New build under 2k?

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Handle9

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#3082608 31-May-2023 06:19

SpartanVXL: Just get at least over 8 thread CPU to keep up with modern demands.

It's just not necessary to have 8 cores for gaming. I'm running a Ryzen 5600 with an RX 6800XT and I'm still GPU bottlenecked, especially at higher resolutions.

Handle9

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#3082609 31-May-2023 06:34

Just to give you some idea have a play around with this calculator to see if your motherboard/GPU combo works for different screen resolutions. Bear in mind you may end up bottlenecked but still producing more frames than the monitor can display.

https://pc-builds.com/bottleneck-calculator/result/0Fs1bh/3/graphic-card-intense-tasks/1920x1080/

SpartanVXL

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#3082740 31-May-2023 12:44

With a GPU upgrade you will net benefits for graphics bound games but the CPU is still quite limiting at only 4 threads.

Older gen hardware is still a significant upgrade, something like a 10400f will be a big boost over skylake.

6750xt is a good pick, the 3060ti is better overall value vs 3060 as it is closer to a 3070 in performance. Nvidia’s CUDA and performance in machine learning & AI is also higher if he requires that in his study/work.

Do not worry about 8GB vram, especially at 1080p resolution. For most cards you will run into core performance limits before memory or bandwidth limits. There has been recent news overstating issues with a few recent releases that are buggy with their settings, and overzealous monitoring of vram allocation when usage is a different matter.

I recommend a 8 thread minimum since the ps4/xbo series console era has had this for those games. A current gen ps5/xs has the equivalent to a lower clocked ryzen 3700x 8c 16t CPU. Any current or last gen Intel or AMD which matches that CPU’s performance is fine, a 5600 with 12 threads fits the bill nicely. If going for a older secondhand Intel cpu then one with 4c 8t is absolute minimum.

Handle9

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#3082799 31-May-2023 14:49

The CPU is limiting but it’s not the critical component for gaming.

If you can max out your monitors frame rate without a CPU upgrade I’d do that first and see. OP mentioned doing step by step upgrades. The GPU will give the most bang for buck if they are doing it that way.

WyleECoyoteNZ

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#3082918 31-May-2023 16:44

For what it's worth, I bought part's for a new build back in the Black Friday sale last year. That build came in just over $2400, however should be able to come in under now easily.

Case: be Quiet Pure Base 500
Power: EVGA Supernova 650W 80+ Gold fully modular
Mobo: Gigabyte X570S Gaming X
CPU: Ryzen 7 5800X
GPU: RX 6650XT 8Gb
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16Gb 3600Mhz
M.2: Samsung 980 500GB (OS installed here)
SSD: Crucial BX500 1TB (Gaming)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 4TB
Cooling: Noctua NH-U13S
Case Fan: Be quiet Silent wings.

Going for a B550 motherboard, and not the Seagate HDD should get the price very close to the $2K target.

For what it's worth, when I spec'd the above build the AMD video cards where around $200 cheaper than the NVIDIA cards

Qazzy03

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#3082938 31-May-2023 17:44

The 6600K doesnt have hyper threading.

I went from the 6600k 4C/4T to 8700 6C/12T, massive boost.

Anything you get from 10th gen intel up or AMD 3000 series up will be huge boost.

Personally I would go with a CPU/MB/RAM upgrade over GPU, might get more life out of the 1060.

Esp gaming at 1080p and games that arent too intense, except cod.

I would speak to your son about how much he uses adobe and solidworks, as it might be better to look at benechmarks for those applications,

Than compared to gaming benchmarks.

Also dont be afraid to go for a generation or 2 olderwith DDR4 ram.

Current DDR5 systems.... have a few issues, at least on some of the AMD stuff.

my 2 cents.

P.S would go with 32 GB or ram vs 16GB

Handle9

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#3082942 31-May-2023 18:01

If you go to a more powerful processor it'll help a lot for general compute tasks, likely feel snappier but have zero real impact on gaming. If you go for a new GPU it'll have a big FPS uplift in gaming but general compute tasks will be unchanged. The graphs below show what I mean.

It really depends what's important to you

Please note the bottom graph has a a different scale to the top two.

Edit: Fixed fuzzy graphs

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Qazzy03

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#3082947 31-May-2023 18:11

I stand corrected, GPU seems to be a way bigger FPS boost.

Still no regret moving off my 6600k, it was maxing out CPU usage when I was running game, web, video etc...

Mind you i was running it all at the same time because why focus on one thing at a time lol.

GPU wise best bang for buck would be 6750 XT 12GB at $625.67 (limited stock)

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/VGAMSI66750/MSI-AMD-Radeon-RX-6750-XT-MECH-2X-12GB-OC-GDDR6-Gr?qr=pspy&ref=pricespy

Darn good price, i paid $700 for a 6600xt in July 2021, which is about 3 SKU's below the one on sale.

Or 6650XT 8GB at $482.33, an SKU above mine and will rock at 1080p (3 units left)

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/VGAPOW26650/Powercolor-Fighter-AMD-Radeon-RX-6650-XT-8GB-GDDR6?qr=pspy&ref=pricespy

I don't rate Nvdia atm, the Nvida tax is a bit much unless you need CUDA cores or DLSS.

CrashAndBurn

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#3082953 31-May-2023 18:34

We went with the Mobo/CPU/Ram route for now. Took advantage of King's Bday Sale

Got the 7700x with DDR5 32GB ram and 1TB NVME. He will use it as normal for a week or so then make a call if GPU needs upgrading.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

dvsdave

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#3082954 31-May-2023 18:38

Qazzy03:
I stand corrected, GPU seems to be a way bigger FPS boost.

This is highly game dependant, and while the evidence above is clear, the minute another game (assuming we have a lifer here😅) is added to the mix this can be turned on its head. I play tarkov, it loves the x3d chips.
MS flight Sim is after many cores I believe?

Just a couple of examples but if doing an upgrade once either leave a good path for future updates (am5) or do it once and do it right with a higher end cpu.

Qazzy03

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#3082959 31-May-2023 18:50

CrashAndBurn:

We went with the Mobo/CPU/Ram route for now. Took advantage of King's Bday Sale

Got the 7700x with DDR5 32GB ram and 1TB NVME. He will use it as normal for a week or so then make a call if GPU needs upgrading.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

Awesome, beast of an upgrade.

Would be interesting if your son has any thoughts in a week about GPU upgrade or stick with it a little longer.

Handle9

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#3083037 31-May-2023 21:31

dvsdave:
Qazzy03:
I stand corrected, GPU seems to be a way bigger FPS boost.

This is highly game dependant, and while the evidence above is clear, the minute another game (assuming we have a lifer here😅) is added to the mix this can be turned on its head. I play tarkov, it loves the x3d chips.
MS flight Sim is after many cores I believe?

Just a couple of examples but if doing an upgrade once either leave a good path for future updates (am5) or do it once and do it right with a higher end cpu.

The games OP mentioned are all pretty similar. There are games that are CPU bottlenecked but significantly more are GPU bottlenecked.

SpartanVXL

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#3083199 1-Jun-2023 10:58

Handle9:
dvsdave:

This is highly game dependant, and while the evidence above is clear, the minute another game (assuming we have a lifer here😅) is added to the mix this can be turned on its head. I play tarkov, it loves the x3d chips.
MS flight Sim is after many cores I believe?

Just a couple of examples but if doing an upgrade once either leave a good path for future updates (am5) or do it once and do it right with a higher end cpu.

The games OP mentioned are all pretty similar. There are games that are CPU bottlenecked but significantly more are GPU bottlenecked.

I will also disagree, CPU matters for lows and median performance. Warzone 2.0 is an example that the OP has listed which will dip quite low until lobby playercount has gone from 100+ to <30 on minimum CPU specs even at 720p. Black ops4(2018) is not a great example as it is from a generation target for ps4/xbo with less requirements.

There is a significant bump in performance from ddr4 memory speed that ddr3 generation cpu’s cannot match unless pushing 2400MHz with a 8t 4.6GHz core. Small scale single player games and older single-dual threaded games are fine but newer multi-threaded games/programs need over 4 threads.

CrashAndBurn

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#3096203 29-Jun-2023 13:09

Qazzy03:

CrashAndBurn:

We went with the Mobo/CPU/Ram route for now. Took advantage of King's Bday Sale

Got the 7700x with DDR5 32GB ram and 1TB NVME. He will use it as normal for a week or so then make a call if GPU needs upgrading.

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

Awesome, beast of an upgrade.

Would be interesting if your son has any thoughts in a week about GPU upgrade or stick with it a little longer.

3 weeks in and it seems no need to upgrade GPU as it handles what he needs.

Qazzy03

478 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3096291 29-Jun-2023 17:33

CrashAndBurn:

it seems no need to upgrade GPU as it handles what he needs.

Hey that is fantastic news,

glad it worked out well in the end and is doing what your son needs it to do.

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