I'm not very tech-savvy, so I'd love some advice on upgrading my gaming PC in simple terms. I have a pre-built system I bought three years ago, which has been great for gaming and school work, but I'm looking to boost its performance. My budget is between $500 and $1000, but I'd prefer to keep it lower if possible.
Here's what I'm considering:
1. **RAM**: I currently have 16GB, and I play a lot of games that could benefit from more RAM. I'm thinking about upgrading to 64GB but need guidance on whether to go with 2 sticks of 32GB or 4 sticks of 16GB. I want to maintain or improve the speed, ideally around 3200 MHz.
2. **Storage**: My SSD is only 512GB, which fills up quickly. I'm looking to add at least a 2TB SSD. I think I know how to do this, but I'm open to recommendations for a reliable drive.
3. **Cooling**: My CPU temperature hits 90°C during heavy use, which worries me. I'd like to find effective cooling solutions but want to avoid complicated case swaps.
Also, my PC occasionally freezes for a couple of seconds, making a strange buzzing noise. I'd like input on what could be causing this too. Thanks in advance for any help!
1 Answer
For your RAM, if your motherboard supports it, going with 2 sticks of 32GB is generally recommended. Fewer sticks can help maintain higher speeds and stability. As for the RAM speed, aiming for 3200 MHz is a good choice, and a CL16 latency is quite standard. You might not see significant FPS improvements with more than 32GB for gaming, but it can help with multitasking and future-proofing your system!
For your SSD, since you already suspect there's only one available slot, you'll need to replace your existing SSD with a 2TB model. Look for brands like Samsung or Crucial for reliable options. Just remember that your unit might not have space for another NVMe SSD, only a SATA one, so check that before buying!
Thanks for the clarification! I'm still on the fence about whether to upgrade the RAM or just add more sticks. I guess I’ll need to research more about what specific games I want to play and if they would actually benefit from the additional RAM.