Worth upgrading CPU?

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
1

Current specs:

i7-3770k
RTX 2070 Super (8GB)
16GB RAM
HP Reverb G2

Right now I am getting decent performance (avg 30 fps) in 2D at 1080p with all setting set to Ultra and Terrain LOD set to 100, and VR scaled to 70% and most settings set to medium or low (Terrain LOD at 50)

I am contemplating upgrading my CPU, motherboard and RAM, and wondering if I will be able to get a significant performance boost and/or increase my VR settings.

I am looking at both the i5-10600k and the i9-10900k and 32GB of RAM.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what kind of performance boost I may see? Also is there any benefit to going with the i9 vs the i5?

2 Likes
2

If you’re going for a completely new system, take a look at the AMD Ryzen 5000 CPU’s as well. They offer better performance than Intel 10th gen, and the motherboards are cheaper as well. All AMD’s overclock as well (you don’t have to shelf out extra cash for a ‘K’ CPU).

If you’re building the system specifically for MSFS / gaming, don’t go with the higher core count CPU’s (10900K and/or Ryzen 9 5900/5950), no game or sim will utilize all those extra cores, so you can save some money there.

You will definitely get a decent upgrade, since your CPU is 8/9 years old.

3

Yes, I’d say upgrade to a 5600X and keep your GPU

4

I’m waiting for 3080TI + 11th gen intel 
 gna be beast.

5

I am having a hard time finding stock of the 5600x. I can get the i5 or i9 today. It the performance really that much better on AMD to justify waiting for stock?

6

Are you okay with overclocking? If so no it really isn’t worth it if you can get a 5GHz + all core OC on the i5. Even if you dont OC, remove power limit and you should be good.

Don’t get the i9, get the i5 I’d say

7

I was able to find a 5600x at my local Micro Center (they had 20 in stock and sold out in about an hour), and 32GB of DDR4-3600 RAM.

Initial results were disappointing. Was getting about the same performance as prior to upgrade, then I realized my NVidia drivers were somehow updated to the latest version (which as the VR bug). Reverted back to 457.30 and +15FPS boost in VR, and +30FPS boost in 2D.

Cranked all settings to max and in 2D I am getting 30+ FPS in Midtown Manhattan!

8

good to hear.
Also make sure your RAM is actually running at 3600 MHz in the BIOS (if you haven’t already).

Enjoy your new system.

9

If you disable SMT in the BIOS you’ll pick up a few more fps even. Note, however, this may hurt performance in other multithreaded applications.

10

Thanks for the heads up! Mine was set to 2133MHZ.

11

it’s a mistake a lot of people make. Good to hear you’ve fixed it.

12

Tried this, but didn’t make any difference. Right now I am “GPU Limited” so it makes sense that I wouldn’t see any improvements.

I am running 70% through OpenXR w/o Motion Reprojection, 70%TAA in Sim, Terrain LOD at 100, and other settings on medium or high and getting a steady 30+ FPS and it’s been a blast flying VR!

As a real world GA pilot this has been as close as it gets to real flying (at a fraction of the cost, even with all the PC upgrades)!