Hey everyone! My computer isn't performing as well as I'd like during gaming sessions, and I'm trying to figure out what upgrade would give me the best boost. I'm not looking for top-tier performance since I mostly play casually with friends, maybe once or twice a week. Everything in my setup is either a hand-me-down or bought second-hand, so I'm on a budget. Right now, I think my CPU might need an upgrade, but I'd love to get advice from more experienced gamers or PC builders on what to do next. Here's my current setup:
- CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 @ 3.4GHz (2 cores)
- Motherboard: MSI Z87-G55 (MS-7821)
- Memory: 32GB
- System Drive: Samsung SSD 870 Evo 2TB
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
The most demanding games I play include Age of Empires Definitive Edition, Helldivers, Valheim, Star Wars Squadrons, and Star Wars Battlefront. Thanks for any tips!
2 Answers
You should definitely consider upgrading your CPU! It's a solid way to improve performance. I’d also recommend looking into getting an M.2 NVMe drive. Upgrading to a faster NVMe would significantly reduce your loading times. So, if you want smoother gameplay, go for the CPU upgrade, and for faster loading, add that NVMe drive too!
Honestly, I’m surprised you're managing to play games like Helldivers and Battlefront with that setup! If your budget allows, definitely think about a CPU upgrade. But if you’re not keen on a full rebuild, just upgrading the CPU could really help keep up with your friends. I’ve noticed that a faster drive can really make a difference too, especially when downloading updates, since those can cause hiccups like audio issues in Discord during gameplay.
Yeah, I’ve been noticing the audio cutting out when downloading. But overall, gameplay isn’t too bad; I’ll consider both options!