I've been thinking about upgrading my PC since it's stuck in 2016 and no longer meets my needs for 3D modeling, gaming, and AI tasks. I consulted a local computer store, and they offered me a complete makeover of my current setup. Here are my current specs: Intel Core i7-9700K CPU, ASUS Prime Z390-P motherboard, 16GB Kingston RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB, and a Thermaltake 700W PSU. The store's suggestion for an upgrade includes an Intel Core i5 14600KF CPU, Gigabyte B760M motherboard, 32GB Corsair DDR4 RAM, Inno3D RTX 5070 graphics card, Crucial E100 1TB SSD, and a Kolink 750W PSU. I'm unsure if it makes sense to upgrade everything or if parts of my current rig are still viable. Is the proposed setup decent? Is the new PSU really necessary?
4 Answers
The store's suggestion seems a bit over the top. You could keep your current CPU and just upgrade to a higher-end GPU, maybe something like a 5070 or 5060 Ti. The platform you have is still relevant for now, and the 700W PSU you have should be okay as long as it’s in good shape. Upgrading the RAM to 32GB would help too, but you can wait on the motherboard upgrade unless you're looking at a long-term future-proof setup.
I think the seller's suggestion might be trying to upsell you. Your existing setup might handle 3D modeling well enough, but if AI generation is your focus, a decent new GPU like the 5070 is a good plan. You don't necessarily need to upgrade the PSU unless you're experiencing instability. Honestly, just upgrading the GPU could stretch your current build's lifespan without the major overhaul.
Honestly, the i7-9700K is still pretty decent. If you're mainly focused on gaming, just upgrading your GPU to something like a 5070 could give you a solid performance boost without replacing everything. Your current PSU might work, but a new one would ensure you're safe during intense usage, especially with a more powerful GPU. Just make sure you have enough wattage if you go all in on upgrades.
I'd recommend looking at the AMD side too. The new Ryzen chips offer great performance for the price and might serve you better long-term. Plus, consider memory type—DDR5 is becoming the standard, and it's better for future-proofing. In any case, if you stick with Intel, I'd push for upgrading to the latest platform to take full advantage of improvements.
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