Upgrade graphics card, or new computer?

Hello.

My computer is 6 years old now, and I mainly use it for gaming and multitasking.

CPU ; Intel I7 7700k @4.20Ghz

Motherboard : Asus strix z270H gaming LGA1151

Ram ; DDR4 16GB dual channel

Graphics card ; GTX 1080 8GB

Storage : Crucial M2 SSD

PSU : Corsair gold 850 Watt

I play on 1080p, most games it can handle fine on low or medium settings, however I would like to play more open world games. Would it be enough to upgrade the graphics card only? And if so, which one would be a good choice for my hardware? Is 16GB of memory also enough or should I upgrade this as well?

My second question ; I am still on Windows 10, it shows that my computer is not eligible to run Windows 11 because my processor is unfortunately unsupported. I don't know if this will change in the future or not?

Thank you

Motherboard.

Have you tried posting your queries at the ROG Forum?  Seems to me that would provide useful user feedback.

Louis

Hi, the above link to your Motherboard Support Page shows BIOS to get you to Windows 11 so I think your good if you update the BIOS if have not been doing so. 

Last Bios release contains all previous fixes.

So your Video Card is the only thing that would need updating.

I would suggest going as much as can afford during this sale period if possible.  The video card can always go into a new Computer if you go that way.

So future proof the video card for new games that may require much more than you have now as well 4K so can stream to TV or what ever you maybe do in the future that maybe higher than your current 1080p.

If have questions ask, or the ROG forum is ok.  But since you have no problems would not worry to much about there. :=}

 

My second question ; I am still on Windows 10, it shows that my computer is not eligible to run Windows 11 because my processor is unfortunately unsupported. I don't know if this will change in the future or not?

 

Looking at this point, I'm afraid the answer is probably not.  Windows 11 has been out for a few years now, and I doubt it's a high priority for them to add support for 7-8 year old processors (at the time Windows 10 goes out of support in October 2025).  It is possible to install Windows 11 on an unsupported machine, by bypassing the hardware check made prior to installation (there are plenty of guides on the web).  However, from my experience, you should note that in this state only high priority and critical security updates will be installed.  Things like feature updates will not install.  It might be possible to override this and manually install them - I don't know, I never tried.

Edited by jonuk76, 25 December 2023 - 07:54 PM.

The Motherboard Supports Windows 11

Edited by Pkshadow, 25 December 2023 - 09:29 PM.

Hi Pkshadow. It's rather misleading of Asus to say this, as no CPU which "officially" works in the motherboard is supported by Windows 11. I don't know why Microsoft have done this as it seems arbitrary, but they have.  The only Core 7xxx series chips they list as supported are a handful of HEDT models (actually Skylake X not Kaby Lake) - and one (yes one) laptop Kaby Lake chip, to which the footnote [1] applies (seems pretty weird really - "select devices"?). The Skylake X chips use a Socket LGA 2066 motherboard (High End Desktop Platform) so obviously won't work in this motherboard.

These are from MS's list as Windows 11 compatible:-

[1] Only select devices that shipped with modern drivers based on Declarative, Componentized, Hardware Support Apps (DCH) design principles.

The reply in Quora stating "The earliest Windows 11 compatible Intel are the Kaby Lake (7th Generation) which requires Socket LGA 1151." is (except for the one mentioned laptop chip exception above) wrong.  I have a system running a Kaby Lake CPU - it will not upgrade to Windows 11.  Intel 8th Gen and 9th Gen CPU's (which also use Socket LGA1151) are supported,  - but will not work on Z270 motherboards (without BIOS hacks and such)!

"Upgrade graphics card, or new computer"

New computer.

"Would it be enough to upgrade the graphics card only?"

Reuse the GTX 1080 in the new computer, then save up for a new graphic card and replace the GTX 1080.

"Is 16GB of memory also enough or should I upgrade this as well?"

Yes at the moment 16GB is sufficient for gaming. In a few years the 32GB will be required - if  going with DDR5, then get 32GB of RAM.

"My second question ; I am still on Windows 10, it shows that my computer is not eligible to run Windows 11 because my processor is unfortunately unsupported. I don't know if this will change in the future or not?"

Nothing will change - MS will not allow the older CPU to run Windows 11. Windows 12 is coming out soon.

Best advice is get a new Windows 11 desktop, as Windows 11 is better optimized for gaming than Windows 10.

IC, Thank you @jonuk76

It seems then that buy a honking Video Card now and then transfer to your new System later,

which would work out in a budget friendly way as Windows 10 End of Life is Oct 2024.   

So some gaming then with it till then.  If look after it with cleaning and thermal paste for it  will go for years (see my signature file).

Put back the old video card and turn it into a Linux Mint Cinnamon (see videos) which comes with software and as most like Windows. 

It will rock and can always get a used GPU to stick in if have to.

Tons of software to be had : https://alternativeto.net/platform/linux/ 

EDIT : LOL, and each our own way.  As the price of GPU's is high my suggestion is the new Video Card now then save for the system

when know what is needed in 2024 and to go beyond with future proofing it.

Edited by Pkshadow, 26 December 2023 - 03:00 AM.

Thank you everyone! 

I updated my BIOS, and downloaded PC health check for Windows 10. Unfortunately the CPU isn't currently supported for Windows 11.

My budget was 2000 dollars for a new gaming computer (only the hardware) 

I will follow the advice of just upgrading the graphics card for now. I do have one more  question, I play on 1080p which NVDIA card would be good enough for the upcoming 3-5 years?

Edited by GeertDaneels, 26 December 2023 - 06:10 AM.

"My budget was 2000 dollars for a new gaming computer (only the hardware)"

Traditionally, it was spend one half of the allotted hardware budget on just the graphic card. The other remaining half on the case, PSU, motherboard, drive(s),  RAM and the CPU. This still holds true today, albeit with some caveats.

So $1000 U.S can buy a great graphic card. And maybe even have funds left over for other things.

It is as always put the most funds as possible into the graphics for a gaming system.

"I will follow the advice of just upgrading the graphics card for now. I do have one more  question, I play on 1080p which NVDIA card would be good enough for the upcoming 3-5 years?"

Depends on the type of the games being played for one thing - RPG or sports or online player for example. All are different and have different demands.

Or playing the new games (can be more demanding) or playing older games (less demanding).

And what quality settings are to be used and of course if using any or all Ray Tracing. 

Best advice, if buying immediately - a RTX 4070 will hold you over for the next few years. Even for using on 1080p.

Maybe a RTX 3060 Ti or 4060 TI if low balling. Or the RTX 3070/3070 Ti.

A RTX 4070 Ti maybe (it will eat ray tracing for it's breakfast); and Nvidia is going to release the "Super" series  in the next and coming months, so take a serious  look at these to be released cards. (There will be a RTX 4070 Super, and a 4070 Ti Super.)

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-geforce-rtx-40-super-launch-scheduled-for-january-17-24-and-31-with-rtx-4070-super-leading-the-way

Of course the newer RTX card will be bottlenecked or hampered by the older CPU/system.

Also, of importance to note,  the newer  RTX 4xxx series will most often use a 12VHPWR connector (some don't), so a new PSU (ATX 3.0) maybe needed. The RTX 3xxx series still uses the traditional 8 pin connectors.

You maybe able to find an adaptor for using the 8 pins to the newer 12VHPWR connector to be used on your current PSU for a new RTX 4xxx card. 

So there maybe some compatibilities issues with a new RTX card and an older PSU.

Edited by 0lds0d, 26 December 2023 - 07:22 AM.