Hey everyone! I've been gaming on my PC for about 7-8 years, and it's done well for me until now. Recently, I've been playing Arc Raiders and love it, so I'm looking to upgrade my setup. Here are my current specs: a Msi GTX 1060 6GB GPU, an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 CPU, 3x 8GB DDR4 Ballistix Sport RAM, a Gaming Plus B350 motherboard, a BeQuiet Pure Power 10 500W PSU, a 250GB Samsung SSD, and two 1TB HDDs. I'm mainly focusing on upgrading the GPU and CPU; I'm considering an RTX 4060 for the GPU and a Ryzen 5 5600X for the CPU, but I'm also open to improving my PSU and motherboard. Any suggestions for better options? I'm on a student budget and open to buying used parts, but I'd like advice on that too. Thanks!
4 Answers
Upgrading to a Ryzen 5600 or 5600X, paired with an RX 9060 XT 16GB or RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, would be a big improvement. You can likely keep your motherboard but check for BIOS updates. Your current 500W PSU should handle this combo just fine.
The Ryzen 5 5600X is a solid choice! But for the GPU, consider something more powerful if you can afford it. A 16GB RX 6700 XT might give you better performance than a new RTX 4060. If you're sticking with your old motherboard, just remember that 8GB GPUs struggle with newer games. Your PSU should be fine for a lower-end GPU, and unless your motherboard is having issues, you might not need to replace it just yet. Also, try to buy the CPU used to save some cash. If you find a good deal on a used 5800X, go for it!
Make sure to update the BIOS with the old Ryzen 5 1600 installed. The best upgrade for you would be to get the Ryzen 5 5600 and focus the rest of your budget on a GPU. I recommend looking for a used RX 6700 XT; it often outperforms the 4060 for a similar or even lower price. Don’t forget to check if you can fit your games on the 250GB Samsung SSD; if it’s getting full, look into a cost-effective 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD for extra space.
What's your budget for the upgrades? While AM4 has been good, consider moving to AM5 if possible. It'll ensure you have room to upgrade in the future, but I get that RAM prices can be high. AM5 will likely support more generations of CPUs, giving you more options down the line. Still, if you can get a decent deal on AM4, it might be worth it for now since the performance boost will be significant.
I see your point, but the OP is coming from an older Ryzen 1000 series CPU. Upgrading to a 5000 series CPU would already be a huge leap forward without needing to switch to AM5 right now.
Thanks for the tips! Do you have any advice on buying used PC parts?