Upgrading a RTX 2070 Super

[Blackluck]

I want to upgrade my current card and right now looking at the ASUS TUF 4070 (not for the overclocking, instead it looks easier to install and I'm willing to pay the $50 over a standard card.) It's more than I typically spend on a card, but the 4080s are prohibitively expensive. I'm wondering though if there might be a better price/performance model given my current card.

(I don't spend nearly as much time gaming as I used to but should the bug return I don't want to be limited by my graphics card; thinking that I could just use the GeForce Now streaming service instead.)

 

[sLowEnd]

What's the rest of your system like? (CPU, RAM, PSU)

 

[Blackluck]

Sorry for the delay: Home build PC from 2018.

i7-8700k 3.7 GHz cpu

16 GB RAM

ASUS ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming LGA1151 (Intel 8th Gen) DDR4 DP HDMI DVI M.2 Z370 ATX Motherboard

750W power supply

 

[nomdeplume]

Sorry for the delay: Home build PC from 2018.

i7-8700k 3.7 GHz cpu

16 GB RAM

ASUS ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming LGA1151 (Intel 8th Gen) DDR4 DP HDMI DVI M.2 Z370 ATX Motherboard

750W power supply

The simple answer here might be 32GB RAM and maybe a 3070/3080. That and a faster NVMe boot if applicable.
Being in a similar position with 8th gen myself, full system upgrade with current gpu would be a better fiscal decision than 4xxx.

Enthusiasm for this current gen of gpu is... ever seen the scene from Frankenstein where angry villagers storm the castle with pitchforks and torches.

 

[tabascosauz]

I want to upgrade my current card and right now looking at the ASUS TUF 4070 (not for the overclocking, instead it looks easier to install and I'm willing to pay the $50 over a standard card.) It's more than I typically spend on a card, but the 4080s are prohibitively expensive. I'm wondering though if there might be a better price/performance model given my current card.

(I don't spend nearly as much time gaming as I used to but should the bug return I don't want to be limited by my graphics card; thinking that I could just use the GeForce Now streaming service instead.)

If you are set on the 4070, there is no reason to be spending more than the 4070 Dual considering how strong that cooler is on a MSRP card. TUF is 100% a waste of money if you're not a diehard fan of its aesthetics. It's not a 4070 Ti, it's a 200W card, it doesn't need a 3 slot 300mm cooler.

But seeing as you mentioned "price/performance" and didn't bring up any absolutely dealbreaking issues or lack of performance with your current card, sounds like you should just keep your 2070 Super and skip this gen entirely. 40 series is not for the price conscious, price/performance sucks ass.

8700K is getting long in the tooth and it sounds like you've never gone beyond stock clocks and RAM probably slow as balls. If you want a recent Nvidia GPU, be prepared to lose performance especially at lower resolutions (1080p, maybe slightly 1440p) if you're not keeping with the times CPU-wise. Just how Geforce is.

 

[Blackluck]

Thanks all for the replies, much appreciated.

I was afraid I was looking at a system upgrade.

 

[nomdeplume]

Thanks all for the replies, much appreciated.

I was afraid I was looking at a system upgrade.

Mandatory, not by some distance. GTX1660 is the most commonly reported gpu in Steam surveys and a fair number of 2nd gen Intel users are finally feeling the pinch. Where the line is slowly being drawn is ability to easily play unrefined newer titles. To that end you would be well advised to a) install 32GB of RAM, b) make sure it is of the fastest speed your system is stably capable of running. OS should run better as well.

As ever those who have moved to the newest and latest will have a hard time conceiving of going back. Those only a half decade off will have a hard time swallowing the need to multiply their power usage and heat output.

 

[Deleted member 185088]

I would suggest getting a platform upgrade to AM5 if possible, otherwise AM4 with a 5800X3D with 32GB of ram, as for the GPU it's difficult, I would avoid any 4000 unless a 4090, maybe get a 6950XT.

 

[Macro Device]

3080 and higher will kill your PSU, unless you manage to undervolt.
4070 and higher will kill your wallet.

I approve of upgrading your RAM to 32 fastest GBs possible. You should also OC the crap outta your CPU, it should be fine at 4.8 or even 4.9 GHz on most coolers in gaming. Your MB allows for 5.2 GHz but I'm unsure if your cooler does.

As per GPU upgrade... you really should take another couple years waiting for it. Considering only 4080, 4090, and 7900 XTX can yield wow effect in you and how much they ask for them I'd rather pass.

4070 per se is complete balls. Don't understand who buys it voluntarily.

 

[freeagent]

For the first time in well over a decade, I am looking at AMD GPUs.

 

[pavle]

Wait a bit, the prices should come down on RTX 4070 which is almost 2x the speed as your RTX 2070. You do not even have to upgrade your computer for a 4070.

 

[P4-630]

You do not even have to upgrade your computer for a 4070.

For best performance?
You sure about that?...

i7-8700k 3.7 GHz cpu

 

[Dr. Dro]

Sure it's no speed demon anymore but it's not that bad for a midranger card like the 4070, as everyone said the primary concern is the exceptionally high price of Nvidia's GPUs this generation and their relatively poor performance.

+1 for the idea of buying a 32 GB RAM kit first and foremost. That should yield a great improvement in newer games as it is.

Then if you must, buy a MSRP 4070 or a Radeon RX 7900 XT. Those should be great performers and will work well with the 8700K. Finally you may want to look on ebay for an i9-9900K or 9900KS CPUs, wouldn't spend more than $250 though.

Other than that it's platform upgrade time.

 

[Mindweaver]

My vote is with everyone saying upgrade your system and skip 40 series or wait for the prices to drop. When I upgraded my Ryzen 2600 to my current i7 12700k it brought new life to my RTX 2070. A new cpu, mb and 32gb of ram will go alone way.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Sorry for the delay: Home build PC from 2018.

i7-8700k 3.7 GHz cpu

16 GB RAM

ASUS ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming LGA1151 (Intel 8th Gen) DDR4 DP HDMI DVI M.2 Z370 ATX Motherboard

750W power supply

This is a solid system. Your CPU will not bottleneck a 4070 much, but your RAM might. If you have two sticks of RAM, just buy a kit that matches your current set of RAM. Other than that, you're good to go!

I was afraid I was looking at a system upgrade.

Nope, minor RAM upgrade is really all you need.

 

[Lost_Troll]

My vote is with everyone saying upgrade your system and skip 40 series or wait for the prices to drop. When I upgraded my Ryzen 2600 to my current i7 12700k it brought new life to my RTX 2070. A new cpu, mb and 32gb of ram will go alone way.

This^

I would spend the money and build a new system and use your RTX 2070 in it. Both (AMD and Nvidia) new generation of cards are duds, and I would skip over, in less you can find them for 25% or cheaper than they are now.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I would spend the money and build a new system and use your RTX 2070 in it.

Nonsense! This is terrible advice...

The OP clearly want's to improve gaming performance. A new CPU/Mobo and staying with a 2070 will NOT increase gaming performance. Upgrading to a 4070 certainly will.

 

[Lost_Troll]

Nonsense! This is terrible advice... The OP clearly want's to improve gaming performance. A new CPU/Mobo and staying with a 2070 will NOT increase gaming performance. Upgrading to a 4070 certainly will.

Then we agree on our disagreement. For the 600$ to 700$ hundred he will spend for a card that should only cost 450$, he could build a new PC and get an uplift in performance and wait for the prices to drop to a real level, or just skip this over priced joke of video cards.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Then we agree on our disagreement.

You can disagree all you wish. The numbers, run by W1zard, say otherwise.

ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 TUF Review

The ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 TUF is a factory-overclocked premium custom-design variant, which features an all-metal cooler shroud. Noise levels are the lowest we've measured in all our RTX 4070 reviews, and the dual BIOS feature lets you enable a second BIOS that achieves lower temperature.

www.techpowerup.com

ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 TUF Review

The ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 TUF is a factory-overclocked premium custom-design variant, which features an all-metal cooler shroud. Noise levels are the lowest we've measured in all our RTX 4070 reviews, and the dual BIOS feature lets you enable a second BIOS that achieves lower temperature.

www.techpowerup.com

The 4070 ASUS TUF the OP is contemplating nearly doubles the performance of a 2070.

Just throwing it out there...

EDIT:
And it doubles that performance WITHOUT doubling the power usage...

ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 TUF Review

The ASUS GeForce RTX 4070 TUF is a factory-overclocked premium custom-design variant, which features an all-metal cooler shroud. Noise levels are the lowest we've measured in all our RTX 4070 reviews, and the dual BIOS feature lets you enable a second BIOS that achieves lower temperature.

www.techpowerup.com

 

[ir_cow]

Only time Nvidia drops prices is never. Partners will start the discount to dump them a few months before the next gen.

 

[P4-630]

When I upgraded my Ryzen 2600 to my current i7 12700k it brought new life to my RTX 2070. A new cpu, mb and 32gb of ram will go alone way.

Exactly what I did, I went from an i7 6700K Z170 , 16GB ram, to Z690 with an i7 12700K and 32GB DDR5, also brought new life to my RTX 2070 Super!

 

[Sithaer]

This is a solid system. Your CPU will not bottleneck a 4070 much, but your RAM might. If you have two sticks of RAM, just buy a kit that matches your current set of RAM. Other than that, you're good to go!

Thats what I just did like 5 mins ago, ordered another kit of the same 2x8 I already have since 2018.
I felt like its about time in 2023 to upgrade just to give myself a peace of mind and the average DDR 4 prices are pretty low nowadays. 'paid 46 $ for this kit'

 

[Dr. Dro]

Thats what I just did like 5 mins ago, ordered another kit of the same 2x8 I already have since 2018.
I felt like its about time in 2023 to upgrade just to give myself a peace of mind and the average DDR 4 prices are pretty low nowadays. 'paid 46 $ for this kit'

Nice, you won't regret it. You'll be amazed at how snappy a PC with no memory pressure feels like

 

[A&P211]

16gb is still good enough for most games. Dont know why people are saying buy 32gb when OP doesnt need it.

 

[Darkholm]

Sorry for the delay: Home build PC from 2018.

i7-8700k 3.7 GHz cpu

16 GB RAM

ASUS ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming LGA1151 (Intel 8th Gen) DDR4 DP HDMI DVI M.2 Z370 ATX Motherboard

750W power supply

Sorry for the delay, but as said, your CPU might be bottleneck for 4070, especially for HRR gaming at 1080P. Could be also for 2K resolution. If 4K is your weapon of choice, that stay on 8700K.

I know is not 4070, but is 4070Ti and see how it performs with 8700K and 13700K on 1080P Superposition bench.