I've been out of the loop with gaming lately and I'm looking to build a new rig that can handle Forza Horizon 6 and possibly be decent for Microsoft Flight Simulator. I want to know if it's enough to simply upgrade my graphics card and CPU, or if I should consider starting with a completely new setup. I'd prefer not to exceed $1500, using what I can get from selling my old PC parts if my case, motherboard, and other components are still in good shape. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
7 Answers
It might be best to look at a newer build altogether. A couple of months ago would’ve been the perfect time to get into this, but prices have spiked recently, especially for DDR5. A budget AM4 build could work, since you can still find good deals on 5000-series CPUs and DDR4 RAM is less crazy right now. You could easily build something solid under $1,000 to weather the upcoming price hikes.
Given how old that CPU is, I’d suggest starting somewhat fresh. Look for an LGA 1700 or AM4 motherboard with a good CPU. You might keep your RAM, but going for AM5 or LGA 1851 would be better for the future, though it’ll cost more. It really depends on your budget.
Honestly, I’d recommend starting fresh. The platform you have is pretty outdated and won’t keep up with modern gaming demands. It’s also a good opportunity to update the aesthetics of your build. I understand the hesitation around spending too much, but this platform is sort of dead now.
Some CPUs are actually decent value at the moment, and GPUs might start increasing in price soon, so it’s worth considering your options carefully.
A new GPU is a good call, but I’d recommend keeping your current CPU for now. Something like the B580 is a solid choice, and the 9060 XT is a good card too. If you can find a good deal on a 6 or 8-core CPU for your platform, grab it, but hold off on RAM upgrades until prices drop.
I’d start fresh too, but right now isn't the best time for upgrades. Prices for RAM are through the roof, and you might end up spending a huge chunk of your budget on that alone. It could be worth waiting for prices to stabilize a bit before diving in.
I see your point, but OP could consider a more affordable AM4 or LGA 1700 build; those options might be more feasible for the next few years.
Exactly! Aiming for something like AM4 could be smarter until prices come down.
You could upgrade just your GPU; your motherboard likely supports an i7-7700, but the performance might be lacking for demanding games like MS Flight Simulator. An upgrade might be necessary down the line, but starting with just a GPU upgrade could work for now.
Do you think a 6700K will handle FH6 well enough?