Hi everyone! I've got a 2019 CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR with specs including an Intel Core i5-9400F, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, 16GB of RAM (I added 8GB myself), a 120GB SSD, and a 1TB HDD. I'm not really experienced in upgrading PCs, but I want to start. I've been trying to figure out how to upgrade effectively and in what order, but I'm quite lost.
I understand some basics like CPU, GPU, and RAM, but I have questions about things like whether I need an AIO cooler, how to avoid bottlenecking, and what kind of power supply upgrade I might need. I mainly play games like Skyrim, WoW, and Cyberpunk, but I'm not looking for 4K graphics—just a nice upgrade from six years ago.
Could someone suggest some mid-range upgrade options? Is it realistic to do this under a $1,000 budget? Also, would it just be better to buy a new PC instead? Thanks for any advice!
3 Answers
If you're aiming for a decent upgrade, consider a new CPU like the i7-9700K for about $100 and pair it with a better cooler (a basic tower cooler works just fine). You can get some good performance out of it, especially if you're also planning to upgrade your GPU. Just make sure your power supply can handle these upgrades!
Overall, if you can find a good deal on components or bundles, it might actually be worth building a new system rather than sticking with the old one, but upgrades can still breathe new life into your current setup.
First up, what's the resolution of your monitor? Knowing that helps determine how powerful your upgrades need to be. Also, check out PCPartPicker! You can input your current components, and it helps with compatibility. You might find that upgrading your GPU is your best bet for the most noticeable performance boost.
Also, consider looking at bottleneck calculators to figure out potential limits before making purchases.
You might want to think about upgrading your GPU, especially if your power supply can handle it. A used RTX 3080 could give you a significant performance lift without breaking the bank since they can be found for under $350. Just be aware that your motherboard limits you a bit, but the 3080 still performs well with PCIe 3.0, so it should work out fine.
Also, don’t forget an SSD if you don’t have one already; it makes a huge difference in game loading times!
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