How to upgrade my PC to get better FPS in TF2?

#1

RentQN

0 Frags – +

So with the recent update that forces Dx9 in MM and makes FPS configs useless, I have a lot less FPS in TF2 than I used to.
I have a 144Hz monitor and already dropped the refresh rate to 120Hz so my fps will dip below it less often.
But it still goes below 120 fps quite often and whenever that happens it becomes impossible to aim.
I already did everything that is still possible to increase your FPS after the update, but I still can't get a real solid 120+ FPS.
I kinda paid too much money for my 144Hz monitor to only run it at 100Hz or less, so now I'm thinking about upgrading my PC to get more FPS.
Question is: what should I upgrade and what would be the most cost-efficient way to make my PC faster?
Here's my current setup:

CPU: i5 3570K @ 4.0GHz
MB: Azrock Z77 PRO4-M
GPU: Nvidia GTX750Ti
8GB RAM
SSD

So from what I hear, TF2 mainly depends on CPU power.
But since my current CPU isn't really all that bad, is there a CPU that would give me a significant performance boost, but doesn't cost a fortune and if at all possible fits on my current MB?
8GB RAM shouldn't be a problem at all, right?
Not sure if my GPU limits my FPS at all? Probably my max FPS, but that's not the issue.

So do you think upgrading my PC would be worth it or not?
Not just in terms of TF2 performance, but also looking at other games that I might want to run in the future like OW for example ;)
Or should I wait untill my PC is more out-dated and I can get a bigger performance boost by upgrading?
Not really up-to-date on current hardware and how fast it is compared to my stuff and how much it costs.

So with the recent update that forces Dx9 in MM and makes FPS configs useless, I have a lot less FPS in TF2 than I used to.
I have a 144Hz monitor and already dropped the refresh rate to 120Hz so my fps will dip below it less often.
But it still goes below 120 fps quite often and whenever that happens it becomes impossible to aim.
I already did everything that is still possible to increase your FPS after the update, but I still can't get a real solid 120+ FPS.
I kinda paid too much money for my 144Hz monitor to only run it at 100Hz or less, so now I'm thinking about upgrading my PC to get more FPS.
Question is: what should I upgrade and what would be the most cost-efficient way to make my PC faster?
Here's my current setup:

CPU: i5 3570K @ 4.0GHz
MB: Azrock Z77 PRO4-M
GPU: Nvidia GTX750Ti
8GB RAM
SSD

So from what I hear, TF2 mainly depends on CPU power.
But since my current CPU isn't really all that bad, is there a CPU that would give me a significant performance boost, but doesn't cost a fortune and if at all possible fits on my current MB?
8GB RAM shouldn't be a problem at all, right?
Not sure if my GPU limits my FPS at all? Probably my max FPS, but that's not the issue.

So do you think upgrading my PC would be worth it or not?
Not just in terms of TF2 performance, but also looking at other games that I might want to run in the future like OW for example ;)
Or should I wait untill my PC is more out-dated and I can get a bigger performance boost by upgrading?
Not really up-to-date on current hardware and how fast it is compared to my stuff and how much it costs.

#2

jyrkas

4 Frags – +

Your best prize/performance option would be to buy a good cooler and overclock your CPU.

#3

panda106

4 Frags – +

http://www.teamfortress.tv/12714/pc-build-thread

#4

RentQN

1 Frags – +

NoobKYour best prize/performance option would be to buy a good cooler and overclock your CPU.

I already have it OCed to 4.0 from 3.4GHz. My cooler isn't the best, but far better than boxed and I think even with the best cooler more than 4GHz might not be very stable and 0.2 or 0.4GHz more wouldn't be that big of a performance boost I think.
I ran it at 4.2GHz for a bit and the increase in FPS was minimal (temperatur was still ok, so it didn't clock down or whatever you call it).

[quote=NoobK]Your best prize/performance option would be to buy a good cooler and overclock your CPU.[/quote]

I already have it OCed to 4.0 from 3.4GHz. My cooler isn't the best, but far better than boxed and I think even with the best cooler more than 4GHz might not be very stable and 0.2 or 0.4GHz more wouldn't be that big of a performance boost I think.
I ran it at 4.2GHz for a bit and the increase in FPS was minimal (temperatur was still ok, so it didn't clock down or whatever you call it).

#5

Setsul

1 Frags – +

RentQNis there a CPU that would give me a significant performance boost

What do you consider significant?

RentQNbut doesn't cost a fortune

Define fortune. Expect 200€ for the same performance.

RentQNand if at all possible fits on my current MB?

If we're counting your overclock all other options that fit are slower, unless you overclock them. And in that case why not just overclock the one you already got further?

Which cooler?

Also you did not overclock it from 3.4 to 4.0. You overclocked it from 3.8 to 4.0. You definitely don't need the best cooler to get more than that. 4.5 are easily possible.

Do you really want more fps? Since you chose not to run it at 4.2 even though you could tells me otherwise.
I'm also not sure what you expected that 5% higher clockrate would get you. If you want more than +5% fps +5% clockrate probably won't be enough. 5% higher clockrate won't magically get you 300% more fps.

[quote=RentQN]is there a CPU that would give me a significant performance boost[/quote]
What do you consider significant?
[quote=RentQN]but doesn't cost a fortune[/quote]
Define fortune. Expect 200€ for the same performance.
[quote=RentQN]and if at all possible fits on my current MB?[/quote]
If we're counting your overclock all other options that fit are slower, unless you overclock them. And in that case why not just overclock the one you already got further?

Which cooler?

Also you did not overclock it from 3.4 to 4.0. You overclocked it from 3.8 to 4.0. You definitely don't need the best cooler to get more than that. 4.5 are easily possible.

Do you really want more fps? Since you chose not to run it at 4.2 even though you could tells me otherwise.
I'm also not sure what you expected that 5% higher clockrate would get you. If you want more than +5% fps +5% clockrate probably won't be enough. 5% higher clockrate won't magically get you 300% more fps.

#6

RentQN

0 Frags – +

SetsulRentQNis there a CPU that would give me a significant performance boostWhat do you consider significant?RentQNbut doesn't cost a fortuneDefine fortune. Expect 200€ for the same performance.RentQNand if at all possible fits on my current MB?If we're counting your overclock all other options that fit are slower, unless you overclock them. And in that case why not just overclock the one you already got further?

Which cooler?

Also you did not overclock it from 3.4 to 4.0. You overclocked it from 3.8 to 4.0. You definitely don't need the best cooler to get more than that. 4.5 are easily possible.

Do you really want more fps? Since you chose not to run it at 4.2 even though you could tells me otherwise.
I'm also not sure what you expected that 5% higher clockrate would get you. If you want more than +5% fps +5% clockrate probably won't be enough. 5% higher clockrate won't magically get you 300% more fps.

I'm positive that my CPUs default speed is 3.4, not 3.8. When I disable OC in my BIOS it goes to 3.4.

My cooler is called "ARCTIC Freezer 7 Rev. 2".

Thanks for your reply. I'll try to OC to 4.4GHz or higher once I get home.

[quote=Setsul][quote=RentQN]is there a CPU that would give me a significant performance boost[/quote]
What do you consider significant?
[quote=RentQN]but doesn't cost a fortune[/quote]
Define fortune. Expect 200€ for the same performance.
[quote=RentQN]and if at all possible fits on my current MB?[/quote]
If we're counting your overclock all other options that fit are slower, unless you overclock them. And in that case why not just overclock the one you already got further?

Which cooler?

Also you did not overclock it from 3.4 to 4.0. You overclocked it from 3.8 to 4.0. You definitely don't need the best cooler to get more than that. 4.5 are easily possible.

Do you really want more fps? Since you chose not to run it at 4.2 even though you could tells me otherwise.
I'm also not sure what you expected that 5% higher clockrate would get you. If you want more than +5% fps +5% clockrate probably won't be enough. 5% higher clockrate won't magically get you 300% more fps.[/quote]

I'm positive that my CPUs default speed is 3.4, not 3.8. When I disable OC in my BIOS it goes to 3.4.

My cooler is called "ARCTIC Freezer 7 Rev. 2".

Thanks for your reply. I'll try to OC to 4.4GHz or higher once I get home.

#7

Setsul

0 Frags – +

There's a thing Turbo Boost.

That cooler isn't exactly great.

There's a thing Turbo Boost.

That cooler isn't exactly great.

#8

ccZunD

1 Frags – +

EDIT: I would recommend downloading a monitoring program like MSI Afterburner to figure out which component is being taxed more during gameplay between your CPU or GPU. It's likely whichever has a higher percentage usage is your bottleneck and will be the part that needs upgrading. I suspect it may be the video card since you say these problems started happening after the MM update, forcing you to use DX9, although I may be wrong.