard, as my current system is:

• Intel i7 3370K;

• 16GB 1333MHz DD3 RAM; and

• GTX 970.

I would like to stage my upgrade, for cashflow purposes. My question is for Stage 1 of the upgrade, am I going to get better results by either:

1. Replacing the motherboard, installing the Ryzen 3800X, and DDR4 RAM, but keeping the GTX 970; or

2. Keeping the Intel i7 3370K, and DDR3 RAM, but upgrading to the RTX 2070 Super?

 

[apoKhallipsa]

For me get better GPU if u r Gamer go for RTX 2070 Super u can upgrade CPU later i7 still can run quite good with new GPU..

 

If u get Ryzen for that GTX 970 there will be bottleneck old GPU is too slow for that CPU u get probably more perfomance with new RTX 

 

Mainly depends on your motherboard but you shout be OK

 

try calculator https://pc-builds.com/calculator/Core_i7-3770K/GeForce_RTX_2070/00212xlu/16/

 

Look for yourself for basic statisticky old CPU gona loose like 20% power from GPU .. but old GPU gonna get 100% loose on new CPU 

 

at the end is on you if u wanan go first GPU or CPU .. for me i get GPU and gona go better CPU later ...

 

but thats my opinion

[5x5]

Please do NOT use bullshit calculators... They're all random number generator a and don't mean jack shit.

 

 

As for the OP, wait. September will see both RTX 3000 and Zen 3. Just wait and you'll get a MUCH better system for your money then

[FormulaLes]

Thanks 5x5, that's really good advice. Thanks also apokhallipsa

[apoKhallipsa]

Some Games use more CPU power but better GPU is always better cause in game i can use full 100% gpu with high settings it older CPUz can sustain better GPU so kinda depends if u have enough horse power in GPu or is better upgrade .. comparisons says is only get better GPu if it at 30% and higher better than current and it depends on features ... dbut older CPu will slowdown some games even if gpu working hard ... depends mainly on board u using and support .. bottleneck i used as example but u can find some videos on youtube using combination cpu + gpu in games so u can find reference how much FPS and perfomance get from differenc HW

[Nena Trinity]

I would taken the 5700XT but that looks good IMO also are you gonna grab a new cooler? If so better get the 3700x since the only notable difference is the cooler in the box.