I've been using my PC for about 6 years now, and I'm at a crossroads on whether to upgrade my CPU or my GPU first. Currently, I have an AMD Ryzen 5 1600AF overclocked to around 3.7 GHz, paired with a GTX 1050 (3GB). I'm considering the Ryzen 5 5600 as an upgrade, but I've also read that the R7 5700X, though a bit pricier, might be a good option since it could be my last upgrade on the AM4 platform. It's only about $28 more expensive here, totaling to $155.
On the GPU side, I'm looking at options like the AMD RX 9060XT (16GB), Intel Arc B580, and NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti (16GB).
I mainly play games like CS2 and Valorant but want to ensure I'm set up for newer titles like Arc Raiders and RPGs like Cyberpunk. My resolution is 1920x1080, and I have 16GB of RAM at 2300MHz. Should I focus on upgrading my CPU, GPU, or both at the same time? Is it worth it to upgrade the CPU if I can overclock it further?
2 Answers
I recommend prioritizing the GPU upgrade. The new GPUs you're considering could give you much more performance than sticking with your current CPU. And yes, your CPU will bottleneck some newer graphics cards, but for many current games at 1080p, it should still hold up. Just be sure to consider the 9060XT; it sounds like a killer deal!
Honestly, upgrading your GPU first would give you a more noticeable performance boost, especially since the GTX 1050 is really dated. While the Ryzen 5 1600AF is decent, a better GPU would elevate your gaming experience significantly, especially for newer titles. You could even go with something like the RX 6600 for a solid leap forward. I’d say you’d be fine with the 5600 for now, but don’t sleep on the GPU upgrade!
Totally agree! A new GPU can really stretch the performance for the games you want to play.