Help with Upgrading CPU

Ven0m on 23/10/2018 - 16:28

Hi guys

I am wanting to gauge how much of a performance boost (mainly for gaming) I might see if I was to upgrade my CPU (see below). I'm mainly playing WoW which is CPU dependent more so than GPU.

I would like to understand whether upgrading my CPU from my current one will offer a big performance boost or not (i.e. is what I have still okay compared to current day CPUs), and secondly whether I would also need a new motherboard if I upgraded.

I currently have the following desktop specs:

CPU - Intel Core i7 2600 Processor LGA1155 3.4GHz CPU
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3R-B3 1155 2PCIEX16
GPU - Galax GTX1060 3GB
PSU - Thermaltake Tough Power XT 875W Cable Management PSU
RAM - Kingston 8G(2x4G) DDR3 1600MHz CL9 HyperX
Cooler - Cooler Master V8 HeatPipe Universal Cooler

Thanks!

Computing

Comments

  • p1 ama on 23/10/2018 - 16:36

    Yes, you would need a new motherboard if you upgraded. Since WoW is highly dependent on single threaded performance, you'd be best off getting something like an 8600K or 9600K and overclocking the daylights out of it (5GHz + is easily achieved). If you can pick up a good deal on a 6700K or 7700K, that wouldn't be a bad option either.

    Whether it will improve your performance - well yes, but not as much as the amount that you're going to be laying out for such an upgrade.

    • Ven0m on 23/10/2018 - 16:37

      ah ok so not much of a boost for the outlay, good to know.

    • HighAndDry on 23/10/2018 - 16:48

      That's crazy. Does WoW really benefit from OC'ing to speeds like 5GHz?

      • p1 ama on 23/10/2018 - 19:27

        It's mostly single threaded, so the best way to get higher fps if you're not GPU bound (which you're likely not with a 1060) is to OC the CPU. You won't get much benefit by way of increasing the core count.

  • dogboy on 23/10/2018 - 16:44

    Firstly, that CPU heatsink looks kickass. I don't understand why WoW wouldn't be running fine on max resolution using your current build.

  • HighAndDry on 23/10/2018 - 16:46

    Intel Core i7 2600 Processor LGA1155 3.4GHz CPU

    What kind of performance are you getting on WOW with this? I can't imagine performance is being CPU bottle-necked unless you want just super-high framerates.

    • Ven0m on 23/10/2018 - 16:51

      Oh performance is great for the most part, I am upgrading the monitor so there will be a higher resolution which is more demanding. I thought I would look at upgrading the CPU to help run at top settings and also future proof the rig a bit. Doesn't sound like its necessary though if what I have is not drastically behind the speeds of current mid-high range CPUs.

      • HighAndDry on 23/10/2018 - 16:54

        A higher res might actually be really bottlenecked by your 1060GTX's (relatively low) 3GB VRAM than anything else, but that's for general games, just because higher res = higher pixel count = higher VRAM requirements; I don't know WoW's specific requirements.

        • Ven0m on 23/10/2018 - 16:57

          Yeah I am planning on getting this: https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-27-curved-qhd-144hz-frees… so that would be a 1440p resolution. I am reading different opinions on how my GPU would handle that resolution so I figure I'll wait and see and buy an AMD card (for the Freesync capability) if I have trouble. I thought the CPU might allow a better boost than the GPU though for wow.

          • HighAndDry on 23/10/2018 - 17:02

            @Ven0m: Honestly, wait till you get the monitor, play WoW on it, and see which parts of your build are deficient and go from there. You have the luxury of doing that since you're not starting a computer build from scratch. You might have to upgrade CPU and GPU though…. 3GB VRAM is almost always going to be pushed at 1440p res.

  • Richardc on 23/10/2018 - 18:48

    Use MSI Afterburner to see the system usage in game, so you know which part is bottlenecking.

  • Superstar15 on 23/10/2018 - 21:12

    Just be aware wow is apparently getting a rework cpu wise next major patch and should become a lot more multi thread friendly

  • Oz8argain on 24/10/2018 - 10:35

    I'm also planning to upgrade my i7 2700k, but this means new motherboard and DDR4 ram, it gets expensive :(

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