I'm looking to upgrade my PC, which I built about five years ago. Right now, I have an Intel i3 7100 CPU, a GT 1030 GPU, and a Gigabyte H110 M motherboard. I also have a WD Green 500GB internal SSD, a Thermaltake Smart 500W power supply, and Corsair Vengeance DDR4 (2 x 8GB). My total budget for this upgrade is around $500. Any recommendations on what components to focus on?
2 Answers
For your setup, I'd suggest starting with a B520 motherboard (around $50) and a Ryzen 5 5600X (about $100). You can keep your existing RAM and SSD, which is great. For the GPU, check out the used market for an RX 7600 if you can find one under $250; it would be a significant upgrade. Just make sure your power supply has the right pin connectors! If your PSU is lacking, you might need to budget for a new one too, which could push you over $500.
What do you think about going for an RX 5700 XT instead?
Good news is you can reuse your RAM and SSD! However, you'll likely need to replace most other parts. I'd recommend getting a Ryzen 5 5600 or 5500 along with a cheap B550 motherboard. Also, look for a reliable 600W power supply, preferably one from a trusted brand like Corsair. As for the GPU, options like the GTX 1070, GTX 1070 Ti, RTX 2060, RTX 2070, or RTX 3060 would work well, depending on what you find within your budget.
Thanks a lot for the advice!
Just a heads up, the Thermaltake Smart PSU isn't known for its quality, so make sure it can handle the new components.