Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a dilemma and could really use some advice. My PC is about 7 years old, and while it was built by my dad when I was younger, it's starting to show its age. I'm not super tech-savvy, so I'm not sure whether it's better to upgrade some parts or just start from scratch. My current specs are:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-7700 (4 cores / 8 threads) at 3.60 GHz
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 2400MHz
- Storage: 1TB Toshiba HDD
- Motherboard: ASUS PRIME B250M-PLUS
- System Type: 64-bit Windows
Lately, my PC hasn't been performing well, and I've been dealing with some strange issues like it booting straight to BIOS and the incorrect time settings. Plus, my disk usage is constantly at 100%, which can't be good. I'd love some guidance on what to do next. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
If you're thinking about upgrading, consider that most modern games tend to benefit from having at least 6 CPU cores. So, it might be more beneficial to do a full upgrade, especially since your current setup has an older CPU and HDD. Also, unless you're going to switch to a lightweight OS like Linux or an LTSC version of Windows, a fresh build could be the way to go.
Your CMOS battery might have died, which is causing the time issues and also affecting how your PC boots. An SSD could replace your HDD for much better boot and load times. It's good you’ve got 16GB of RAM; hold on to that. What’s your budget looking like? If it's around $1.5k to $2k, you can build something great over time. No need for a new monitor right now, especially if you're happy with your current one.
So definitely replace that CMOS battery and consider switching to an SSD. It'll make a huge difference!
I faced a similar situation with my 13-year-old PC! Initially, I tried upgrading, but I realized to properly run current games, I’d need a complete rebuild. I started gradually buying parts, checking out deals on marketplaces. Also, don’t hesitate to look for pre-built options with newer hardware if you need a quick upgrade, then slowly work on building something new.
True, upgrading to an SSD and getting a new CMOS battery can help, but for better performance, I'd really suggest a complete overhaul.