Hey everyone! I'm looking to get my old gaming PC back in shape for some 1080p gaming, ideally hitting over 30 fps and preferably around 60 fps, without worrying too much about graphics settings. I mostly play Dark Souls 3 and Assassin's Creed Odyssey, but my laptop can't handle these games anymore. I'm hoping to upgrade my old setup instead of splurging on a new machine since I'm on a tight budget. Currently, I have an i5 4460, 16 GB of RAM, and a GTX 960 4GB. Is it worth investing in a new GPU, even though I'd have to get a new power supply? I would stabilize my hope if I could get just a GPU upgrade. I also have a Plan B, which is to build a new PC that can run everything on max settings at 1080p 60 fps. I just need a solid CPU and GPU combo for the cheapest upgrade path possible. Last time I built a PC was ages ago when the GTX 10 series came out, so I appreciate any advice!
4 Answers
I've built several PCs with 4th gen systems. A good move would be to get a used GPU like the RTX 20 series or even a GTX 1080 Ti. Also, if you're still using an HDD, switching to an M.2 SSD will significantly improve load times. After upgrading your GPU, game testing will help determine if your RAM or CPU needs an upgrade next.
Going for Plan B might be your best bet. If you upgrade your CPU, you'll also need a new motherboard and RAM, which could lead you to needing a new power supply and storage as well. At that point, you're just about ready to build a whole new PC, so you might as well consider that option.
I suggest focusing on a GPU and power supply for your initial upgrade the way I see it. Get a GPU that you could eventually use in Plan B. A 3060 would be a solid choice as it would give you good performance and future-proof your setup.
Consider trying to put a used GTX 2060 in your system first and see how it performs. If that doesn't cut it, I’d recommend getting a Ryzen 5 5500 along with an A520M motherboard and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. That should provide a decent upgrade without breaking the bank.
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