I'm looking to upgrade my PC since I've noticed some games are running pretty poorly lately. My knowledge of computer parts is pretty basic, usually relying on friends to help me out. Here are my current specs:
- GPU: RTX 2060 Super
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (6 cores)
- Motherboard: B450 Gaming X ATX AM4
- PSU: Corsair RMX Series 650W 80+
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 (2 sticks, 2 slots available)
- Storage: 1TB HDD and a 250GB SSD
I plan to invest some money into upgrades this month and wanted to know where to start. My instinct tells me to upgrade the GPU and the RAM, but I'm unsure. I recently tested with ARC Raiders and noticed I was hitting 99% memory usage, 69% CPU, and around 40-50% GPU utilization. Any suggestions on what I should focus on to boost my performance?
2 Answers
I'd suggest checking your RAM settings in BIOS and making sure XMP is turned on to optimize your performance. This could help a little with your current speeds. Also, while upgrading RAM and getting a new SSD would be smart choices, look at the current prices for GPUs too; if budget allows, consider upgrading that sooner rather than later to see better FPS in your games.
From what you've shared, it looks like your RAM might be the main bottleneck. When your memory usage hits 99%, it can really drag down your system's performance by forcing data to swap to the SSD or HDD, which slows everything down—the reason your GPU utilization is so low. I recommend upgrading to 32GB of RAM; just make sure to get the same type and speed as your current sticks.
Also, consider replacing your HDD with a 1TB SSD for faster load times and overall stability for your games. For a GPU upgrade, models like the RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT would be great, but I’d suggest prioritizing RAM and SSD first. Your Ryzen 5 3600 can still handle the new GPUs well, but save CPU and motherboard upgrades for later unless you really want to jump to AM5 generation down the road.
No worries! Just ensure you get the RAM sticks that match your current ones. That’ll help with compatibility!
Definitely check if XMP is activated for your RAM; it might give you a small performance boost too.
I appreciate that tip! I’ll check the XMP and keep an eye on GPU prices. Thanks!