I'm planning to upgrade my PC soon after receiving an RTX 3060 12GB as a gift, and I have a budget of around 500-600€ for this year. Currently, my setup includes a Gigabyte GTX 1650 4GB, an Intel i5-10400F 2.90GHz, 16GB of RAM, a Gigabyte H410M S2H v3 motherboard, and a Deepcool DE600 v2 PSU. I'm definitely looking to upgrade my RAM and PSU, and I'll start with a new case and CPU cooler before making further upgrades. I can't replace parts one by one because I want to make sure everything is compatible. My main goal is to create a system that's sufficient for my work in game development and programming, while still allowing me to enjoy gaming, especially indie titles and some older AAA games. I'm contemplating between getting an i5-13400 or an i5-14600KF, along with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a Gigabyte B760 GAMING X DDR5 or Gigabyte Z970 D AX LGA1700 DDR5 motherboard, and definitely a better PSU. I'd love any suggestions you might have, including whether I should increase my budget. Thanks!
3 Answers
Hey! That sounds like a solid upgrade plan. I recommend considering a Ryzen 5 7500F or 7600 for your CPU; they tend to perform well in both gaming and productivity tasks. Pair it with some 2x16GB DDR5 RAM running at 6000MHz, and you'll have a powerful setup. Just make sure to grab a B650/B850 motherboard so you can future-proof your build for potential GPU upgrades. The Endorfy Spartan 5 cooler should do the job for around €18. If you're thinking of a case, go for one with good airflow! Selling your old PC could also help fund your new components. If you tell me where you're located, I could help create a parts list!
Honestly, your current i5-10400F is decent enough to support a new RTX 3060 pretty well. If you're looking for an improvement in your gaming experience, just getting that new GPU might already double your performance! You could hold off on other upgrades for now and save your cash for a complete overhaul later when you have more funds. Maybe consider a new case and CPU cooler in the meantime, just to keep your setup tidy.
That's a good point! I might just buy the case and cooler now and save up for a full rig upgrade later. Thanks!
You might want to check for deals online! I found some great bundles on NewEgg, which included a 7600X CPU with a 500GB M.2 NVME drive and some motherboards that come with DDR5 RAM. You could potentially upgrade your entire system for around $500. Just keep in mind that the power requirements for current gen Ryzen processors are lower and tend to have fewer issues compared to Intel's newer ones.
Unfortunately, NewEgg's shipping to my area is pricey. I am leaning towards Intel but will definitely look at Ryzen options if their specs beat Intel!
I live in the Balkans, so options can be limited. I had been considering Intel mostly for my programming work, but I'll check out those Ryzen processors!