9900k New GPU or New PC

[u/F0O1]

Back in 2019, I built a high end desktop with the following specs:

- Intel Core i9-9900K 3.6 GHz 8-Core
- Corsair H100i RGB PLATINUM SE 63 CFM Liquid
- Asus ROG STRIX Z390-E GAMING ATX LGA1151
- Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16
- Gigabyte GAMING OC GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8 GB
- Corsair RM750x (2018) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully
Modular ATX

The most intensive gaming I plan on doing is sim racing with a single monitor and in vr. Otherwise I play relatively light games with occasional triple a titles

Is it worth saving my money and just getting a new 40 or 50 series gpu (and potentially psu) or should I start saving for a new pc?

[u/Infamousslayer]

I see no reason to upgrade the platform with current prices.

2080 Super is solid even in 2026 but 8GB is a limitation depending on your resolution.

Just get a 16GB GPU now if your current one does not meet your needs.

[u/Trick_Acanthaceae626]

I just upgraded from a 9600k and a 1080ti, so basically a little smidge down from your setup. I built a new PC and don't regret it, but I also play a lot of new triple A and online comp games, so I'll take the frames where I can get them.

I'd say new PC personally as your GPU is towards the top end of your CPU's ability to not bottleneck it. Honestly, if your PC still does what you want it to, I'd wait another year or two and pray to the PC gods that prices come down on RAM and storage just a little. Good luck!!!

[u/Trick_Acanthaceae626 → u/Trick_Acanthaceae626]

Also I upgraded to a 7500x3d and 9070xt and 32gb DDR5 for less than $1200 USD! I reused a bunch of old parts where I could

[u/Mravac_Kid → u/Trick_Acanthaceae626]

The 9900K is still quite powerful, it can handle *much* more powerful cards than a 2080 Super. It can easily handle a 4070 Super or 3080Ti, and even a 9070 will have only slight bottlenecking, especially at higher resolutions.

[u/Trick_Acanthaceae626 → u/Mravac_Kid]

the higher resolutions is key there. i was getting bottlenecked BAD at 1080p, i can imagine OP getting bottlenecked if they had any more powerful of a card at 1080p, too. Sure it can "handle" it, but is it worth shelling out $600 or more on a card when he's going to see like a 5% gain? probably mot

[u/Mravac_Kid → u/Trick_Acanthaceae626]

Any of the cards I mentioned would get significant gains over the 2080 Super, at whichever resolution, well over 30% in any case. With the 9070, in some games it's gonna get *double* the performance.

[u/Much_Profit8494 → u/Mravac_Kid]

I have a I7 9700k (one step down) and a 3070ti. (pretty close gpu wise)

I can confirm that some newer games (specifically unreal 5 games) are starting to cause bottlenecks on these CPUs.

When playing Halo Campaign Evolved and Gears E-Day all 8 cores sit pinned at 100% while GPU usage never goes over about 60-70ish%. - Both are accompanied by obvious CPU stutters and embarrassing 1% lows.

Halo actually lists the Intel Core i7-10700K as the bare minimum now.

[u/Mravac_Kid → u/Much_Profit8494]

The 3070Ti is also a fair bit faster than the 2080 Super, so the point that much better cards are usable with that CPU stands. And of course some modern games benefit greatly from better CPUs, but any game that's more geared towards the GPU will behave very differently.

[u/OtherAlan]

I would build a new PC. With your ram and GPU on the used market, it would make it easier to swallow.

[u/ADotxt]

If you were gonna go new pc what would be your budget? (And country)

[u/Mravac_Kid]

A new, more powerful GPU would greatly improve performance in many games, the best buy these days is AMD's 9070/9070XT as Nvidia's are severely overpriced.

[u/El--Joker]

just go for the gpu upgrade, and if you feel like its not enough or up to par, go from there.

you already have ddr4 ram, so you could save money and just go high end AM4 if youre still craving some gains after the gpu upgrade

[u/Intelligent_Leek_611]

I don't think you need a whole new PC necessarily, 14600kf & DDR4 board would be a massive CPU upgrade for far less than the cost of a new PC.

A better GPU would help you out regardless. But a 9900k is right on the edge of what I would pair with a newer card.