Hey folks! I've built my PC about 6 or 7 years ago, and I'm wondering what upgrades I should prioritize. Here are my current specs:
- Ryzen 5 3600
- 16 GB DDR4 RAM
- GTX 1060 6 GB
- 1 TB HDD for games
- 250 GB SSD for Windows
- ASUS B450M motherboard
- 1440p monitor at 180 Hz.
I mainly use the PC for programming and some light gaming, like story-driven titles such as Cyberpunk and Far Cry, but I'm also interested in keeping the option open for more demanding games in the future. Currently, I'm tweaking settings to get decent performance, with Far Cry performing surprisingly well.
Looking to upgrade, I've been considering the Ryzen 5 9600X for around 200 euros, but then I'd need a new motherboard too. Is that upgrade worth it? Another option for me is upgrading the GPU to a used 3080 for about 350 euros, although a new 5060 is priced similarly, and I'm unsure which is better. My budget for upgrades is around 600 euros. What do you think I should tackle first?
5 Answers
Definitely look at the CPU next, like upgrading to the Ryzen 5 5600 or 5800. You might even find them used within your budget. Make sure you check if your motherboard supports them after a BIOS update. This can help with your programming efficiency significantly.
Check prices for used parts! A second-hand GPU like the RX 6700 or 6800 can be a great deal under 300 euros. Your RAM is fine for now; focus on upgrading components that make the biggest difference for your use case.
Scoring a decent used GPU will definitely keep things affordable. Just keep an eye out for good deals!
If your programming needs grow, investing in a decent CPU and RAM should be next on your list, especially if you do some heavy multitasking. A Ryzen upgrade might be the way to go after your GPU swap. Don't forget to keep that HDD for file storage, too!
Yeah, keep the HDD for backups and other files, it can still be useful alongside SSDs!
I'd recommend upgrading your GPU first. A used RTX 3080 or a solid RX 6800 could give you a huge performance boost for gaming and any graphical tasks. This will likely have the most immediate impact for you than upgrading the CPU right away. Then, consider moving on to upgrading your CPU and mobo later on.
Totally agree! The jump from a GTX 1060 to a 3080 is massive, and you'll notice that difference right away.
I suggest upgrading to a larger SSD for your OS and programs first, then tackle the GPU. The efficiency gained from an SSD will make your overall experience smoother. Once that's done, look at the CPU, especially if you can find a good deal on a used one.
Having an SSD really speeds things up, especially for programming tasks. You won’t regret that upgrade!
Yeah, compilation speeds can really improve with more cores. Just make sure to monitor your current performance to see if that's really the bottleneck!