Hey everyone! I built my PC years ago on a tight budget, and now I'm feeling the urge to upgrade it since it's struggling with 1440p gaming—specifically, I'm having issues with League of Legends at high settings. I'm now 25 and have the funds to make some improvements, but I'd like to approach this upgrade gradually rather than doing everything at once.
My current setup includes a GTX 1060 3GB, Ryzen 5 2600, and 8GB of DDR4 RAM at 2133 MHz (just one stick). I'm aware that I should focus on upgrading the GPU and RAM first.
I know RAM prices are affordable, but I'm concerned my motherboard might not support the latest speeds. For the GPU, I want something that can hit 1440p at 144fps, but I'm not sure if I need max settings in all new games. What's the difference between high and medium settings? Also, I'd like to explore DLSS—does it really come with any visual drawbacks? And is there a reasonable GPU option that supports ray tracing for 1440p gaming?
Eventually, I'd need to upgrade my CPU to avoid bottlenecks, but I can manage that later. How significant is that bottleneck going to be? Regarding a new motherboard, aside from the CPU socket, what other factors should I take into account? I assume it's fine to choose a motherboard compatible with my CPU first and then select RAM based on that?
I don't want to break the bank, but I still want a machine that can handle games for the next few years. What would you suggest as the best path for upgrades? Thanks!
1 Answer
You might want to stick with an AM4 setup since it can save you money on RAM and the motherboard. Look for a CPU like the Ryzen 5 5500, 5600, or even the 5700X3D. For the GPU, you could consider a card like the Radeon 6800, 7700, or better models in the 7900 range. Make sure you have at least 16GB of RAM—32GB would be ideal for good performance with those GPUs. Lastly, keep in mind that you’ll need a decent PSU, around 750W, for those graphics cards.
Why do you suggest AMD GPUs? I heard Nvidia might be better for ray tracing and DLSS. Are AMD’s offerings still worth it?