Depends on what you’re using it for.
If you want to play newer games… Everything.
trekxtrider
CPU/RAM/MOBO or GPU and PSU. Still rocking my old 4790k build as a NAS/homelab.
2Mark2Manic
Yes.
_vogonpoetry_
GPU is the most limiting factor in this system if you were to upgrade one thing, assuming you already have an SSD.
But the entire system is pretty dated at this point.
DemoDimi
wow that was excatly my old rig i upgraded 2 years ago
Kougeru
All of it. My 4770k was maxing out in games 3 years ago
LifeOnMarsden
GPU first, you’ll see the biggest gains from upgrading that, then CPU (which will also require a mobo and RAM upgrade) and then finally I’d tackle your monitor and and maybe look at a 1440p display depending what you upgrade to
TL;DR pretty much everything will need incrementally upgrading to bring you to modern standards
PM_ME_CAT_FEET
The 4790k and GTX 970 will both turn 10 years old next year, I think you’re better off saving for longer to get a whole new computer.
dobo99x2
Leave it to some kid and get a new rig. This is so old, you should be old enough to afford one now.
edgy_Juno
Could build a brand new rig.
InfinityPainPlus
the PC
like, if you upgrade your CPU (of course has to include mainboard and Ram also) you will get a GPU bottleneck, if you just replace the GPU you will get a CPU bottleneck. either way it won’t really make a huge difference, depending on how serious you want to play games i would suggest you to save up some money and wait till next year when the new amd Ryzen 8000 series (make sure to get one with “X3D” on the end like the 7800XD3 is currently the best Gaming cpu on the market) and the new Nvidia (super cards, basically a 40 series refresh) come out
drunkentenshiNL
Everything.
Had a similar build and if you upgrade one part, you need to upgrade another to either make it work or prevent a bottleneck, and it just snowballs from there. The highest thing you can add is a 1070/1080ti and that depends on your motherboard.
With all that in mind, my wife took my old system (similar to this) and can play most games at 60/1080 comfortably and modern games at 30 on lower settings. It’s not great but she likes older/indie games that aren’t as demanding.
annluan
I’m not sure those recommending ya a newer GPU know what they’re talking about.
You need a new mobo asap. I’m pretty sure that’s DDR3 ram, so you’ll be forced to simultaneously swap the MOBO, the RAM and the CPU at once. It may sound overwhelming, but trust me, it should be your #1 priority. Meanwhile you can rock that 970 until you save a bit more cash for a newer GPU/PSU
IndyPFL
Need a 4k 240hz monitor asap (/s)
SnuffleWumpkins
There is nothing you can upgrade in that system that won’t be held back massively by the other components.
You need to start from scratch.
agentrnge
I was roughly in this spot (5820k/970) 2 years ago, and upgraded everything except the GPU, then GPU just last month. More of a dev/workstation PC for me, so GPU was lower priority. As other said, depends on use case.
cyclopspilot
I’d sell it while you still can (maybe $200?) and build new. 1-2 years from now it’ll be completely worthless
Cave_TP
Everything, upgrading either the CPU or the GPU will leave you heavily limited by the other one
DrKingOfOkay
All of it
EducationalCamel1043
gpu and 1440p monitor.
then you need a new cpu motherboard and ram
friend games on 4770k and rtx3070 at 1440p has ok experience but doesnt get to take full advantage of the 3070 cause the cpu cant keep up.
jairgs
I have the same GPU and almost the same cpu.
The answer is CPU (of course together with the Mobo and RAM).
In my case, I started monitoring CPU and GPU usage after heavy stuttering in casual games and it was always the CPU reaching 100%.
grantpro
All of it?
DanTheMan827
CPU… and by extension motherboard, and ram.
The GPU, while not great, is still being limited by the CPU for games like Cyberpunk 2077
DarkLord55_
Motherboard, CPU, ram
Yommination
That rig is almost old enough for middle school
Big_Daddy_Pablo_69
Yes upgrade. That’s it just upgrad 😉
Spare-Hamster-2212
Everything 🥲
Grgamel
Your PC
Mysterious-Tough-964
Full rebuild
MrRodje
The whole computer needs an overhaul, but if you’re looking for one part to upgrade first I’d say CPU +motherboard+ram, and then GPU + PSU if old, then things like storage
Big_Burg420
Your computer
Hotdogwellingtons
Everything. Build a new machine and retire this one to server duty.
-SomethingSomeoneJR
Get a CPU Motherboard bundle. If you can go to a micro center go there. They sell CPU motherboard and RAM bundles. Maybe look into a power supply as well.
Ziasu340
A whole entire new PC
BlAcK_BlAcKiTo
PC
like I had gtx 970 until recently and yes it will play games but yeah it’s really old. Rest of pc is dead end
lonely_grandma57
Fellow 970 user here. Just got a b650e-f ryzen 9 7900 and 64gb of ram….still rolling with the 970. Brighter days are ahead for us both
38 Comments
Depends on what you’re using it for.
If you want to play newer games… Everything.
CPU/RAM/MOBO or GPU and PSU. Still rocking my old 4790k build as a NAS/homelab.
Yes.
GPU is the most limiting factor in this system if you were to upgrade one thing, assuming you already have an SSD.
But the entire system is pretty dated at this point.
wow that was excatly my old rig i upgraded 2 years ago
All of it. My 4770k was maxing out in games 3 years ago
GPU first, you’ll see the biggest gains from upgrading that, then CPU (which will also require a mobo and RAM upgrade) and then finally I’d tackle your monitor and and maybe look at a 1440p display depending what you upgrade to
TL;DR pretty much everything will need incrementally upgrading to bring you to modern standards
The 4790k and GTX 970 will both turn 10 years old next year, I think you’re better off saving for longer to get a whole new computer.
Leave it to some kid and get a new rig. This is so old, you should be old enough to afford one now.
Could build a brand new rig.
the PC
like, if you upgrade your CPU (of course has to include mainboard and Ram also) you will get a GPU bottleneck, if you just replace the GPU you will get a CPU bottleneck. either way it won’t really make a huge difference, depending on how serious you want to play games i would suggest you to save up some money and wait till next year when the new amd Ryzen 8000 series (make sure to get one with “X3D” on the end like the 7800XD3 is currently the best Gaming cpu on the market) and the new Nvidia (super cards, basically a 40 series refresh) come out
Everything.
Had a similar build and if you upgrade one part, you need to upgrade another to either make it work or prevent a bottleneck, and it just snowballs from there. The highest thing you can add is a 1070/1080ti and that depends on your motherboard.
With all that in mind, my wife took my old system (similar to this) and can play most games at 60/1080 comfortably and modern games at 30 on lower settings. It’s not great but she likes older/indie games that aren’t as demanding.
I’m not sure those recommending ya a newer GPU know what they’re talking about.
You need a new mobo asap. I’m pretty sure that’s DDR3 ram, so you’ll be forced to simultaneously swap the MOBO, the RAM and the CPU at once. It may sound overwhelming, but trust me, it should be your #1 priority. Meanwhile you can rock that 970 until you save a bit more cash for a newer GPU/PSU
Need a 4k 240hz monitor asap (/s)
There is nothing you can upgrade in that system that won’t be held back massively by the other components.
You need to start from scratch.
I was roughly in this spot (5820k/970) 2 years ago, and upgraded everything except the GPU, then GPU just last month. More of a dev/workstation PC for me, so GPU was lower priority. As other said, depends on use case.
I’d sell it while you still can (maybe $200?) and build new. 1-2 years from now it’ll be completely worthless
Everything, upgrading either the CPU or the GPU will leave you heavily limited by the other one
All of it
gpu and 1440p monitor.
then you need a new cpu motherboard and ram
friend games on 4770k and rtx3070 at 1440p has ok experience but doesnt get to take full advantage of the 3070 cause the cpu cant keep up.
I have the same GPU and almost the same cpu.
The answer is CPU (of course together with the Mobo and RAM).
In my case, I started monitoring CPU and GPU usage after heavy stuttering in casual games and it was always the CPU reaching 100%.
All of it?
CPU… and by extension motherboard, and ram.
The GPU, while not great, is still being limited by the CPU for games like Cyberpunk 2077
Motherboard, CPU, ram
That rig is almost old enough for middle school
Yes upgrade. That’s it just upgrad 😉
Everything 🥲
Your PC
Full rebuild
The whole computer needs an overhaul, but if you’re looking for one part to upgrade first I’d say CPU +motherboard+ram, and then GPU + PSU if old, then things like storage
Your computer
Everything. Build a new machine and retire this one to server duty.
Get a CPU Motherboard bundle. If you can go to a micro center go there. They sell CPU motherboard and RAM bundles. Maybe look into a power supply as well.
A whole entire new PC
PC
like I had gtx 970 until recently and yes it will play games but yeah it’s really old. Rest of pc is dead end
Fellow 970 user here. Just got a b650e-f ryzen 9 7900 and 64gb of ram….still rolling with the 970. Brighter days are ahead for us both
Better to save and build from scratch
Computer